ALT-6 Tips for Living without a Car
I currently do not own or drive a vehicle. A combination of factors merges for this lifestyle choice, most notably my tendency for causing automobile accidents. A vast majority of the accidents occurred when I was much younger and more impulsive. Yet, the primary reason I choose to live without a car is because of a close call I had about four years ago, when I was no longer young and impulsive.
The accident not only caused multiple injuries, it also changed my perception of the value of driving an automobile. My insurance rate soared after the accident. Health bills mounted until I was unable to pay for remedial medical services. The growing stack of unpaid health care bills eventually led to defaults, which destroyed my credit rating and any chance I had of finance managers approving me for car loans.
I generally live without a car when I reach the nadir of financial distress. While the bottom of the proverbial barrel describes my current situation, I decided that living without a car should be a permanent fixture of my lifestyle. I am no longer ashamed when friends and family members see me waiting for buses or walking alone along busy stretches of road within my community. After all, living without a car allows me to improve the quality of my life in three significant ways.
Living without a car reduces my carbon footprint. I do not release heat trapping CO2 emissions into the atmosphere. The closest I come to contributing CO2 is when I ride a bus to and from work. Even then, I share the environmental burden with multiple riders. Since I live three miles from work, I often walk home long after the last bus passes by. By living without a car, I not only enhance the earth’s health, but I improve my physical and mental health as well. Finally, I spend little or no time in the stress incubator called traffic jams.
Nonetheless, the stigma attached to living without a car remains indelibly etched into how people perceive me. The see me hauling groceries and think, “there goes the bag man.” Some people may even believe I am homeless, since I carry the same torn backpack everywhere I travel. The stigmas will follow me for the rest of my life, but I am proud of the lifestyle choice I made that is counter intuitive in our materialistic driven society. I may not get to where I need to go as fast as most people, but I live without a car with equanimity.
Living without a car requires in depth planning and follow through. Here are some logistical tips to help you prepare for living without a car:
Public Transportation
If you live in an area with a public transportation option, download all schedules pertinent to your regular itinerary. Most municipal public transportation systems change schedules and routes at least once a year, so stay abreast of those changes.
Car Rental
You will need a car to take road trips. Make sure you have a credit or debit card that allows you to make a rental reservation. Moreover, a growing trend called car sharing is becoming a part of urban lifestyles, especially among professionals under the age of forty.
Cycling
An increasing number of metropolitan areas invest in cycling grids, which makes the cycling option more palatable. Be sure to research cycling equipment and state cycling safety laws before making an investment in this form of transportation.
Shoes
If walking is your form of transportation, invest in high quality shoes the support your foot size and shape. Walking places pressure on ankle and foot ligaments. Make sure you provide support for your feet.
Reciprocate
You will need to lean on a friend or family member for short notice rides to doctor appointments or your place of employment. When somebody provides this amiable service, reciprocate with an offer to pay for gas. If the offer is declined, show your appreciation with a surprise lunch or dinner.
Automobiles play an integral role in society. However, the automobile causes massive migration from centralized urban areas, thus increasing congestion and pollution. Living without a car may fly against the cultural grain, but doing so enhances the quality of your life.
