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I haven't driven a motor vehicle since January 2nd, 2010. I don't miss it at all. I am car-free, and would not accept a car if someone gave me one for free. I plan to never own or drive another car for the rest of my life.
Cars fool a lot of people.
Cars are supposed to be fast and luxurious, but how many people include the amount of time worked to earn the money to afford the car itself, its upkeep, the insurance, the gas, the parking space, and so on? 35, 45, 75 miles per hour - are you sure? Many people might find they get around faster without a car, if they calculated time saved from work and money saved from health expenses.
Driving is one of the great American privileges, I'm supposed to believe, but when I am around traffic, the frustration, the quickness to anger, the general impatience and lack of compassion all lead me to think the experience is not all it's said to be. I certainly didn't think much of it, and I can say that after nearly a year and a half without driving, I don't miss it at all.
Vast parking lots and endless miles of road smother the soil and make ugly cities that many wish to escape. Suffocating traffic and smog. 40 to 50 thousand dead Americans per year due to collisions alone (and an estimated half billion animals). Energy waste and dependence, and wars for oil. Millions of fat Americans inching along interstate in metal cages, sealed off from each other and the rest of existence, ready to honk and shout profanities at the slightest provocation, while blood pressure rises. Fat, dying bodies, deprived of exercise and the joy of motion (I guess I believe humans are supposed to move around, just like birds are supposed to fly, but look how many humans spend most of their waking hours on their asses). And noise... endless noise. Who wants to live on a busy street?
Supposedly free societies accept such restricted motion, moving about on predetermined paths according to signs and signals, willing to pay such ridiculous prices (not just in terms of money, but in time and health) just to get from one place to another. In a free society you can move where you want to when you want to, and you don't have to pay for some special tool to do so. You just do it. In modern societies, the most basic ability to walk is highly compromised by dangerous roads and traffic.
Many people despise war, but how many people would choose to give up their car, rather than to invade a country that possesses much oil? I've seen many bumper stickers on cars, vans, SUV's, proclaiming "No Wars For Oil!," and this suggests an answer to my question.
For me, a car is not liberation; it's slavery. It's not fun; it's work. It's not convenience; it's a hassle. It is not sustainable, it is destructive.
I enjoy taking on most trips on my bicycle. I gather groceries, visit friends, travel to the mountains, commute to work (when I work), all by bicycle. 17 or 18 miles per hour is plenty fast for me, and the low cost saves me a lot of time that I might have to otherwise be working if my expenses were higher. My health is the best it's been in my 27 years of life, and I find that my often vigorous rides keep my stress low. I don't envy any motorist. My trips are enjoyable enough that I feel no need for any diversion in the form of music or phone conversation, and so I have no mobile phone, and no portable music player, and I'm glad. I suspect that any future trips I might take across the country will be by bicycle. I can stop whenever and wherever I like. I feel connected to my surroundings at all times, not screened off from them. My pace is quick, but not so quick that I must miss anything. My 35 mile trip to visit my fiance in the next town is mostly pleasant, and takes a bit over 2 hours. Everything within my city is within easy reach of me, by bicycle.
And of course, walking is great too.
For me, owning and driving a car was not liberating; giving the damn thing up for good is liberating.
Nick / InkMeister
  
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it's hard to travel everywhere on a bicycle in america. just trying to visit your friend 5 mins away on a car is multiplied by 5-6 with a bicycle and in an era where time=$$$, cars have become indispensable. that's why people are looking for cleaner fuel and safer cars.
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But it feels so good to break the law in my Mustang...
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Ayeh - there are many trips that I would wager that I could beat you - easily - on my bicycle while you are in your car, for the simple reason that you could easily lose your speed advantage just by looking for parking. Why mention this at all? Well, you mention visiting a friend "5 minutes away." Those are precisely the kinds of trips where a bicycle excels.
You mention that we live in an era where time = money. I address that specifically by pointing out that I save time (working) and I save money (by bicycling).
YMMV though.
Last)Chance - you may find it exhilarating to break the law in a car - many do. Of course, the consequences of an accident could be very dire. You'd likely feel very horrible if you killed someone. This is a scenario I am much less likely to face on my bicycle, traveling at speeds between 10 and 30 miles per hour (mostly around 17mph).
