nicholab Posted January 10, 2011 Posted January 10, 2011 (edited) Any one managed to get to a car free life yet? Would be wonderful!! Edited January 10, 2011 by nicholab
aerospacemango Posted January 10, 2011 Posted January 10, 2011 Why would you WANT a car-free life? The day that they make public transport that goes from near my front door, to where I want to go,(and on time!) then I'll happily accept a car-free life! However, as public transport is so poor, I think I'll stick to my car, thanks! 2
fafster Posted January 10, 2011 Posted January 10, 2011 My plan is getting my fitness up to a point where I can cycle to work. Before I moved house I'd have a massive hill to climb, but now I live at the top of that hill! So, with Spring (I'm not going out now, it's too cold) I'm going to be on my bike as much as possible. It's only about eight miles to the school, so it shouldn't take more than an hour.
FN-GM Posted January 10, 2011 Posted January 10, 2011 Why would you WANT a car-free life? The day that they make public transport that goes from near my front door, to where I want to go,(and on time!) then I'll happily accept a car-free life! However, as public transport is so poor, I think I'll stick to my car, thanks! I think the same the public transport near me is bad!
HMCTech Posted January 10, 2011 Posted January 10, 2011 A car free work week is great, but a car free life... what about those emergencies. Would be far too risky.
GREED Posted January 10, 2011 Posted January 10, 2011 After this morning's drive in I said to my manager (who takes the same route) that a new/used bike is top of the to do list now... Anyone got a bike they don't want???
CapEnd Posted January 10, 2011 Posted January 10, 2011 I wouldnt want a car free life. I love my car, both as transport and as a hobby. Love going off road, green laning, driving up places that you couldn't walk up. Land Rover Defender, the best car ever made!
aerospacemango Posted January 10, 2011 Posted January 10, 2011 Land Rover Defender, the best car ever made! I want one of those! I live on a farm estate, with loads of off-road opportunities! Would also be useful for getting across the estate to the in-laws, when the snow is deep, and they can't get out of their house!
sidewinder Posted January 10, 2011 Posted January 10, 2011 I hate driving, it's boring and I don't enjoy having to maintain a car, costs a lot and more importantly is a lot of hassle. A car free life is now a possibility for me as I'll be moving to London later in the year, but in reality I will probably end up keeping mine for the odd occasion I cant travel by train. I'd like to be rid of it though
Rydra Posted January 10, 2011 Posted January 10, 2011 Taking into account fuel, insurance, tax/mot and running costs, it's actually cheaper for me to drive to work than it is to get the bus (I pickup/drop off my wife from work each day). Include the ability to actually reach somewhere with entertainment, or a half decent shop, and the car more than pay's for itself. Plus the buses here are very expensive (£3 for 2 miles down the road!), congested, unreliable, and take 3 times as long to reach the destination.
linuxgirlie Posted January 10, 2011 Posted January 10, 2011 Taking into account fuel, insurance, tax/mot and running costs, it's actually cheaper for me to drive to work than it is to get the bus (I pickup/drop off my wife from work each day). Agreed, we were looking into going to work by train but when we calculated all the costs it was still cheaper to go to work by car for the both of us than it was by train. If they make public transport cheaper then I would seriously consider using it.
dhicks Posted January 10, 2011 Posted January 10, 2011 The day that they make public transport that goes from near my front door, to where I want to go,(and on time!) then I'll happily accept a car-free life! This is where London comes out well - 3 24-hour bus routes pretty much straight to our door and tube & rail both just down the road. The tube can get rather crowded at times, especially when everyone's going to / from work, although my journey in is generally pretty good as I'm in work by 7:30am so I miss the crowds. If I could drive, an account with StreetCar or a similar car pool/hire scheme would probably be nice, but if I've ever needed to move stuff around I've always found a man-and-van or a taxi to be good enough. -- David Hicks
CapEnd Posted January 10, 2011 Posted January 10, 2011 I want one of those! I live on a farm estate, with loads of off-road opportunities! Would also be useful for getting across the estate to the in-laws, when the snow is deep, and they can't get out of their house! They are great, best thing I have ever purchased by far. Its like a woman however, noisy, and very high maintainance, but worth every penny. Shes called Harriet.
