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"I'll give you my car keys when you pry them from my cold dead hands."
I'm guessing by chosing to go carless, people are okay with the carlessness () dictating where they can live, what their regular activities are limited to and what kind of vacations they can take. Deserts, mountains, forests and farms are definitely out for living choices...as is my town of about 29,000 people spread out over 85 square miles with no public transportation except for one cab company. I'm also guessing most that chose to go carless in retirement either were carless before they retired or didn't use their car much when they had one so it's not a major decision. It's just a continuation from what they always did. I could be wrong. If they are cabbing a lot that has to be expensive.
You didn't ask but driving to me means freedom just as much as it means transportation. I want to go where I want to go when I want to go. If I wake up tomorrow morning at 5:00A and decide, for example, I'd like to hop in my car and drive to Kentucky or Virginia to see an XYZ mountain view or take a two hour drive in my car to photograph some butterflies in one of my own state parks, I want to be able to do that. Don't want to have to shop a lot just because I can only schlep so many bags of groceries in one outing (and not just because I'm older, either ). I don't want to sit in some kind of public transportation (bus, train) with sick people all of the time. But most of all, I don't want to live in any city nevermind ride a bike in one.
When I was working and had to commute to work in DC for a few years and once when I lived in DC and had to commute to Virginia, I figured out all of the time I was spending 5 days a week walking to and from public transportation, driving to public transportation and waiting for public transportation at some train station or bus stop. It really was a big chunk of my day and it added up. I suppose in retirement though, you have more free time to devote to that. On the other hand, some public transportation has a more spread out schedule at non-rush hour times so you might wait longer for the next train or bus.
My idea of a vacation is a long road trip and stopping at out of the way places. The one I'm planning now doesn't even mean I'll always be on paved roads nevermind see a bus or train in the hundreds of miles I'll be covering. I'm betting retirees with fishing boats (need the car/truck to take the boat to the water) or campers can't conceive of going carless in retirement, either.
But having owned a car for almost 50 uninterrupted years now, loving to drive for its own sake, valuing my freedom of movement, enjoying road trips as a way to see this country and Canada, if I had to stop driving it would be a major catastrophe, a disaster, a life-shattering event, a change of enormous and indescribable magnitude.
Could I survive that change and continue to derive pleasure from life? I think probably so, after the initial shock and grief. It would all depend on my attitude, outlook, and motivation.
Giving up driving one's own car and not driving anymore aren't one and the same. If one is fit to drive, one can easily rent a car and go. In fact, when I want to go somewhere on a trip, I never use my own car, I always lease one. I don't want to put that many miles on mine.
Reasons to go voluntarily carless in retirement would be for many a cost consideration, but there's also simply the desire to drive less and get a lot more exercise. How long one can do this is the question. And, one would have to carefully choose the living situation.
When I'm about 70 I will probably make use of the local mini-bus that scoots all over town and between towns, just because I personally don't want to be driving that much at my age. I will either retain my car or lease a car for traveling around. I'm curious about the Zip cars, but they tend to be small and that's a safety factor for older folks.
At any rate, if you ever have to give up driving, I would imagine that in LA you would have good options for getting around.
But having owned a car for almost 50 uninterrupted years now, loving to drive for its own sake, valuing my freedom of movement, enjoying road trips as a way to see this country and Canada, if I had to stop driving it would be a major catastrophe, a disaster, a life-shattering event, a change of enormous and indescribable magnitude.
Could I survive that change and continue to derive pleasure from life? I think probably so, after the initial shock and grief. It would all depend on my attitude, outlook, and motivation.
Exactly my sentiments. Can't imagine it - a car = freedom. One day I know I will have to turn in my keys and I'll have to grin & bear it but until then - zoom zoom zoom.
It sure saves a lot of time - all that planning and waiting. I use to take the bus to downtown Mpls for work for many years and I did like the time to unwind before I got home but now no worky no bus
"I'll give you my car keys when you pry them from my cold dead hands."
I'm guessing by chosing to go carless, people are okay with the carlessness () dictating where they can live, what their regular activities are limited to and what kind of vacations they can take. Deserts, mountains, forests and farms are definitely out for living choices...as is my town of about 29,000 people spread out over 85 square miles with no public transportation except for one cab company. I'm also guessing most that chose to go carless in retirement either were carless before they retired or didn't use their car much when they had one so it's not a major decision. It's just a continuation from what they always did. I could be wrong. If they are cabbing a lot that has to be expensive.
You didn't ask but driving to me means freedom just as much as it means transportation. I want to go where I want to go when I want to go. If I wake up tomorrow morning at 5:00A and decide, for example, I'd like to hop in my car and drive to Kentucky or Virginia to see an XYZ mountain view or take a two hour drive in my car to photograph some butterflies in one of my own state parks, I want to be able to do that. Don't want to have to shop a lot just because I can only schlep so many bags of groceries in one outing (and not just because I'm older, either ). I don't want to sit in some kind of public transportation (bus, train) with sick people all of the time. But most of all, I don't want to live in any city nevermind ride a bike in one.
When I was working and had to commute to work in DC for a few years and once when I lived in DC and had to commute to Virginia, I figured out all of the time I was spending 5 days a week walking to and from public transportation, driving to public transportation and waiting for public transportation at some train station or bus stop. It really was a big chunk of my day and it added up. I suppose in retirement though, you have more free time to devote to that. On the other hand, some public transportation has a more spread out schedule at non-rush hour times so you might wait longer for the next train or bus.
My idea of a vacation is a long road trip and stopping at out of the way places. The one I'm planning now doesn't even mean I'll always be on paved roads nevermind see a bus or train in the hundreds of miles I'll be covering. I'm betting retirees with fishing boats (need the car/truck to take the boat to the water) or campers can't conceive of going carless in retirement, either.