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Kamille - while a vespa is probably a cost effective and environmentally less damaging choice than a car, it still holds zero value for me, and I wouldn't keep one if given one free. I feel a bicycle is superior in every way. While I so heavily emphasize bicycling, in truth, walking must be superior even to the bicycle. Bicycling will always be a compromise.
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I have a fixed gear bike I have been thinking about riding around everywhere.
I'm unsure. What if I get demolished on an uphill. What if I get run over... agghhh.
I live in the heart of the city so it's very possible to become a cyclist but... I dunno, I find cyclists a pain as a driver and don't wanna be that guy.... or maybe i do?
Filling up cost me 75 bucks last time... and I do drive a lot of small trips I could ride...
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On April 27 2011 13:02 nA.Inky wrote:
Last)Chance - you may find it exhilarating to break the law in a car - many do. Of course, the consequences of an accident could be very dire. You'd likely feel very horrible if you killed someone. This is a scenario I am much less likely to face on my bicycle, traveling at speeds between 10 and 30 miles per hour (mostly around 17mph).
there's a time and a place, and i know when and where to do it.
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I agree with the spirit of the OP. However there are range and time limitations, among other things, if you restrict yourself to just walking and a bike.
Luckily, $5 and rising gas prices will influence behavior much better than just abstract arguments without actual tangible consequences.
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Where do you live >.> If in an urban area that makes sense, but out where it's more isolated things change.
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SuperJongMan - You'll never know if it's right for you unless you try it. I didn't plan to be a cyclist. Years ago my car had some problems, so I tried cycling, and liked it so much, I knew it was for me. Then 3 years later I finally ditched the car, having gotten a good feel for being car-lite.
As for irritating drivers - most cyclists have no intention of upsetting drivers. However, many motorists AND cyclists are ignorant of traffic laws, and so both sides make mistakes (particularly relating to cyclists and motorists sharing the road) that can be annoying at best, and deadly at worst. So, whether or not you get into cycling, make sure you are aware of traffic codes and how to drive around cyclists. As a cyclist, make sure you also follow the law.
Here in New Mexico, cyclists have a right to the road, but many motorists don't know that and do get very frustrated and hostile. I don't like to upset motorists, but I also don't mind being "that guy" (the annoying bicyclist). I follow the law and try to be respectful.
As to whether cycling is dangerous... it sure can be. You minimize the danger by following the law and being predictable and visible. I use lights at night, use traffic signals, and ride a straight path in the bike lane or in the right-most traffic lane. You are most likely to get hit at intersections or by cars coming out of driveways - NOT from behind, as many people suspect.
Fixed gear works for many cyclists, but I am skeptical of it. Since you have one gear, you must choose it carefully so as to be suited to all the terrain you cover. Generally, something around 70 gear inches should be good for a fit rider (something like a 50/20 or 46/18). If all I had was a fixie, I'd use it with brakes, but given a choice between a geared bike and a fixie, I'd go geared. I ride a 7 speed drivetrain, and a basically never used granny gear - useful if I were to bike to the peak of the mountains, perhaps, or go on a long tour. Spend most of my time between 65 and 95 gear inches.
Good to see you, RandomKorean!
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My only rant: don't be one of those bicyclists who both maintains that they are a pedestrian and a motor vehicle. You can be either, but it annoys me when they "follow motor laws" but then fly in front of you as a "pedestrian" >.>
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Bicycle is good, but try riding a motorcycle, your world will change once again. 
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I used to ride my bike a ton, but I got hit by a car at 55mph. I am fine, but I panic if I get on a bike anywhere it is possible for a car to come. Even the sound of cars freaks me out. I can only ride them somewhere like a state park now.
I would say there is a definite time and place for cars. Lived in rural Iowa one summer where the nearest grocery store (Walmart) was a 4 hour drive. It was an entire day's expedition to go and get things you needed. You cannot bike 200 miles to the grocery store and 200 miles back with 2 weeks of groceries.