nicholab Posted January 10, 2011 Author Posted January 10, 2011 That what I mean cycling is the best 10miles is do able to work. I cycled to work every day for 4 years.
aerospacemango Posted January 10, 2011 Posted January 10, 2011 @dhicks....Absolutely true! I lived in London, and only used a car for visiting family and friends OUTSIDE the capital. Everywhere was by tube and bus....Now that I live in the boonies, I couldn't live without a car.
jdoyle Posted January 10, 2011 Posted January 10, 2011 I've just completed Level 1 and Level 2 bike maintenance courses with a view to getting on my bike for work. 1 day per week would have to be car until the end of this academic year. Couldn't give up the car for all the other running around I have to do but will be looking to get a smaller, cheaper to run, insure etc car in the future.
TechMonkey Posted January 10, 2011 Posted January 10, 2011 They are great, best thing I have ever purchased by far. Its like a woman however, noisy, and very high maintainance, but worth every penny. Shes called Harriet. Mine is Phyllis, 1972 24v soft top Lightweight. Currently attempting to fix her up a bit as the electrics are dodgy as but while she was running she was sweet as. Most fun was heading down the pub at the end of term one in the front and up in the back top off (the landy not the people in the back). I went minus car for a bit, but still had a motorbike. Just really not practical unless you are an anti-social with limited responsibilities. Though it is fun being able to say not to lifts and just hooning it off on your own
andyturpie Posted January 10, 2011 Posted January 10, 2011 Never learned to drive, don't want to learn. I have always found it my responsibility to live within a walkable distance to any workplace. I cannot stand the "cars broken down" or the "bus was late" excuse, just boils my urine lol.
mjs_mjs Posted January 10, 2011 Posted January 10, 2011 I don't own a car - so am I already living a car free life?
maniac Posted January 10, 2011 Posted January 10, 2011 Never learned to drive, don't want to learn. I have always found it my responsibility to live within a walkable distance to any workplace. I cannot stand the "cars broken down" or the "bus was late" excuse, just boils my urine lol. Unfortunitely not every one can choose to live within walking distance of where they work. I would love to have brought a house near to my work place, but Canterbury is a very expensive place, so I have no choise by to live out of town and travel to work. That's just the way it is and ocassionally the car does break down, not much you can do when that happens except to get public transport which invariably makes you late because it takes so much longer (20mins in the car to get to work, 1hr 10mins on public transport) Mike. 1
HarryMonkey Posted January 10, 2011 Posted January 10, 2011 Mine is Phyllis, 1972 24v soft top Lightweight. Currently attempting to fix her up a bit as the electrics are dodgy as but while she was running she was sweet as. Most fun was heading down the pub at the end of term one in the front and up in the back top off (the landy not the people in the back). I went minus car for a bit, but still had a motorbike. Just really not practical unless you are an anti-social with limited responsibilities. Though it is fun being able to say not to lifts and just hooning it off on your own Brilliant bit of kit. I had one 15 or so years ago. I put a Ford V6 in mine along with some Vauxhall Carlton front seats and painted it black, white, grey and flourescent pink camouflage. Great fun.
Pottsey Posted January 10, 2011 Posted January 10, 2011 Getting close. If all goes to plan I will gain over 10 hours to myself a week from not needing to travel and save £80 on fuel and whatever other wear and tear costs there are. Don’t think I will ever go 100% car free but I plan to reduce usage by 90 to 95% over now.
aerospacemango Posted January 10, 2011 Posted January 10, 2011 Never learned to drive, don't want to learn. I have always found it my responsibility to live within a walkable distance to any workplace. I cannot stand the "cars broken down" or the "bus was late" excuse, just boils my urine lol. HAHAHAHAHAHA!!! Such a glorious "holier than thou" attitude, there! One would hope that you're never in a position where you need to get somewhere FAST! There'll be no walking, or public transport for you, then! My guess is a taxi, which is.................a CAR! 2
AshMan91 Posted January 10, 2011 Posted January 10, 2011 My work is about a 2 minute walk from my house! Now that's a result
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