You said it, girl! I feel the same way! My car = freedom. Plus, I live in a beautiful beach city and drive a sweet little topless ride. Why would I ever want to take a bus, which would be my only public transport here. No thanks. Plus everything is really a very short car ride away that I would ever need here. Nope, keeping it as long as is possible!
I would love to go carless, and we're deciding where to relocate to right now. But every place we find that's highly walkable and has other features we're looking for (climate, medical, diversity, cost of living), is (much) too expensive. So we're probably going to have no choice but to walk a little more but rely on cars more than we'd like...
I just bought a small foldable bicycle that is great for older people as it has no bar in the middle. It just arrived today, so I will soon try it out.
Bought it at citizenbicycle.com and it is the Barcelona model. Folds up to a small size for storing in a small space.
Nice! I too got one of these foldable bicycles, last fall, paid around $500 for it (German model). It's lightweight to lift (folded) but very sturdy. I cannot get onto a regular bike, but as you say, these are low to the ground and no barrier. The only thing I don't like is the seat, I will replace it with a plush comfy one. Here, and in many places with bus systems, you can put your bike on the bus bike rack or have the driver do it. This is also a good thing to have in the car for emergencies, and also if gas cost gets prohibitive. I wouldn't ride this in any place larger than a town, however, unless it's a city park or trail.
I would love to go carless, and we're deciding where to relocate to right now. But every place we find that's highly walkable and has other features we're looking for (climate, medical, diversity, cost of living), is (much) too expensive. So we're probably going to have no choice but to walk a little more but rely on cars more than we'd like...
Are you in Lafayette? If so, isn't there a good public transport system around Purdue-U?
I know several retirees on the "Women Retiring Alone" thread who have either given up a car for various reasons or who never drove and have built their lifestyle around being carless.
I'm wondering who else has made the decision and how it's working out.
Responders, please tell us appr. where you live SWF
and whether it's a good place to live without having to own a car. It's a very good places to get around if you choose to do so carless.
What's your experience? I do quite well getting most everywhere I need to get to
Does your city or town have fantastic public transport? Transit system here runs pretty good for such a small town
I've mentioned it before why I gave up driving, would I rather have the convenience of a car, some of the time yes, however there are advantages of being care free in my beautiful beach town one biggie, no fighting for parking spaces. It can mean the difference in having a day at the beach or having to spend time hunting for an alternate beach or retreat back home exhausted and disappointed after a long day of car musical chairs. I hadn't run into that annoyance so much in the first year, but quite a few times lately, when friends drive over and we've headed to the beach, we've had to leave for not being able to find parking, talk about a huge downer when if I had gone with my plan A (ride the bus) I would have been enjoying the sand and sun via the same driving route in about the same trip time give or take five minutes.
I agree with whomever said if you weren't someone that spent a lot of time running around place to place in the car to begin with, it probably won't be as much of a loss, but at todays gas prices, that could be a good 1/2 of the people these days, those without budget constraints, I'm sure such things don't matter. I've seen an increase of public transit use in my area over the year and half I've lived here. I do think more and more people are trying alternative modes of transportation for a variety of reasons.
Do I think ownig a car = freedom? Sometimes, but really only as much as I allow my mind to limit it to since there are millions of people that have never owned a car that have travele the world enjoying it in ways they consider it limiless.
Nothing wrong with loving your car and feeling it is a source of freedom. But I wonder how difficult an adjustment it would be if it had to be given up? Not so much giving up one's car because there are always zip car and rentals but having to give up driving completely. It's good to know what the alternatives are.
I never thought of not driving as having my freedom curtailed. I have always managed to go wherever I wanted to go. It helps that I am a city girl and enjoy living in cities. If I wanted to go to the mountains or beaches in my state I could always hook up with friends who also wanted to go or just take some bus or train tours.
People who own cars often remark about how I am lucky not having to pay the cost of upkeep, insurance and licensing. That's something I would not be able to afford now if I had a car so I am glad I don't have to worry about those things.
I consider taking the bus as kind of an adventure. I have met some very interesting people on public transportation. It's not for the faint-hearted though, you can't just have it go where you want it to go and you have to learn patience while waiting for it to arrive. It does slow down your day a bit but you get used to it. And, yes, you sometimes do have to deal with other people riding on the bus with you.
I deliberately choose an apartment within walking distance from a grocery store when I am seeking a new place to live although sometimes I will take a bus to a more distant grocery store. In my city we have a van service for which you have to be eligible; physical disability or age, that will take you anywhere you need to go. You just sign up with a doctor's recommendation. I have recently done that and it is working very well.
I occasionally take a cab but not very often. I figure the two or three times a year I may use one isn't going to break me.
It is ironic that I choose the neighborhood in which I live over twenty years ago for its convenience to grocery shopping and bus service. It was very inexpensive because it was not considered the safest neighborhood. Many retirees lived there because of the conveniences and the low cost of rents. Now it is a ridiculously priced "trendy" neighborhood. Fewer older people live here any longer. I have found another city to relocate where the COL is lower and the amenities are still there regarding public transportation and shopping.
I figure it the new one becomes gentrified in twenty years to the extent I won't be able to afford to live there any longer, I probably won't be around to worry about it.
Upon reading all the posts on this subject I just wanted to comment on the discussion of one
not being able to find their car when they come out of the store...to alleviate this problem I
park my car in the same area on every visit. Maybe not the exact spot but in the vicinity...so I
can just head that way when I come out. I do this for the grocery store, drug store, the mall etc. It works! My car is small (Toyota Echo) and what with all these big trucks/SUV's in TX it is often
hidden to my eyes.
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