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I've always been somewhat interested in giving up my car for good, but I'm not sure. Anyone ever done this?
Anyone live car free?
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129 Posts
I couldn't give up cars completely myself... But I have talked to a few guys that don't own one themselves. When I was in Boston, MA, I talked to a few guys that were car-less. One guy was a bike messenger that ran a fixed gear and was on it 40+ hours a week and just walked or took the train "T" to get where else he needed to go. Another was a guy that rode his fixed gear bike from Maine to Boston, went to school, then rode back home every summer. Never got a clear answer on the distance traveled in that trip though. It's quite do-able and I'd love to do so myself.... It just won't happen for me. I love driving too much.
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109 Posts
i have been car free for 3 years now.it's not so hard if you live in a climate like i do.i do everything on "one" of my bikes.as i have found out,it's a lot easier to do it with a few different styles.i have road,mountain,hybreds,and beach cruisers.they all serve their purposes.i also have a "big tow" by yak. that i use to carry large items around with. i do have to sometimes get an occasional ride in a car from one of my friends,but they seem to understand me and appreciate my concerne for the inviornment.besides,using the barter system with them,likecookouts,fresh fish,or anything i can offer works too! ride on
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129 Posts
My hat is off to you. I do what I can on the single speed, but haven't got to that point... probably never will.
How the heck did he get his clothes and stuff he needed home for the summer?
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129 Posts
He could have used a trailer or had a stash in both places... Never thought to ask that part.
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1 Posts
Yes, car free!
Hi Adventurer, great question!
I have always been car-free since being away from parents (I'm 30 now, never had a license). Pretty easy for me - was in the arctic (fly-in only, virtually no roads) when I came to driving age. Then when I lived in the city I just walked and used public bus transit. Now I live in a very small town that reaches amenities within a kilometer. Two things that I want to stress as being very helpful toward this is 1. A trailer to carry what you need. I used to put all things/groceries in a hikers backpack - can be hard on the shoulders and you can only pack in so much, so I was in the market for a trailer and boy am I glad I found the one I did - as opposed to the more conventional ones. The "fold-it" is aluminum, can hold lots, up to 300lbs., folds for storage. Originally purposed for a garden/yard cart, you buy the optional bike hitch that attaches to seat post.
![Wheel Tire Snow Vehicle Wood]()
2. If you live in a winter environment like I do, Nokkian studded tires are awesome to ride easily over snow and ice...I have the Hakka's, they've got over 300 studs per tire.
It's quite fun to blaze the streets in the -20'sC. Also, easier for me 'cause we work at home and don't need to travel to a job. But really, a lot of people could be car free - it's really the want of it that creates the real possibility.
A lot of people -especially starting out- find freedom in driving a motor vehicle, but truly there's a lot of freedom to be had not paying for all the bills and gas - and the knowledge that you're not polluting.
I'll live soon on the east coast, where the commute for amenities with be greater than now - around 15km, so considering I'll be driving up a mountain to come back home, I'm really looking forward to using an electric bike using the "bionX" system...that'll be fun.
Best wishes; most especially if you do go car-free! ---GD
Hi Adventurer, great question!
I have always been car-free since being away from parents (I'm 30 now, never had a license). Pretty easy for me - was in the arctic (fly-in only, virtually no roads) when I came to driving age. Then when I lived in the city I just walked and used public bus transit. Now I live in a very small town that reaches amenities within a kilometer. Two things that I want to stress as being very helpful toward this is 1. A trailer to carry what you need. I used to put all things/groceries in a hikers backpack - can be hard on the shoulders and you can only pack in so much, so I was in the market for a trailer and boy am I glad I found the one I did - as opposed to the more conventional ones. The "fold-it" is aluminum, can hold lots, up to 300lbs., folds for storage. Originally purposed for a garden/yard cart, you buy the optional bike hitch that attaches to seat post.
2. If you live in a winter environment like I do, Nokkian studded tires are awesome to ride easily over snow and ice...I have the Hakka's, they've got over 300 studs per tire.
It's quite fun to blaze the streets in the -20'sC. Also, easier for me 'cause we work at home and don't need to travel to a job. But really, a lot of people could be car free - it's really the want of it that creates the real possibility.
