I just could not carry enough water to bike all the way into town during summer, so, I will buy a small, 65 mpg motorcycle instead.

Now it’s paid off and I’ve reduced my insurance, so costs are significantly lower. Unfortunately, we’re in a geographically HUGE city, but every summer, I talk to myself about ditching the car for at least a week and riding to work. Perhaps one of these days I’ll turn the talk into action.

We live in a rural area (town of 1300) and we are unlikely to ever go car free, but living and working very close together is great. We can go home for lunch if we want. If I need a random grocery item I can walk four blocks to the grocery store and walk back in less time than I could drive, shop, and drive back at our previous house. I can also walk to the library, post office, hardware store, park,and my kid’s favorite the bakery. I

What is exciting too me is that our cars should last much longer. Also if we get to the point we are not comfortable driving them long distances we can easily afford a rental from the money that we have not spent on car repairs and/or purchases. We can also easily get by with no stress if one car is out of commission.

I live in a major city, so it’s easy for me to do without a car; I have grocery stores, dry cleaners, electronics stores, hair salons, clothing boutiques, restaurants, bars, a park and even a zoo within easy walking distance. I chose to live here in large part because I wanted to get rid of my car, and I’ve never, ever regretted it. Though I am thinking of joining Zipcar primarily to keep up my driving skills — it seems foolish to let them lapse — I am hugely relieved not to have to deal with the expense or hassle of car ownership.

Though one thing about biking here in the Northwest you you have to think about rain, “lakes” in the middle of the path, rain, getting dark early and getting light late, rain, drivers who are not watching where they are going and don’t care who is in their way, rain, lots of hills to go up/down and finally the occasional big yellow thing in the sky that causes everyone to become distracted as they flee.

One thing I am saving up for is the equipment to carry the kids around and get a bike for my wife, that should help cut down on the car use by an additional 60%.

We are just this side of car-free: we have one car that we rarely use during the week. For our daily commutes, I take the train (or bike occasionally) and the hubs walks to work.

I would consider getting rid of our car except that it’s completely paid off, we get free oil changes thanks to my in-laws, it’s low maintenance and has great gas mileage. Since we’re planning to move away from the city soonish, we’re hanging on to it for now. Otherwise I’d consider doing what this poster did.

All the people I see in cars along my route don’t know what they’re missing. I sorta feel sorry for them.

For those of you who are wanting to try it – just do it. If you don’t know what to wear on a windy 5 degree day just layer up with whatever you have and see how it goes. I get by most of the winter using jackets that were given to me by sales reps. years ago. My bike is an old early 90′s mountain bike with fenders and I switch to studded tires when the precipitation freezes. I love making tracks in fresh snow! Bike commuting works for me and it can work for you if you want it to. Be a kid again. Ride your bike. Have fun.

We gave up our car in DC over 4 years ago. I usually add “and haven’t looked back,” but my husband (who will probably also comment) wants a car now that we’ve moved to the suburbs. I see some arguments For, but I truly feel we’ll be physically healthier 30 years from now when we retire if we resist buying a car again between then and now.

Living in the North East, biking through the rain and snow to spend a couple of hours at work soaking wet doesn’t sound fun.

Of course there are variables to consider depending on where you live (your city’s bike-friendliness, climate, etc), but going car-free is a great option if it’s available. I actually wouldn’t mind ever owning a car again, to be honest.

Me? I’m driving a 10 year-old station wagon, making my own bread and, while I’m working at some interesting stuff, won’t be a jet-setter anytime soon. On a day when I might have gotten pretty down about things, this post helped me remember the importance of value — investing in what matters, as opposed to what doesn’t.

My friend has a great job opportunity and a very sexy car. She’s also in a truly awful relationship, has trouble managing her money (someday she’ll inherit a pile, so lives beyond her means) and is still defining herself by a lot of outward standards. I have a great relationship, live within my means, and have an intentional life — I’ve made the choices about what matters and shaped my life accordingly.

This post reminded me that it’s not about the car, or the toys, or the address. It’s about being clear on what matters, and making your life your own.

Thanks.

We do it more for environmental reasons (I take the train to work 3 days/week even though it saves me no money) but the monetary savings sure are nice.

For those outside cities, think about speaking up about some non-city public transportation. We live in a rural area that’s consistently ranked the #1 public transportation for a rural area. There are public buses that run four specific routes, mainly between the small towns (about 10,000) each, the hospital (largest employer around), and the big box shopping area (kmart, big grocery stores, border’s, sears, etc).

Because good public transit in rural areas is so rare and undeveloped, there is actually a lot of public money, grant money, non-profits, etc. interested in supporting such efforts. If any of the small town and suburban readers are interested, they should think about this for their area.

I am trying to reduce my car usage, but honestly, with a paid-for (bought used) car and cheap month-to-month expenses, while DH and I probably could go down to one car … we really don’t want to. In a nutshell, we find the cost of owning an extra car worth it (frankly I think we’d pay more in marriage counseling over deciding whose convenience mattered more than we’d save…). Still, I do think it’s well worth evaluating this (not taking it as a given that one needs a car) and also paying attention to opportunities not to use the car(s) one owns.

I live in Chicago, too. My wife and I have been car free for almost a decade. We take the L, bus, walk, bike, I-GO (the nonprofit counterpart to ZipCar here in Chicago). ANYTHING but own our own cars. (And that’s between two people.)

Here is the best part: We are getting freaking RICH for it! Our bank accounts are flush, we take cabs out to great restaurants – all because we don’t pay anything (nada, zip, zilch) for a car.

So many people give you this look like they should be sorry for me, like “oh, that poor soul must have got a DUI or something.”

The sad thing is that I’m probably wealthier than all these people – the people who feel sorry for me? Don’t be sorry for MY rich behind – I’m sorry for yours!

Drop the car!! As a wise man says, “there is no future in cars.” If you have two, try on just one for size. (Even if you live in the ‘burbs, IT CAN BE DONE.) Use your ingenuity and reap the benefits of what you sow.

Environment, your family, society, country (less imports), and YOURSELF all benefit from your decision to drop the car.