People Who Do Not Own Cars

Quite a few threads have me wondering what your lifestyle is like that it doesn’t necessitate owning a car.   I think it is great that you are able to live car free, but I am wondering how this is. Many people have expressed the feeling of freedom that comes with not owning car, but for me it feels like a lack of.

Do you work in the city or commute to the suburbs? Are you otherwise required to commute to areas outside the city on a frequent basis?  Is your family local and how often do you see them?  Would you describe your lifestyle as minimalistic?  This is the part of me wondering how I would have gotten that all-in-one printer home the other day or the cans of paint and bbq I just bought.  When I run my weekly errands, I get everything done in one shot.  How is that possible on a bike?  Do you use car-sharing services?  How often would you say not owning a car creates a hindrance?  Do you ever feel like you are losing time in your day due to a reliance on public transportation or that it is more of a hassle?  

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Permalink Reply by Liz W. Durham on August 11, 2010 at 6:07pm
Yes, he is wearing a cape. If he were not on the bike with his helmet on he would also be wearing his batman mask. He is a superhero you see...and has been for over a year now. But shhhhh.....no giving away his secret identity.

As to making biking work as a parent - it really isn't difficult. Weather is my main hardship. And by weather I really mean icy roads. We ride in the cold no problem but I do not take the risk when roads are icy.

The really cool thing about riding with my kids is that they get to learn that there are ways to get around without a car. My little one LOVES the bike. He will ride for hours. Put him in a car (like to travel out east) and he is cranky within 30 minutes. Also, he gets to experience life going on around him in such a personal way. We can stop for a few minutes to look at this or that. He loves riding in the rain...I get to remember that I don't melt and that being in the rain can be fun...

So many advantages to biking that going car-lite or car-free seems like the only reasonable choice.

milesperhour said:
Thank you to everyone for all of the responses. I never imagined so many people would respond nor at such length too! This is so encouraging. I have a special appreciation for the parents who make it work as well. I am surprised by how many of you there are. And I love the pictures of you kids. So cute! Liz, is your son wearing a cape?

Some people asked me what I meant about leading a minimalist life style and about losing time and the hassles of public transportation. I was wondering if you make do with less given that you don't have a car to haul things around. As far as public transportation being a hassle and taking longer, that has been my experience with it in the past. It's often quicker for me to get in a car and do what I need to do than rely to on public transportation, especially when driving to the suburbs. I guess the traffic doesn't bother me as much. Locally, I would agree that biking is faster than driving and parking though.
Permalink Reply by Mike Zumwalt on August 14, 2010 at 6:08pm
Well growing up for in Detroit area in my teens and adult life a car was like water, I had 2 at more than one time.

In 2005 after a simple repair due to weather I was unable to fix and then having a $1700 repair bill (thanks Sis) then after losing my job and having it get repo'd I was on bike/bus. They had just installed the racks on the front of the buses, good timing.

I had been a social rider and would park my car on weekends and ride wherever I needed to go so the transition was a little to get used to but... to answer your questions

Do you work in the city or commute to the suburbs? CITY

Are you otherwise required to commute to areas outside the city on a frequent basis? NO

Is your family local and how often do you see them? PARENTS ARE A 2 HR AMTRAK RIDE AWAY

Would you describe your lifestyle as minimalistic? NOT REALLY

Do you use car-sharing services? NO, BUT U-HAUL FOR MOVES

How often would you say not owning a car creates a hindrance? ONLY WHEN IT'S REALLY COLD BUT THE PARKING ISSUE MAKES ME NOT WANT A CAR AND IF I HAVE ENOUGH DISPOSABLE INCOME TO BUY A NEW COMPUTER, FLAT SCREEN TV I'D GET A CAB.

Do you ever feel like you are losing time in your day due to a reliance on public transportation or that it is more of a hassle? ONLY IN THE REALLY COLD WEATHER BUT NOT DRIVING AND BEING ABLE TO READ OR TALK TO FELLOW COMMUTERS IS A GOOD TRADE.

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Permalink Reply by Steven Vance on August 18, 2010 at 5:44pm
Have you ever had a driver's license?
I'm thinking of letting mine expire.

Marcos Alcozer said:
I only live 4 miles from where I work and live on the street for the bus that takes me there. This allows me to bike to work or take the bus if the weather is particularly nasty. I tend to grocery shop 3 - 4 times a week only picking up the items that I need immediately. This makes it so that I do not overspend and also get the freshest produce. My neighborhood has a coop and 3 grocery stores within a close distance. My family lives 3 blocks away and 1 neighborhood away so again, convenient. When I need to purchase a big item I will either have it shipped to my place or I will make a special errand with a friend who is also going to that store. In short, I have worked to make my life easy without a car. I am 25 and still do not see a reason to get my driver's license. :)
Permalink Reply by Steven Vance on August 18, 2010 at 5:56pm
From the American Community Survey (detailed table), 2006-2008 3-year estimates, the portion of people driving to work in the City of Chicago is 61.74%. The number riding bikes is 1.04%. The number walking is 5.62%.

