Originally Posted by Obstinate

I'd like to chime in on this thread .

I'm 16. Driving fever is starting to pick up with some of my more outgoing acquaintances. This occuring just as I discovered a love for cycling. In May I aggressively looking for a bike on craigslist that had drop style handlebars and "looked cool and went fast". I found it, and after that I discovered a newfound freedom. Ever since I was young I've been completely fascinated by public transit. I love the ebb and flow of the city, the energy that occurs from it, the compact demeanor of urban cities. I fell in love young. Yet sadly, I live about 20 miles south of that, in suburban Carson. Though luckily, I'm 30 minutes away from the ebb and flow; there is a train station 2 miles from my house. Yet the only thing that made me even consider driving was the fact that the bus to the train was so far. Same thing with the bus to school, took forever. Then came cycling.

With the bicycle, I found the aforementioned newfound freedom. I was able to go everywhere I needed without the stress associated with being in my mom's car listening to music I didn't like blaring through the speakers . I live 4.2 miles from school; I arrive in 16 minutes. I work at the Pike in Long Beach; the ride to the train station is 7 minutes, and the train ride is 22 minutes. If I want to go to LA, 7 minutes, 35 minute train ride. I am neither mired by time constraints nor bus schedules. Distance never stops me from getting anywhere I want. And neither does money. I work once a week for only four hours and get paycheck of around $60 every two weeks, which makes me more than happy. I neither have to send that money away to foreign oil interests, nor to the state of California. My stress levels, paycheck, and overall peace of mind is in my control.

Not only that, but the bicycle fits my lifestyle. I've never been the one to hop from party to party constantly, though I do enjoy the occasional outing. I plan my days down to the last detail; planning a few minutes to organize my bag so it doesn't feel weird on my back is simply another minute or two to prepare in the morning. When I'm riding in crosstown traffic, I am able to float about across town, my head in the clouds and listening intently to whatever soothes or excites me. The traffic is forever manageable; my legs in a repetitive, therapeutic cyclical motion. To put it short, one could find beauty in riding down the busiest of thoroughfares.

So in short, when my mom approached me with the prospect of getting a license, I thought about it for all of two seconds, smiled, and said "No thanks." 'Why in the world would a 16 year old turn down a license?' You might ask? Because cycling makes me happy. Traffic pisses people off, stress levels explode, and tensions rise. Driving makes people afraid of others. Driving limits your desire to go beyond certain distances to find the new, unique, and undiscovered. On a bicycle, this is simply not the case. Man was born with two legs; cars have only been around for less than a century. It isn't natures way for people to be cooped up in a metal contraption, unaware and afraid of everything outside their steel metal oblivion. And while many find it far-fetched to live a car free lifestyle for life, I simply turn their attention to places who have been doing so for decades, even centuries. Japan, Amsterdam, Sweden, London, New York City, Portland, the list goes on and on. And if a car-free lifestyle is what I desire, then one of these towns shall be the first stop to my brighter tomorrow. A stress-free tomorrow.

Originally Posted by roughrider504

I hear a bunch about people living car free, but not anything about teens and car-free living. What do you think?

Originally Posted by Obstinate

I'd like to chime in on this thread . I'm 16. Driving fever is starting to pick up with some of my more outgoing acquaintances. This occuring just as I discovered a love for cycling. In May I aggressively looking for a bike on craigslist that had drop style handlebars and "looked cool and went fast". I found it, and after that I discovered a newfound freedom. Ever since I was young I've been completely fascinated by public transit. I love the ebb and flow of the city, the energy that occurs from it, the compact demeanor of urban cities. I fell in love young. Yet sadly, I live about 20 miles south of that, in suburban Carson. Though luckily, I'm 30 minutes away from the ebb and flow; there is a train station 2 miles from my house. Yet the only thing that made me even consider driving was the fact that the bus to the train was so far. Same thing with the bus to school, took forever. Then came cycling.....

Originally Posted by kevinistheman

I wasn't sure where to post this but I am looking for a new/used bike to continue doing just this. I'm 17 years old and attend a hs in Texas. I am one of two people that ride their bikes to school out of a school of 2000. I am looking to upgrade from my old, very small bmx bike to a road/mountain bike. I do not know much about bikes and was looking for a good bang for my buck bike with a max budget of $300 and preferably under $200

Originally Posted by Smallwheels

Roughrider504 you are really fortunate to have the knowledge that bicycles can be used for most of your transportation needs. Had I had a clue about this when I was younger I would be a much richer person today.

You don't need to be a car hater just because you ride a bicycle (not that you are one now). Just get a drivers license for those rare occasions when you might need to drive. Sometimes other people might need for you to drive their car. It has happened to me a few times.

You are under the age of 23 you can't rent a car yet, so that isn't a reason to get a license.

Being a car free teen might lead to a little peer pressure. Remember this, the only person who can feel the pressure is you. If you don't give value to negative comments from others about being car free then there can be no real peer pressure.

Teaching your friends about the benefits of being car free might make a difference. Maybe it wouldn't, but at least you will be letting them know of another possibility for their transportation needs.

