ALT-5 Tips for Living without a Car
With the price of gasoline soaring skyward, the harsh reality is that more and more of us will face living without a car because of economics. Even with hybrids and fuel friendly vehicles, the price of gas is driving a great number of people out of driving at all.
So we begin to look at alternatives to having a car. When you begin to look at the pros and cons of owning a vehicle, giving up the car is becoming more attractive all the time. The inconvenience of finding alternatives to driving is quickly having a paradigm shift. When car ownership becomes more cumbersome that being without one, we begin to change our habits.
Walking is a great option for local trips. It is good exercise, and walking is earth friendly. You may not be able to carry much, but you can always get a little red wagon to bring home a jug of milk and a case of Cokes.
You can say goodbye to paying the Gecko for car insurance if you opt to lose the wheels. No worries about where to park the thing.
For the rare times when you just can't get by without a vehicle transport, there are taxi cabs and buses, or you can pay a friend who has a car to give you a lift.
Bike riding is a great alternative to driving. It is good exercise, and a bike will get you there faster than walking.
I have a friend who is in her 70s, and has never owned a car in her life. That doesn't stop her from getting around. She has been to more places than most people could ever dream of. She goes on tours with tour companies and travels worldwide. She feels like she has more options by not being held back with the expense of car ownership.
Not to mention the fact that driving is a huge responsibility. Operating a motor vehicle requires a person to be very careful, because so many lives depend upon what you do with your car. It is a responsibility that cannot be taken for granted. I remember Greyhound used to have a slogan that said, "Go Greyhound, and leave the driving to us." There is considerable peace of mind in not having to do the driving.
I am a professional tour bus driver, with over a million miles of experience behind the wheel. I take great pride in the fact that I provide a service to people who might not otherwise be able to see the thing I can show them.
There are geographical locations that by their inherent nature make car ownership necessary. Places where public transportation might not be possible. Generally, bigger cities have great public transportation. A person can easily navigate a place like Los Angeles, for instance without owning a car. But if you are in a smaller town like Canby, Oregon, you might find a car a little more necessary if you need to get around.
On my visit to Honolulu, Hawaii, I found that the island was small enough to navigate easily by bicycle, and I will fore go the car rental next time I visit there.
I am hoping that we eventually find alternatives to fossil fuel, such as shifting to a hydrogen based economy for vehicle propulsion. Hydrogen is the most abundant element in the universe, and an inexhaustible resource. We could tell the Arabs where to stick their gas, and I wouldn't have to consider giving up my car.
I like my car. I don't want to be forced out of driving by economics. Who knows what the future will bring us?