The portion of people driving who drove alone is 83.11%.

BK said:
If any of this sounds elitist, as is sometimes the accusation against successful and proud car-free individuals, I guess I really don't have an apology. According to the 2000 census, only 33% of Chicagoans don't drive to work. Yes, it's been a decennium since then and I don't know how much that number has changed but I hope it has for the better! I'd say going against the grain of the other 67% of the population possibly confers elite status. I see going car-free as responsibility and not a trophy since I not-so-accidentally put myself in a position to do it.
Permalink Reply by Laura Blake on November 6, 2010 at 9:56pm
Just sold my car today!! I've had a car pretty much my entire life and the decision to ditch it did not come easy. But oh so worth it! The nervous butterflies in my stomach this morning soon turned to pure happiness as I realized I would never have to worry about that 5000 lb money-sucker ever again. I'll take the warmth of my balaclava over that security blanket any day.

Permalink Reply by Gin on November 7, 2010 at 7:26am
All right, Laura! Just in time for Bike Winter. ;-) I am sure there will be an adjustment period, but I hope you find the end of the learning curve worth it.

Also, I am chiming in as another car-free mom who likes stuff. I used to be "transit-dependent" and once thought about buying a car. But then I discovered biking instead. Changed my life. Now, transit is sort of like a special treat.

I have never owned a car (I am 38 yrs old, living in Logan Square), and my family did not have one for most of my growing up time (in Hyde Park). My mom was the queen of attaching all manner of stuff to her bike, such as two antique chairs, without a trailer.

Fast forward a few decades and my own family has two trailers--a small, light, nimble one great for groceries and getting lots of fleece for Bike Winter. We also have the "flat bed truck" good for lumber, overspending at the garden center and even a washing machine/dryer set. The bottom pic is of Michael with kitchen cabinets on the trailer. We have since depaved much of our back yard, preferring green/social space to parking spaces behind our 3 flat.

The hardest car-free time was the year after our son was born. We loved walking, and tended to use a sling and then a back pack to carry him. I hated having to bring a stroller on CTA. In fact, I hated having to *rely* on the CTA, especially during non-rush hour periods. You can read more about our car=free parenting experiences during those first years at: http://velobaby.blogspot.com/search/label/car-free%20living



Permalink Reply by Juan 2-3 or more mi. on November 7, 2010 at 7:39am
To create a car free society using technology; solar/wind/geothermal.

Permalink Reply by Matt on November 7, 2010 at 11:50am
I haven't taken the time to read all of the comments, so forgive me if much of this has been said already.

Do you work in the city or commute to the suburbs?

I live and work in the suburbs, roughly 22 miles from downtown. I have the most beautiful, six-minute walking commute from home to cubicle one could hope for. People in Westchester should try this lifestyle. It's quite lovely.

Are you otherwise required to commute to areas outside the city on a frequent basis?

On rare occasions, I have to travel further out into the burbs, or between burbs. Riding a bike around in the burbs is great. Fewer lights, faster momentum, scenic trails. I find the bike routes out here more interesting and varied than those in the city. We even have a few bike lanes now.

I smell a presumption that anyone who replies to this post lives within the city limits. Since that isn't true in my case, I'll flip the question around:

Are you otherwise required to commute to areas inside the city on a frequent basis?

Not required, but I look for reasons to bike into the city at least once a week, all year long. The exercise is healthy, it keeps me conditioned, I get to visit with friends and family, and the city is a much more interesting place to be.

Is your family local and how often do you see them?

My mother lives near downtown, and I have a brother in Oak Park. I have siblings that live all over the country. I visit local family frequently.

Would you describe your lifestyle as minimalistic?

Traveling by bike is more fun and feels better than sitting in front of the television, and despite what many say, marketing can be effective, so yes, it is probably more minimalistic for me than friends of mine who have families of four who live in Naperville with big basements, two-car garages and swimming pools. I suspect it is much more difficult to raise a family in the suburbs without a car than it is to live on one's own, but I do hear of people who can pull it off.

This is the part of me wondering how I would have gotten that all-in-one printer home the other day or the cans of paint and bbq I just bought.

Really? Hang with us, we'll educate you. These things are possible, but you might have to get yourself a slower, heavy-duty cargo bike. I only really use that for groceries, though. If I needed a printer or barbeque, I would probably take advantage of my Amazon Prime account to have it shipped within two days. I canceled my subscription to "Consumer Reports" once I realized the reviews on Amazon were better, so why do I need to take time to travel and talk to a spiff-slurping salesperson? Besides, the prices are generally lower on Amazon too.

Even though you didn't ask, other heavy-duty non-perishable items like laundry detergent or big clumsy and awkward packages of toilet paper, as well as other household items, can be shipped to me for free from Alice.com. Even if I had a car, I would probably take advantage of this service.

