Is it possible to live without a car?

shabbadoo · Coal Joined: Sep 11, 2007 Posts: 3

armed bandits...

This OF COURSE makes me think Mad Max. I wish I had a car that was super efficient when I wanted but could drop a "blower" on the block and make it super fast when I wanted. And a rocket pack.

But seriously, the problem of not having cars isn't a big personal issue but a hit to shipping: food, medicine and products. This wont hit individuals as hard as institutions (hospitals and police and job producing companies) that is the REAL rub. People can adapt faster.

But the big animals die off too when food/water runs low... they just stomp the smaller competition first. So when the police start fighting to keep their cars; that will be a great indicator of TSHTF I think. Which reminds me that Mad Max was originally a cop with a car...FULL CIRCLE BABY

gwmss15

This city must be the worst in terms of metro rail and bus networks in the USA as according to this site http://www.bikesatwork.com/carfree/census-lookup.php?state_select=ALL_STATES&sort_num=4&lower_pop=250000&upper_pop=999999999&first_row=50&show_rows=25

Arlington city, Texas with only 1.99% of trips non car based.

I would say its either a small city or such a badly run place that the metro government of Arlington city, Texas just doesnt care about mass transport.

does anyone on here come from Arlington city, Texas who might have an insight as to why the mass transport is so bad.

Revi · Fusion Joined: Apr 25, 2005 Posts: 3112 Location: Maine

Well I managed to get around without a car yesterday, and we used no fossil fuel at all the whole day. It was a beautiful day and we biked and skateboarded to school. I teach at the same high school our kid goes to. I am trying to get the other kids into carbon free transportation, so I buy them breakfast if they get to the breakfast place on the way before 7am on Thursdays. Last spring a few took me up on it. This fall too.

So I guess I'd have to say that It is possible for us to live without a car, on the sunny days especially.

Denny

I live in the suburbs of Toronto, and I was surprised last week at church to meet a couple who do not have a car, not even a single car. They just bought a town house which is a 7 minute walk from the suburban rail ("GO") station, and it turned out that to afford the place, they could not also afford cars. So, its not like they voluntarily dropped car ownership from their lifestyle. But, they are happy now with their choice. It costs the two of them over $425 per months for commuting to Toronto, that is a combined GO and Mississauga pass. But, compare that to car ownership costs. They get around by walking, biking and when it comes to shopping, they use the city bus, which is a 20 minute ride to a huge shopping centre. There is a nuisance of bringing the groceries they said, but on the other hand, they find that it takes about the same time to get to the store by bus, as they don't have to hunt for parking spots.

One thing the guy said is that he feels less tense going to work now, because of traffic hassles when he drove and now he can nap instead.

Looking down the road, they have isolated themselves from the worst ravages of peak oil on their budget.

emersonbiggins

Vortex · Coal Joined: Dec 24, 2006 Posts: 13 Location: Sweden

"Is it possible to live without a car?"

I do not own a car, I either commute by bus or car pool to work. In the summer, it is possible to bike (30 km total distance) but it is too dangerous in the winter. About half of the workforce in the group I work in do car pooling.

My analysis

Advantages of not having a car:

+ Car ownership in Sweden can be very expensive, saving that money is a great advantage. I usually save more than 60 % of my net income every month, that would not be possible if I had a car.

+ No worries about theft and finding parking place

+ Do not harm the environment that much

+ Possibly more healthy when you have to bike or walk.

Disadvantages of not having a car:

- Freedom of movement is severly impacted. In rural Sweden, there are buses going but nowhere as frequently as in bigger cities. If you miss the bus, you will have to wait for another 30 minutes or so.

- I am currently single, but I suspect that the average prospective girlfriend do not want to bike, to commute or do a lot of planning due to the abscence of the car.

- My driving skills and sense of traffic rhythm are deteriorating when not driving a car for a more than a few times a year: like other skills when not using them.

- Many think it is a little bit odd when you do not own a car. In our western culture, it seems that the car is more than just a mean of transportation, it is like something that impersonates the very essence of someone.

So, there are a lot of drawbacks of not owning a car. But I have tried to plan a bit and therefore located myself so that everything is within a radius of 16 km, my workplace being the most remote place. Daily shopping is a 2 minute walk away.

Denny

dinopello

Maybe this was posted somewhere else but check it out

Trying to ensure it is not possible to live without car

Doly · Expert Joined: Dec 03, 2004 Posts: 4031

Blacksmith

My brother lived in Montreal for some years and never owned a car.

However, I see it as being more difficult for rural people to do without car or trucks, and seeing the state of our rail system transportation of food may be a problem.
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Alias Redneck

Blacksmith

My brother lived in Montreal for some years and never owned a car.

However, I see it as being more difficult for rural people to do without car or trucks, and seeing the state of our rail system transportation of food may be a problem.
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Appuis ait fabrum esse suae quemque fortunae.
Alias Redneck