Editor’s note: This is a guest post from Tammy Strobel of Rowdy Kittens.
Americans have a love affair with cars. Cars symbolize freedom, wealth, and a carefree lifestyle. Consumer culture has created an illusion that we “need” cars. Rather that giving people freedom, cars saddle us with incredible debt, constrain life choices and hamper good health.
Going car-lite is one of the best decisions you’ll ever make. Below are a few options to get you started.
1. Start small.
Selling our cars was part of our downsizing process and it was one of the best financial and health related decisions we’ve ever made. It took over two years to shed our cars and downsize our debt. So if you’re thinking of going car-lite, start small.
Micro-action: Leave your car in the garage for a week and do all your local errands by foot, bike or via public transit. Go for a test ride and see how you do.
2. Do a cost-benefit analysis.
Even if you’ve paid off your car, do you really know the true cost? According to “How to Live Well Without Owning a Car”:
- Americans spend 1/5 of their income on cars.
- An American Automobile Association study pointed out that the average American spends $8,410 per year to own a vehicle. That’s $700 per month.
- The figure includes car payments, insurance, gas, oil, car washes, registration fees, taxes, parking, tools and repairs.
Car ownership is the second largest household expense in the U.S. According to Bikes at Work, Inc. “the average household spends almost as much on their cars as they do on food and health care combined for their entire family.” One of the best money saving strategies available to you is going car-lite.
Micro-action: Add up the true cost of your car(s). How much do you spend every year on car payments, maintenance, gas, insurance, etc.?
3. Consider your health.
The rates of active transportation have declined significantly in the U.S. People are more likely to jump into their car and drive 2 miles to the store, rather than walking or biking. As active transportation rates have declined “we’ve seen a dramatic increase in childhood obesity, diabetes, hypertension, and other health risks. In fact, our children may be the first generation to have a shorter lifespan than their parents.”
Micro-action: Think about how much time you spend sitting everyday. Can you change this behavior by biking or walking more?
4. Going car-lite with kids.
Going car-lite with kids is challenging. But don’t let that stop you. There are many people who have gone car-free or car-lite with kids and rave about the benefits.
- You don’t have to spend $5,000 on a bike to get around safely. There is an abundance of family cargo bikes, child seats, and trailer options to consider. Totcycle.com is a great place to start poking around and exploring options.
- Don’t forget to connect with parents who have gone car-lite or car-free. Ask questions about bikes, gear, challenges and successes.
Micro-action: Read What is this thing we call safe? and In Praise of Car-Light Families.
5. Go multi-modal.
Biking isn’t the only way to get around without a car. Consider taking the bus, train, or walking to your destination. Taking a multi-modal approach to transportation is a great solution and will make your life a lot easier. For instance, on days when it’s pouring rain or snowing you can take the bus.
Micro-action: Research the types of public transportation options in your home town.
6. Truly experience your city by walking and biking.
You don’t have to travel the world to go on an adventure. There are adventure opportunities waiting in your backyard. Going car-lite is an amazing way to see your city in a new light.
For instance, as a result of selling my car(s) my world view has shifted. Rather than rushing from place to place, I slow down and observe my surroundings, patronize local business and say hi to my neighbors.
By biking and walking your city, you can truly experience it.
Micro-action: Tour your city by foot or by bike.
7. Get connected to your local community.
The U.S. has seen a resurgence in cycling. As gas prices continue to rise, new community groups have been founded in cities across the U.S. So get plugged into your local community. If your community doesn’t have an organization devoted to cycling, maybe you should start one?
Closing thoughts…
Going car-lite or car-free is possible. Changing my transportation choices has been large part of my simple living journey and it’s improved my life for the better. I’m happier, healthier and finally have a savings account.
***
Tammy Strobel blogs at RowdyKittens about social change through simple living and is the author of Simply Car-free: How to Pedal Toward Financial Freedom and a Healthier Life.
{ 28 comments… read them below or add one }
You forgot to mention a scooter or motorcycle. They are a viable alternative, but can cost a bit for insurance if you choose.
I like the idea, but being car-free does not work for everyone. Some of us value where we live over minimalism. I live in a very rural area, 10 miles from the closest town, and 40 miles from a metro area. That’s a tough bike ride for a daily commute.
That said, my family does try to reduce what we spend on vehicles, and overall, the article is good advice. Thank you for writing it.
@barry – thanks for the comment. but just to be clear, the article is titled “how to be car-lite” not “car-free.” i believe the hope was to encourage people to use their cars less. and it sounds like you already working towards that. good for you.
My wife and I share one car. While it does get to be frustrating at times, it’s also definitely doable. When we do upgrade to a second vehicle, it will be a motorcycle for me.