As for those rare purchases like cans of paint, or (again, even though you didn't ask) parties in deepest suburbia, it's good to have friends who enjoy a complimentary lunch or dinner, as well as gas money. When I must use motorized transport, I can take small comfort in the fact that it is communal. When friends are unavailable, taxis always are, even though here in the burbs they constitute (pardon the expression) highway robbery. Still, much less expensive in a pinch than auto ownership.

When I run my weekly errands, I get everything done in one shot. How is that possible on a bike?

The question assumes that we have a common understanding of what constitutes "weekly errands." Granted I usually have to make two trips to the grocery store a week, but I don't imagine this would change if I owned a car. Why buy produce that's going to sit in your fridge and rot?

Do you use car-sharing services?

They are unavailable in my area. There was a time not long ago when I wished hard for one, mainly because grocery shopping takes a long time when one likes to frequent multiple shops on a bike. It would be nice to have a car maybe once a week for that purpose, but as time goes by I feel less and less concerned about this. I am adapting.

How often would you say not owning a car creates a hindrance?

Automobile ownership has its advantages as well as several drawbacks. I think a lot of people take that expense for granted. Even if your car is paid off, you're looking at hundreds of dollars a month in gas, insurance and repairs. Sure, the convenience and time-savings can be mildly tempting. It might be nice at times to not have to lug a bag of clothes into the fancy restaurant for the date or party, or to not have to occupy the lavatory so I can change out of the sweat rags into something more appropriate -- and to hope it isn't too wrinkled. But the other side of the coin is that I am in good physical shape, I enjoy traveling more, I feel good about my ecological footprint, and I always get free rock-star parking. With every hindrance there comes a benefit.

Do you ever feel like you are losing time in your day due to a reliance on public transportation or that it is more of a hassle?

I am losing time, yes. However, driving does not guarantee on-time arrival. In fact, if one can use the rail systems, that seems much more reliable than driving. Also, driving was much more uncomfortable, even painful. Parking in the city is rarely convenient and is in itself a hassle (and often an expense).

If I needed to commute by rail every day, I can see myself taking advantage of the opportunity to read or be productive on a laptop or iPad. How does one define "losing time?" What can possibly be productive about sitting behind a steering wheel, staring at a road, and constantly calculating the number of car lengths behind the vehicle in front of me? I am taking that need to travel and turning it into a workout. I feel productive, that time is put to good use maintaining my health and having fun. I suppose many people talk on their phones in the car; say hello to Satan for me.
Permalink Reply by Margie S on November 7, 2010 at 12:34pm
Worked in the city use public transpo and my bike more. Ready to winterize!
Permalink Reply by Liz W. Durham on November 7, 2010 at 2:08pm
Hurray Laura!! I have yet to regret selling my car 3 years ago. I now live in an entirely car-free household (me, 1 teen, one 4 y.o.). Being car-free has been an awesome trip thus far. I wish you well and much fun as you adjust to the change. And with the winter season upon us...you will likely get super feelings of self sufficiency.


Laura Blake said:
Just sold my car today!! I've had a car pretty much my entire life and the decision to ditch it did not come easy. But oh so worth it! The nervous butterflies in my stomach this morning soon turned to pure happiness as I realized I would never have to worry about that 5000 lb money-sucker ever again. I'll take the warmth of my balaclava over that security blanket any day.

Permalink Reply by Duppie on November 7, 2010 at 3:44pm
Very brave decision, especially with winter season upon us.
Good luck!

Laura Blake said:
Just sold my car today!! I've had a car pretty much my entire life and the decision to ditch it did not come easy. But oh so worth it! The nervous butterflies in my stomach this morning soon turned to pure happiness as I realized I would never have to worry about that 5000 lb money-sucker ever again. I'll take the warmth of my balaclava over that security blanket any day.

Permalink Reply by Laura Blake on November 7, 2010 at 6:08pm
Thank you everyone for all the words of encouragement!

For years I've always toyed with the idea of being car-less, and only until recently actually became serious about it. Cycling has become such a big part of my life that the decision became much easier once I gained the confidence to consider bicycling my main mode of transport. To anyone considering doing the same, it really helped me to conduct my own car-free experiment in the months leading up to the final sale. Just pretend like its not there (except for street cleaning of course!) and see how you deal with things such as grocery shopping, crappy weather days, and seeking out urgent medical care (this last one wasn't the most fun, but it was definitely the most satisfying to have been able to accomplish without hopping in my easily accessible car).

I love seeing pictures of everyone hauling ridiculously large and awkward items on their bikes!! I get such a kick out of it! Gin, your picture of Michael hauling the kitchen cabinets is great! Wow. Very impressive. Bring it!

Again, thank you everyone for all the great information and encouragement. Making such a big lifestyle change is always much easier with the support of the people around you. :)

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