I now live in downtown Philadelphia. I walk everywhere and I enjoy it. There is no need to have a car here, or even to take the bus or subway. A six or seven mile walk does not seem very far to me, and if the snow and rain is bad I have a grocery store a few blocks away and pretty much everything I need if I don't want to go far.
A lot of people don't need to use cars nearly as much as they do, and if you can get away with it, it is much better for you and the environment to walk or bike. However I think you are wrong that cars are wrong for everyone.
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Froadac, I do live in a smallish city (Albuquerque, the biggest city in New Mexico, but still not a large city). It is considered fairly bicycle friendly. I have no problems cycling here.
But I wouldn't hesitate to cycle anywhere. Small towns or what have you... In some ways, I would guess a more rural location would have some advantages, such as more recognition due to less people. Here in the city, I'm dealing with drivers I'll never see again, and have never seen before, and no matter how polite or careful I try to be, I often find I'm upsetting them and they are behaving with a lot of impatience and hostility. And the city has very dense traffic, which sucks.
Where - you comment on range and time limitations. Well, true, I didn't mention bus or train travel, but those are good options for some people, though inferior to bicycling by my standards. Just not my thing, but I respect anyone who ditches a car in favor of bus/train. As to cycling, many commuters think of 10miles as the upper range of a standard daily commute. I would have no problem with 20, though, and I think others could get used to it and enjoy it also. 10 is very easy and convenient for a one way trip. Helps stress and health, and is enjoyable. I often put in about 25 to 35 miles a day, visiting my fiance at work and doing random errands.
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Right on! Cars are too damn expensive.
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Interesting that you would think of a car as slavery. I love my car and feel like it gives me all kinds of freedom. There's a cool aquarium about 3 hours away. This weekend, if I wanted, I could pop in a CD, drive there, have fun, drive back in one day. If I jumped on my bike, the journey would take 3 to 4 times as long. I'd be biking all night back, completely worn out. And it might storm this weekend, too, so I'll be soaked and will probably be splashed by drivers going down the road. Not my idea of fun. My car actually gives me a direct, convenient path and shelters me from the elements.
If you're not into road trips, though, I can see how just having a bike would work. Stop-and-go city traffic isn't fun.
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Froadac: I agree! Sometimes I cycle as a pedestrian, which includes dismounting at intersections to cross to the other sidewalk. Usually i cycle as a motorist, and wait behind cars in front of me, unless there is a bike lane, which means cars must, by law, yeild to me. Sometimes I wait behind anyway, for safety. In short, follow the law - I agree.
HighTimes - I have absolutely zero interest in motorcycles. Wouldn't take one if given to me for free. I'd rather have the physical exertion of riding a bicycle, and having no worries of paying for insurance and gas.
Red Justice - Wow! Sucks that you got hit by a car! I find it interesting that given what happened to you, you aren't even more critical of cars. I don't have such a good excuse as you! Kudos for your car-lite or car-free lifestyle.
I can't imagine living 200 miles from the nearest grocery. Such a scenario would only appeal to me if it meant that I could sustain myself by my own efforts (grow my own food). All the rural locations I've been have had grocery stores close by enough. I'd not hesitate to fasten a trailer to my bike and ride a 40 mile round trip to get a week or two of groceries (you can haul truly mammoth loads in a trailer - there are some grand pictures to be seen online).
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I feel that America has it all wrong with respect to transportation. Horrendous inefficiency compared to many other countries. Good public transportation infrastructure is needed. That said, cars are a definite requirement for many people - especially people with families. While it is highly dependent on the neighborhood people are living in it would simply be impractical (or safe) to expect your whole family to bike everywhere with you. It is also a huge inconvenience to transport large purchases, even groceries (for a family) without a car. This is especially true in the suburbs where most places are out of a reasonable walking distance.
As a student in Boston I am currently without a car and manage just fine. Things like Zipcar also help out in those odd circumstances where you occasionally need a car. But once again, with a family I think it would not be feasible to live without a car. This is especially true the further north you go. Biking in the winter is not pleasant and is exceptionally dangerous at times. Anyways, just my thoughts. Given your circumstances living with a car is probably optimal. Unfortunately, due to poor transportation infrastructure it is not practical for a large majority of people - especially those with families.
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EPT