Motorcycles – easy to store, easy to park, cheaper insurance, more fuel efficient… Lots of advantages, and I don’t mind being out in the weather most of the time. When I do, we’ll carpool again.
Josh – thanks for the post and for previously linking to Tammy’s blog. I recently bought a bicycle, hoping to make use of it as a commuter bike this summer. Though, I was a bit ambitious considering my commute is over 5 miles one way. I am working towards it though, and am inspired to – at the very least – ask the question, “What would life be like with one car? without cars? with different cars (hybrid, etc)?”
Tammy – I especially appreciate the family links. As a dad of 2 small kids in the burbs, it’s hard to imagine life without the minivan. I do know that my next home-location decision will be heavily influenced by the goods and services available within biking/walking distance.
My daughter (she’s 3) and I have been working on going car-lite ever since I started reading Tammy’s blog (thanks, Tammy!). Kiddo loves riding the bus; she doesn’t like being strapped into her booster seat and prefers to sit next to mom. I think being car-lite makes for better family time.
I have 2 suggestions:
1. Try to negotiate a remote work station with your employer if you have the kind of job that would allow for that. I started asking to work from home almost 3 years ago. It took my company a while to come around, but last year they offered anyone who wanted to work remotely that opportunity. My office is 14 miles from home and since I work splits, that change has effectively saved me from driving 56 miles a day! That’s over 14,000 miles a year just from that one change!
2. Check out Craigslist for bikes and biking accessories. My daughter weighs almost 40 lbs so I decided to get a bike trailer rather than a seat. Those things can run anywhere from $150-$600 at the store. After putting a wanted ad on Craigslist, I found a brand new (brand new, tags and all!) trailer for $65. Doesn’t get much better than that.
By the way, Totcycle is rockin’! Thanks for the link!
I hardly drove at all before I had a child. Once a week I’d drive to the store to buy groceries – i lived 5+ miles from the store, and it was a lot easier to go once a week than spend 3 hours going to and from the store multiple times a week in 100 degree weather (because you really can’t carry enough food for more than a day or two on the bus, and it takes about 1 hour to go that far). Western states are hardly car-lite friendly, since everything is soooo spread out and public transit is limited.
Now I live in a city with lots of public transit, but it’s annoying to have to spend hours and hours to get a mile or two with a baby, only to not be able to carry anything home. How on earth do people do that? Also, I’m afraid to ride a bicycle here – and it’s really too cold for half the year to do that anyhow (especially with small children – it’s only 45 right now). So, I find it odd that I’m even MORE dependent on a car in a city with tons of transit options (although, again, I’m afraid to ride a bike here – there aren’t bike lanes on most streets, and even residential streets are so narrow that cars can barely make it through).
Also, it’s difficult to resist the car when you know it’ll take 20 minutes by car, but 1 hour by train/subway, or 1.5 hours by bus (one way). So, you do have to remember that you’ll get a lot less done if you’re doing the public transit thing.
@Joshua – Thanks for the opportunity to write this post! It was great fun.
@frugalapolis and @Adventure-Some Matthew – Thanks for the suggestions. Using a scooter or motorcycle is a great alternative to owning a car. A friend in Sacramento recently sold her car and is scooting and biking around town now. She loves it!
@codyvilla – Yay! And thank you. I’m happy you found the links useful. I love the Totcyle website. It’s filled with incredible information. And I’m happy to hear you’re riding a bike more. When I started cycling again, I slowly increased my millage over 2 or 3 months. I do think it’s important to start out slow, that way you don’t get injured. I’m sure you’ll be able to make your commute in no time.
@Kristin – thanks for reading RowdyKittens! I appreciate it and I’m so happy you and the “kiddo” love riding the bus. And I dig your suggestions. Everett wrote a great guest post on buying bikes from Craig’s list a while back. http://rowdykittens.com/2010/02/how-to-rent-a-bike-in-any-city-for-free/
@Sarah – Are there any cycling organizations in your city? The local organizations I’ve worked with have done a lot of awesome campaigns around safe transit alternatives. And they are constantly pushing public officials to include more bike lanes on roadways. Check out The League of American Bicyclists – http://www.bikeleague.org/
I’m guessing there are – I’m in Chicago. One of the students I know here said she was “only hit twice” last year. Um….YIKES.
@Sarah! Ohhh yikes! I haven’t been to Chicago, but one of my favorite bloggers lives there and she rides all the time. Her blog has a wealth of information on cycling and navigating the Chicago streets. It’s called Let’s Go Ride a Bike: http://letsgorideabike.com/blog/
I love this article too: “Roll Models: Joanna Goddard, Biking Mama-to-Be” http://letsgorideabike.com/blog/2010/05/roll-models-joanna-goddard-biking-mama-to-be/
And Chicago is home to the Active Transportation Alliance: http://www.activetrans.org/ Biking might not be a good option for you right now. But consider getting involved with some of ATA’s letter writing campaigns.