The layout of your city and the types of mass transit will play a big part in your ability to remain car free easily.

What would your car insurance cost per year? Have your parents looked into it? If your parents make you pay for it, ask yourself if you want to work that many hours to pay for it. Honestly how many hours would you get to drive your parents cars per month? Unless you get your own car it would probably cost way too much per hour of use. Well, many people say any car costs too much to use.

If you can skip car ownership, do it. I wrote a book about money (How to Be Debt Free Fast!). Here is something that will give you a great retirement income; If you invest only $2000.00 per year for the next six years and don't ever invest again, you will retire a millionaire at age 65. This assumes the world doesn't go to hell and the stock market gives the same long term average increase in value. You are young enough to do this. If you wait till you are 21 to start you will lose tens of thousands of dollars in compound interest years from now.

Whaddya think about that?

Originally Posted by Smallwheels

If you can skip car ownership, do it. I wrote a book about money (How to Be Debt Free Fast!). Here is something that will give you a great retirement income; If you invest only $2000.00 per year for the next six years and don't ever invest again, you will retire a millionaire at age 65. This assumes the world doesn't go to hell and the stock market gives the same long term average increase in value. You are young enough to do this. If you wait till you are 21 to start you will lose tens of thousands of dollars in compound interest years from now.

Whaddya think about that?

Originally Posted by Ruthy

Hi Smallwheels

I'm intrigued by your $2000 investment idea could you perhaps explain a little more?

Originally Posted by I-Like-To-Bike

I think it sounds like Bernie Madoff's sales pitch for his investment scheme.

Originally Posted by carbonjockey

just dont have your bike tricked out with horn, bulky light, rack, neon vest, etc, you'll make us look bad

Originally Posted by Obstinate

I'd like to chime in on this thread .

I'm 16. Driving fever is starting to pick up with some of my more outgoing acquaintances. This occuring just as I discovered a love for cycling. In May I aggressively looking for a bike on craigslist that had drop style handlebars and "looked cool and went fast". I found it, and after that I discovered a newfound freedom. Ever since I was young I've been completely fascinated by public transit. I love the ebb and flow of the city, the energy that occurs from it, the compact demeanor of urban cities. I fell in love young. Yet sadly, I live about 20 miles south of that, in suburban Carson. Though luckily, I'm 30 minutes away from the ebb and flow; there is a train station 2 miles from my house. Yet the only thing that made me even consider driving was the fact that the bus to the train was so far. Same thing with the bus to school, took forever. Then came cycling.

With the bicycle, I found the aforementioned newfound freedom. I was able to go everywhere I needed without the stress associated with being in my mom's car listening to music I didn't like blaring through the speakers . I live 4.2 miles from school; I arrive in 16 minutes. I work at the Pike in Long Beach; the ride to the train station is 7 minutes, and the train ride is 22 minutes. If I want to go to LA, 7 minutes, 35 minute train ride. I am neither mired by time constraints nor bus schedules. Distance never stops me from getting anywhere I want. And neither does money. I work once a week for only four hours and get paycheck of around $60 every two weeks, which makes me more than happy. I neither have to send that money away to foreign oil interests, nor to the state of California. My stress levels, paycheck, and overall peace of mind is in my control.

Not only that, but the bicycle fits my lifestyle. I've never been the one to hop from party to party constantly, though I do enjoy the occasional outing. I plan my days down to the last detail; planning a few minutes to organize my bag so it doesn't feel weird on my back is simply another minute or two to prepare in the morning. When I'm riding in crosstown traffic, I am able to float about across town, my head in the clouds and listening intently to whatever soothes or excites me. The traffic is forever manageable; my legs in a repetitive, therapeutic cyclical motion. To put it short, one could find beauty in riding down the busiest of thoroughfares.

So in short, when my mom approached me with the prospect of getting a license, I thought about it for all of two seconds, smiled, and said "No thanks." 'Why in the world would a 16 year old turn down a license?' You might ask? Because cycling makes me happy. Traffic pisses people off, stress levels explode, and tensions rise. Driving makes people afraid of others. Driving limits your desire to go beyond certain distances to find the new, unique, and undiscovered. On a bicycle, this is simply not the case. Man was born with two legs; cars have only been around for less than a century. It isn't natures way for people to be cooped up in a metal contraption, unaware and afraid of everything outside their steel metal oblivion. And while many find it far-fetched to live a car free lifestyle for life, I simply turn their attention to places who have been doing so for decades, even centuries. Japan, Amsterdam, Sweden, London, New York City, Portland, the list goes on and on. And if a car-free lifestyle is what I desire, then one of these towns shall be the first stop to my brighter tomorrow. A stress-free tomorrow.

Originally Posted by Obstinate

I'm thinking of getting a license, except for the whole "having to drive to get one" thing.

Plus, they expire and you've gotta pay more money to renew it?!??! Screw that: I'm moving to New York.

Originally Posted by davidj6n

but i suggest any teen still get a license just to leave the possibility open
even if its only in case one of your friends drives somewhere and fro some reason cant drive home then you could drive
but i think its very possible to live car free while having a license and a license is a good back up to have just in case