 |
| One of these trailers would be nice for getting groceries. |
This week our household becomes part of the exclusive group of households that have gone carless. We seem to be in good company. Car free lifestyles are becoming increasingly popular.
For an example close to home, I only had to talk to my brother. I texted to tell him of my new experiment in car free living. He texted back that his family has been car free for a year. What?
Number one - that's awesome. Number two - I really must text my brother more often.
Millennials have been famously nonchalant about private vehicle ownership, much to the disappointment of the auto industry. About double the number of this generation do not own cars compared to the general population.
That same car industry has spent billions to convince us (and lawmakers) that their products are indispensable.
Many today disagree, and it is not just the more recent generations. Many boomers are downsizing cars right out of their lives, and finding that they don't miss them.
While the number of car free households in North America is still small (about 10%), that number is growing every year.
It is not only people going car free. Cities are getting into the act as well.
Many cities around the world are creating car free spaces, where people don't have to breathe smog, listen to all the racket, or feel that their lives are constantly threatened by inattentive drivers.
Around the world planners are working toward making at least the city centres free of automobiles. They want to reduce congestion, improve air quality, and increase the quality of life for the people in those areas.
What if, contrary to a century of advertising, freedom is not to be found in owning a car, but in NOT owning a car?
That is what we want to find out. And if we avoid spewing tons of CO2 into the atmosphere while we're at it, so much the better.
As of now, we are a carless household, and we are excited to see what happens.
Can we survive without a car? Will we come crawling back to the car industry, begging for our mobility back?
Or will we find liberation, and never return?
I know car ownership is the second major expense to most peoples budgets, but it would be really hard to live car free out in the western part of the US where everything is so far apart.
ReplyDeleteIn North America everything has been designed for cars, so travel without one is difficult. It's almost like that has been done intentionally to force people into cars. But things are changing, and there has never been a better time to free one's self from the tyranny of the auto and fossil fuel industries.
DeleteThis brought a smile to my face. I initially read 'carless' as 'careless'! What, Gregg and Linda 'careless', I don't think so! I also smiled at the comment about texting your brother more and at the rise in car-free peeps. I needed this today as my country is still in a state of emergency. We are very grateful to the US for sending support. We have even had a little rain, so I am off to get some manure and mulch to try and keep it in the soil.
ReplyDeleteI go on Summer break soon, and funnily enough I thought to myself just this morning that it would be the perfect time to trial being car-free for a month. Time to dust off the bicycle :-)
Madeleine
Careless- no. Carefree - yes. My brother and his family beat us to it, and we didn't even know it. He lives in a large city with many options for living without a car. We have some good ones here, too.
DeleteWe have been watching with dismay what has been transpiring in your country. Canada has also had an increase in the frequency and severity of forest fires. Very destructive, wherever they take place.
Enjoy your summer break. Happy cycling.
Madeleine- My thoughts are with you and all in Australia who are in the way of these terrible fires. I can't imagine it.
DeleteThat's so kind of you Marla, thanks for thinking of us. We have incredible fire fighters and they are doing an amazing job with very few lives lost. Certainly hotter climactic conditions have contributed to this catastrophe, but some of the fires were lit by arsonists. It is hard to get your head around.
DeleteMadeleine
It's been over a decade now that I'm car-free. Full disclosure, I didn't give it up by choice, so I can't pat myself on the back. I am grateful now that I don't have the worry or expense. I depend on someone else to drive me when it's needed. Needed being the important word here, I no longer go out for no reason. Usually once a week or so to get supplies. Wish we had more transportation services available here. Many in this area can't afford cars and depend on taxi service. There is a rural bus service, but I had a really bad experience with them, so choose not to use them again. Hope it all works out for you guys to stay car-free.
ReplyDelete