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So what y'all are saying is that it's easier to walk in the rain with bags of groceries than to drive in a car? And to get to point a to point b? Walking will take longer and riding a bike around town is a pain. It's not easier to live without a car, can't be.
So what y'all are saying is that it's easier to walk in the rain with bags of groceries than to drive in a car? And to get to point a to point b? Walking will take longer and riding a bike around town is a pain. It's not easier to live without a car, can't be.
Depends on where you live.
If you live in a city neighborhood, or a small town with a thriving center that's easy to get to on foot or bike, living car-free is not harder than living with a car.
Especially in a city, where the car can be as much albatross around your neck as vehicle of liberation.
Don't want to get wet walking home from the store? Go on a day when it's not raining. Just about every large city not named Seattle has plenty of such days. I find it's a rare day when I must go to the supermarket in the rain - it usually happens only because I've planned an event and forgot something the day before. I carry an umbrella and put on my waterproof windbreaker and I'm fine.
Have many bags to haul? They make these carts that hold several bags, and you can wheel them around with you.
And I don't have to worry about monthly car payments, insurance or parking the thing.
If I really do need to haul something that I can't carry in my hands, in a "granny cart" or on the bus or subway, I can book a car share to make the trip.
For longer trips, like the one I took to an outlet mall on the opposite side of the city from me today, there is a time penalty - but I can do things like read on the bus. I can't do that behind the wheel of a car.
Maybe not jump-in-and-go convenient, but still pretty easy. At least for me.
If you live in a city neighborhood, or a small town with a thriving center that's easy to get to on foot or bike, living car-free is not harder than living with a car.
Especially in a city, where the car can be as much albatross around your neck as vehicle of liberation.
Don't want to get wet walking home from the store? Go on a day when it's not raining. Just about every large city not named Seattle has plenty of such days. I find it's a rare day when I must go to the supermarket in the rain - it usually happens only because I've planned an event and forgot something the day before. I carry an umbrella and put on my waterproof windbreaker and I'm fine.
Have many bags to haul? They make these carts that hold several bags, and you can wheel them around with you.
And I don't have to worry about monthly car payments, insurance or parking the thing.
If I really do need to haul something that I can't carry in my hands, in a "granny cart" or on the bus or subway, I can book a car share to make the trip.
For longer trips, like the one I took to an outlet mall on the opposite side of the city from me today, there is a time penalty - but I can do things like read on the bus. I can't do that behind the wheel of a car.
Maybe not jump-in-and-go convenient, but still pretty easy. At least for me.
Same here.
The thing for me is that I have always purposely, actively attempted to live in big cities. And I have succeeded at that (which I totally understand not everyone can do). And not only that, I also purposely, actively look for jobs that are within walking distance of my home and within walking distance of things like post office, supermarket, gym, bank, etc. Sometimes it's hard to find all that, but it's not impossible.
I am lucky that I have that now, and I am happy because all of that ensures that I can live a happily car-free life. No car notes, no gasoline/car repair expenses, no parking tickets, no stress over potential car theft or carjacking, no insurance expenses, etc.
Besides, there's nothing better to maintain good health than being on the move all the time.
I love walking anyway, and rain does not scare me since I am not made of paper.
So what y'all are saying is that it's easier to walk in the rain with bags of groceries than to drive in a car? And to get to point a to point b? Walking will take longer and riding a bike around town is a pain. It's not easier to live without a car, can't be.
I've done it with a backpack many times. If you're only going a mile, time is similar. Figure cost of driving, gas mileage drops on short trips. Health benefits hard to figure, but many say you add a minute to your life for every one you exercise.
I live in NYC and haven’t owned a car in over ten years. I have a license and rent a car when I need one, which is rare. The subway is a block from my home. There is a bus stop out front of my stoop and taxis all over place.
I live in NYC and haven’t owned a car in over ten years. I have a license and rent a car when I need one, which is rare. The subway is a block from my home. There is a bus stop out front of my stoop and taxis all over place.
I save a ton by not owning a car.
Yeah, but you spend it all on the high cost of living.
Due to a knee issue and not being able to drive and not knowing if I could again, I finally let my car go and got a little chunk of cash for it. Checking account has never been healthier. I'm older for starters and my daughter kept saying how older people behind the wheel are dangers...yes it's true but so are younger ones, but older is what I am.
I drove and owned a vehicle for about 60 yrs and got more and more tired of driving anyway...and the Traffic around here, good grief.
I get groceries delivered now from 2-3 stores and have some friends here in apt bldg who get stuff for me and of course there is online buying.
This new way of living is feeling good and just hearing on the radio new vehicle taxes being enacted here in Calif.
The way I'm doing it, I'm am ahead of the game monetarily.
Just not possible in many areas of the country to be car free.
Agreed, and our dispersed employment patterns make cars more neccessary than they otherwise might be in our large metropolitan centers - it's difficult to serve scattered job sites effectively using mass transit, and the distances involved between worksite and home make commuting by a means other than the car impractical where mass transit is not available. And even where it is, for many employees, the time penalty involved in using transit to cover the long distances makes that option, if not impractical, then at least extremely inconvenient.
But where car-free living is possible, living car-free actually saves you money and reduces stress.
I live in NYC and haven’t owned a car in over ten years. I have a license and rent a car when I need one, which is rare. The subway is a block from my home. There is a bus stop out front of my stoop and taxis all over place.
I save a ton by not owning a car.
New York is a very unique city. Subways everywhere makes owning a vehicle unnecessary. Walkabiliity adds to the convenience. One of my relatives lives there and has never owned one. Occasionally rents a car for some trips. Boasted once of joining a gym that's only a block from home.
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