A lot of people -especially starting out- find freedom in driving a motor vehicle, but truly there's a lot of freedom to be had not paying for all the bills and gas - and the knowledge that you're not polluting.
I'll live soon on the east coast, where the commute for amenities with be greater than now - around 15km, so considering I'll be driving up a mountain to come back home, I'm really looking forward to using an electric bike using the "bionX" system...that'll be fun.
Best wishes; most especially if you do go car-free! ---GD
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I am 25 now, and had a car from the age of 16-23. Its been a definite adjustment not having a car, but I seem to do fine on my bike most of the time, and public transit makes up for the rest of my travels. Doesnt hurt havin friends with cars either, just in case.
I lived car free for about 2 1/2 years in my twenties because I couldn't afford one. I had to let the car go so that I didn't have to pay for gas, insurance, etc. and I could save up some money. Actually that is the whole reason I ever started becoming interested in bikes. I have a clunker of a car now and a nice Trek Madona 5.2 whose name is Madonna (Madge for short). I put more time and energy into my bike than I ever have a car and that's the way I like it!
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191 Posts
x3 on this. Even if I lived in the city, I would still keep the Jeep, because I have too much fun with it to NOT have it.
It'll get better as it gets lifted and adjusted.
I've considered it, and would absolutely try it if I didn't live in the suburbs. If I go to live in a city I might try it for a month or two and leave my Jeep with the parents, but who knows. I might need it for hauling things even in one.
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90 Posts
I've been car free for over 9 years, since I moved to Europe in 2000. In much of Europe, cycling is a very common way to get around town, and usually the bus, train, and metro/subway services fill in the gaps where a cycle becomes impractical (such as covering a long distance very quickly).
Of course I am very proud of where I currently live - Copenhagen. It has the largest *daily* cycle-to-work population for it's size - each and every day 400,000-500,000 people ride their bicycle to work or school in Copenhagen. Forty years ago Copenhagen was just as car-clogged as anywhere else but now 55% of the population choose the bicycle. 37% in the Greater Metropolitan area.
Since I switched over to recumbent trikes in 2006, I've found a whole new appreciation for cycling. A 'bent is more comfortable for me, so I can travel farther and (usually) faster, and therefore get more done. My little Anthrotech trike serves as the daily commuter (10 km per day), shopping cart, lumber truck, moving van, and long distance tourer (two annual trips of over 1,000 km/600 miles).
And I am glad to see more people looking at recumbent cycling in general: there are several families with trikes in the area that carry a kid on the back-rack *and* often pull a trailer with another kid inside, plus groceries, and they enjoy doing it.
With the exception of missing my motorcycling days, I am quite happy to give up the auto. I haven't kept track, but I am certain I've saved gobs of cash by not having to pay for gas, car-insurance/car-taxes, and vehicle maintenance.
Now all I need to do is save up for a Bionx or similar electric motor, and I'm all set!
Of course I am very proud of where I currently live - Copenhagen. It has the largest *daily* cycle-to-work population for it's size - each and every day 400,000-500,000 people ride their bicycle to work or school in Copenhagen. Forty years ago Copenhagen was just as car-clogged as anywhere else but now 55% of the population choose the bicycle. 37% in the Greater Metropolitan area.
Since I switched over to recumbent trikes in 2006, I've found a whole new appreciation for cycling. A 'bent is more comfortable for me, so I can travel farther and (usually) faster, and therefore get more done. My little Anthrotech trike serves as the daily commuter (10 km per day), shopping cart, lumber truck, moving van, and long distance tourer (two annual trips of over 1,000 km/600 miles).
And I am glad to see more people looking at recumbent cycling in general: there are several families with trikes in the area that carry a kid on the back-rack *and* often pull a trailer with another kid inside, plus groceries, and they enjoy doing it.
With the exception of missing my motorcycling days, I am quite happy to give up the auto. I haven't kept track, but I am certain I've saved gobs of cash by not having to pay for gas, car-insurance/car-taxes, and vehicle maintenance.
Now all I need to do is save up for a Bionx or similar electric motor, and I'm all set!
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68 Posts
usps.
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Sounds wonderful, where did you grow-up?
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