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 You Can Buy Happiness (and It’s Cheap).
Nick Tort says
I would go with a “car-smart” vs a “car-lite” approach for most Americans, simply based on the extremity is poises to people. By car-smart (I refuse to say smart car), I mean selling what you may have and getting a car based on mpg. I am an avid traveller and outdoorsman. I needed 2 things out of my car:
1- to be able to carry a lot of gear (I am also a screen printer so I deliver 6-10 boxes to local clients at a time)
2-great gas mileage
Those are difficult things to find in 1 automobile. It took a lot of looking, but I did find exactly what I was looking for. In just gas alone, I went from spending $3000+/year to less than $1500. Cut it in half, and honestly I drive more now that I am able to. I am “freed” of the guilt of burning gas, and I get out in the world that much more. For anyone curious, I sold my Jeep Wrangler for a Honda Fit. You will be amazed by how much room is in a Fit – more than a Jeep – Easy!
Anyway, I love this post. I am not meaning to come off critical, just offering my 2 cents.
JenC says
Great advice, but I find there is no advice for people who want to go down a car and have small children. I have two daughters (3 yrs and 4 mos) and I can hardly walk or bike with a trailer everywhere with them and actually accomplish anything, such as grocery shopping. If I was single or just married, it would be VERY easy for us to have just one vehicle.
Maureen @ Notes on a Visual Life says
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!!
Heather says
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.
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 :) and I like this site hehehe
Brian says
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.
Katie says
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
Ed says
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.
Tammy Strobel says
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. :)
Flora says
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.
astrobeen says
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.