All the best,
Tammy
I like these tips. I’d like to add that there are some interesting new car sharing services out there like Zipcar that let you get access to a car when you need one. You have to live in a city that has it but if you do it can help fill those gaps where you need more than a bike but don’t want to own a car.
“Americans spend 1/5 of their income on cars.” That hurts my brain to think about. I already felt like every time I drive my car I can hear the money draining out of my wallet.
Great statistics Tammy!
So whether I’m done paying off my car or not, it probably means I’m still spending a hefty amount of change out of my pocket between insurance, gas, oil, and the rest of the bit huh?
It’s so true, we have become conditioned to believe that we need our cars, especially here in the south. We don’t even have a transit like New Yorkan’s do. At least in New York, the majority of the population is more accustomed to taking the transit. Anyhow, interesting article.
Thanks for sharing!!!
Thanks for writing this post, Tammy!
I just moved a week and a half ago from the suburbs of Cincinnati into a more urban part of the city, and going car-lite is one of my primary goals now. I already love being able to walk to so many places. Taking the bus more is my next step. When my fiancee and I get married this summer we’re planning to ditch her car and share mine. Should be interesting to see how that works out.
@Michael – Ohhh I forgot about Zipcar. I talked about car sharing services in my book and Zipcar is fantastic.
@Brett – I know what you mean. The stat’s on cars are staggering. And those are only numbers related to the individual. The amount of money spent on maintaining roads, dealing with environmental problems and poor health due to cars is astounding. If you have a chance check out How to Live Well Without Owning a Car. http://www.amazon.com/How-Live-Well-Without-Owning/dp/1580087574 From what I remember the author has a chapter devoted to “societal costs” of car ownership.
@Jarrod – Thanks! Where in the south do you live? If you have a chance check out Bike Skirt – http://bikeskirt.com/. I believe the bloggers are based out of Alabama.
@Dave – Congratulations on the big move and good luck going car-lite / car-free. I think you’ll love it. If you have any questions about bike related stuff, feel free to email me.
Thanks everyone for leaving such thoughtful comments!
All the best,
Tammy
I feel I should comment just to represent the car-free. I live in a city with a good subway and bus system, and between that and my feet I can get nearly everywhere. NEARLY. Last fall, after many years here, I finally bought a bicycle. It’s a beautiful bike, I dutifully took a “how to ride safely in traffic” class, and now I’m trying to train myself to recognize opportunities to ride.
In general, I consider living without a car to be a wonderful life-hack, even though I do carry heavy things around in my backpack more often than my car-enabled friends. (Hey, at least it keeps me mindful of what I’m bringing home)
Ditto to what Michael Rakowski said — Zipcar is another great option, for those in urban areas who need a car every now and then.
While I love the concept, I researched the car free idea. I live 20 miles away from work and there are no bus routes or rail links out here. Shame really.
On the flip side the car costs me very little. Petrol over here is $6.71 per gallon, so I run my car on LPG which halves the cost. I paid for my car second hand in cash so it isn’t costing me interest. Running on LPG offers me a tax break as the emissions are much lower. The car is also low on insurance too.
Very nice for those who live and work close together, good luck to them! Just offering an alternative to those who are stuck using the car maybe a good idea.
As you’ve mentioned, there are many, many good reasons for bicycle commuting, recreational bicycling and creating a strong bike culture in general. Hopefully a couple with resonate with everyone and motivate more people to give up their cars even here in central Europe.
Interesting, I’ve recently been working through the costs associated with my car and they surprised me – and I track my finances pretty closely I can tell you
I’ll be posting more info on my blog on that topic in due course. Currently I only really use my car at weekends, as I work from home.
I know the article was go lite rather than free, well I am lite and looking at going free. I’m nearly there, but there are a couple of issues I haven’t quite worked out yet. Two problems I keep running into are lack of cycle lanes (and dangerous, narrow roads) and dire public transport here in the UK. I was forced off the roads before by cars, back in my triathlon days, and am not looking forward to facing that battle again.
Great article though, thanks for posting. p.s. I love Portland!
I just stumbled upon this. Kudos to you for a nice concise post. I live in Chicago and I am pretty much car-free (I borrow one when I need one). I take the train to work, and I bus & train about everywhere I have to go. Two suggestions for anyone thinking about this:
1. Zipcar is AWESOME. love love love. I live a block and a half away from one and it is like my own car. I spend maybe $1000 a year on zipcar and anytime I need a car, I have one. That includes GAS.
