A year ago today I woke up and realized that if I wanted to get anywhere or go anywhere I was walking or taking the bus or a cab or even a plane but I sure as heck wouldn’t be driving anything, that’s for sure.
I’ve learned a few things over the year of being without a car so I thought I’d share:
1. Friends with cars are more than willing to drive you to and from the bus stop or train station. It takes some getting used to as there’s a lot of freedom and control or power that car ownership offers. You feel as if you’re putting your friends and family out . Just because you chose to be carless to save on the money so you can pay debt faster doesn’t mean that your friends become chauffeurs. But they don’t seem to mind if you make the effort to meet them half way.
2. You have feet and legs. And for the first week or so they will complain about the lack of wheels. But after a while you’ll notice that your pants are a little baggier which means you are getting more fit than when you would drive to dairy queen. Exercise is good. Do if often.
3. I can walk and take public transit faster than driving. But this is due to planning. I chose to live in downtown Toronto and within a four block radius I have access to trains, plains, buses, streetcars, taxis and I am sure I am missing a few too. Bicycles too, but the toronto traffic with bikes looks a little to hairy for my liking. It really is true about walking faster than driving. I have walked past many cars here stuck in traffic and walked faster to the next light than they’re ever going to get there in the mid day hustle and bustle. I do not miss traffic.
4. I do miss road trips. Unless you hitchhike, there’s some places you just can’t get to. I have my motorbike, so that itch gets scratched in a way but there’s nothing better than a good road trip with good people, good music and a few timmy’s drive thrus on the way.
5. Groceries can be fussy, to say the least. As I have lived near a grocery store since I’ve been without wheels I just go to store a lot. Lots of little trips, rather than one big expensive thing. Costco runs are out which actually saves you money as you don’t buy all the stuff you think you need because it’s such a good deal.
7. If you do need a car, you can rent. There’s zipcar here in town and for about ten bucks an hour I can rent any car from trucks to minis to hondas to mazdas and just walk to the corner – grab the car and do my thing and drop it off again. If I wanted to go somewhere else, I could rent a more traditional car at a more traditional car rental. A weekend car rental can be had for about $100 if you’re not too fussy on models and don’t need a SUV or Minivan. It’s way cheaper to only use a car when you absolutely need to, rather than paying for one that just sits in your driveway
8. I don’t miss the $700 tuneups, or $350 in-cabin air filter changes every three months, or the $95 fillups or the over priced washes or parking tickets, or driving around the block six times to find a spot to grab a coffee only to come back to a $35 ticket. Nope, I don’t miss it one bit. There’s a lot to owning a car. More than the monthly payment.
9. I have lost no friends or family members due to my car-lessness. The car does not make you a better person. You do.
1o. Cars are not evil. If you value a car, great. But they are not investments they are expenses. Cars are fun and I miss those late night drives home with the radio on and the traffic is nowhere to be found. It’s just you the lights of the city and your thoughts. It’s fun. But you can get the same thing walking on a path on the river on a warm summer’s eve too. Want music? bring your iPod. There’s an alternative to cars. Look down, they are your feet.
Will I have a car again? Maybe, when and if either my financial, geographical or social situation changes than a car might be a welcome addition to my life. This is not an anti-car article, but maybe I can get you to see that with some planning it is possible to live your life without a car. You might get cold in the winter and hot in the summer, but you’ll also get a lot more exercise just by default and the money savings can really help. I do not miss the $1000+ my car was costing me.
More Bad News