How to live without a car in modern day America in three easy steps:
1. Get rid of your car.
2. Get used to doing things without a car.
3. Keep doing things without a car.
Billions of people have done it for thousands of years (okay, billions are doing it now, millions have done it for thousands of years). A little over 100 years ago, everyone had always done it forever.
The hardest part about living without a car is getting used to it. Once you are used to it, it is easy, especially because you are saving so much money.
The problem is that most Americans have grown up with at least one if not two or three cars. Coming from this direction, it is very hard to get rid of your car because you have to justify getting rid of it before you do anything. In this situation, it is unlikely anything will change unless you really really want it to. The default situation, inertia, will prevail. You will keep having a car.
You have to come from the direction of not having a car to start with. It breaks down, it is in a wreck, etc. You don't have a car now. The key is to get through the first few months and learn how to live without it. This will be the most difficult time. But if you make use of walking, bicycle riding, public transportation, rides with friends, and a well-planned community with everything you need nearby (instead of sprawled all over creation), it won't be that hard. Once you are through those first few months, then you have to justify getting a car (instead of the other way around). It will be hard to justify getting a car at this point if your situation is conducive to carlessness. Then you are home free! You no longer rely on a car! Congratulations! You are helping make the world a better, safer, more livable, less polluted place.
Additional resources:
www.livecarfree.com
HOME
Copyright © 1998-2008
Gregory J. Reis