2. I use Clear for my Internet connection. It’s not as fast as DSL or cable modem, but spending time on public trans is really no inconvenience when you can blog, tweet, youtube, facebook, whatever. When you’re not driving, you can actually get more time to get stuff done.
Oh yeah -and I have two kids (6 and 3). The LOVE the bus.and the el (train). Make it an “adventure” for them and they will rarely complain.
In my experience, Tammy’s insightful points 6 & 7 are the most powerful, and most immediately evident, benefits of going car-light.
I’ve been amazed that in the short period of time we’ve been taking the bus and walking our lives have been enriched in all kinds of lovely, unexpected ways.
From fresh air and birdsong to talking with people we would never even have met in our car – and really enjoying chats with them, even learning local history! – through to daily giving and receiving of random acts of kindness (e.g. my daughter stumbled and was about to fall on the bus when a frail, elderly lady firmly caught her arm and gently steadied her – aw! ).
So many tiny yet beautiful experiences that have made us feel very much a part of our local community as well as simply happier.
For all of those who live in Chicago, check out this post about biking on Memorial Day weekend.
http://www.bikecommuters.com/2010/05/31/memorial-day-weekend-at-bike-the-drive/
“…nearly 20,000 cyclists took to the car-free Lake Shore Drive to Bike the Drive on a warm and sunny Sunday of Memorial Day weekend.”
Awesome and inspiring.
Going carless or even car light in my area is not really feasible. There is no public transportation. I live 22 miles from my workplace. There is NO way to get there by bicycle. You must travel some part of the journey on an Interstate highway. My wife lives more than 5 miles from work. At least some portion must be traveled on a 6 lane highway. We both work 2nd shift so the way home is well after dark. Also, in the summer it is not unusual for the temperature to reach 100 degrees F or more. It’s almost midnight and the temp is still over 80F.
I just moved to Austin, Tx from FortWorth, Tx and am struggling with money. I can’t drive my car right now because the registration sticker and my insurance have expired and I couldn’t make my car payment this month. I had never even considered living without a car (or using it only occasionally), but I think it sounds AMAZING, and I think it will solve alot ofmy problems. All I have thought about lately is how much money I am going to have to put into this car (Cracked windshield, broken windshield wiper, dying battery, gas, insurance, sticker, etc.) and how long I will be paying (forever). My bike is still in Fort Worth, but I could even just buy a new one with the money I was saving to buy insurance! Texas is hot, but it is usually nice enough to ride (i.e. not much rain or snow), and we have LOTS of sidewalks in Austin. I think I might give this a try, and maybe get my roomates to join me!
Thanks for the advice!!!
Katie W. ~18
I think it depends on the public transportation available. In some places, it takes 3-4 times as long to get where you are going, and not all people have that type of time. If the public transportation was as efficient as NY or London (from what I heard), more people would rely less on their cars. Also, renting a car when needed was not mentioned. This option allows people to have cars on an as-needed basis, and drive cars they would not normally be able to afford- to make driving fun again and not just a burden. Moreover, many people in urban areas leave their cars parked for days, paying for something they only use part of the time–which makes a combo of renting, public transportation, car pooling, and perhaps motorscooters are more sensible alternative.
My car is more then most peoples house payment but I think we are still car light, because we have only 1 car when we could have two.
and I like this site hehehe
I am a sahm, my husband works from home and we home school so we really do not use it often. It is huge, safe, comfortable and easy for our oldest to get to the third row. After 2 car wrecks both totaling the cars, the most recent in a very safe SUV that my husband insisted on for safety reasons and not price wise we got hit by two different cars, my infant daughter, myself and my pregnant friend were ok, everyone else hauled off bloody on stretchers. Safety can be priority, and expenisve safe large car for use provides what makes us happy and to feel like we are keeping our kids safe the cost isnt the issue. We feel we still live simply based on having 1 car and our living situation when we could afford two cars its seems like a waste of money we dont each need our own cars to sit in the driveway when we are both home. We combine errands because we dont like wasting gas, time or money. I can afford gas thats not the point. Likely we are not as simplified as many but we are learning all the time and improving
Hi! I’ve just found the blog and I am loving it. I do have a question…
I live in Los Angeles and I would love to cycle… but in my area, I would never be able to enjoy the experience as I’d be terrified the entire time. I live in the most dangerous area as far as bad driving is concerned and many cyclists are hit. I also think about the amount of pollution I’d be inhaling the whole time. I wish our public transport was better but, as many people know, the system in LA leaves pretty much everything to be desired. I feel like going car-lite or car free would be impossible in my current situation. I guess, for now, I will keep looking for a smaller car (even though mine is much smaller than the average car already).
Does anyone have any LA advice for me?
Thanks!!
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