Comments on: I Need Your Advice on Going Car-Free! http://www.bikecommuters.com/2008/04/30/i-need-your-advice-on-going-car-free/ Bike Your Drive! Wed, 08 Feb 2012 22:39:52 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.4 By: Ghost Rider http://www.bikecommuters.com/2008/04/30/i-need-your-advice-on-going-car-free/#comment-12458 Ghost Rider Fri, 02 May 2008 02:42:31 +0000 http://www.bikecommuters.com/2008/04/30/i-need-your-advice-on-going-car-free/#comment-12458 Kevin, I have a lot of miles under my belt of pulling a child trailer -- and while it is nice to be able to detach the trailer when I don't need it, I just do not like the handling compromises I have to make when towing it. There's a weird "pulsing effect" when starting off with a load and negotiating tight spaces and turns leaves a lot to be desired. Kevin, I have a lot of miles under my belt of pulling a child trailer — and while it is nice to be able to detach the trailer when I don’t need it, I just do not like the handling compromises I have to make when towing it. There’s a weird “pulsing effect” when starting off with a load and negotiating tight spaces and turns leaves a lot to be desired.

]]> By: Kevin http://www.bikecommuters.com/2008/04/30/i-need-your-advice-on-going-car-free/#comment-12455 Kevin Fri, 02 May 2008 01:35:40 +0000 http://www.bikecommuters.com/2008/04/30/i-need-your-advice-on-going-car-free/#comment-12455 I've been car "lite" as we still have a mini-van (3 kids), but I rarely drive and never alone. I know you said you are leaning toward the xtracycle but I'm going to put in a plug for the Burley Flatbed Trailer. I throw a 19 (?) gallon Rubbermaid container on it and can bring home considerably more from the store that the xtracycle can. BUT I also live in a town of 10,000 so it's relatively easy to navigate with the trailer (affectionately named the Grocery Getter). It's also nice to disconnect the trailer when I don't need to unnecessarily pull it. I’ve been car “lite” as we still have a mini-van (3 kids), but I rarely drive and never alone.

I know you said you are leaning toward the xtracycle but I’m going to put in a plug for the Burley Flatbed Trailer. I throw a 19 (?) gallon Rubbermaid container on it and can bring home considerably more from the store that the xtracycle can. BUT I also live in a town of 10,000 so it’s relatively easy to navigate with the trailer (affectionately named the Grocery Getter). It’s also nice to disconnect the trailer when I don’t need to unnecessarily pull it.

]]> By: Mark http://www.bikecommuters.com/2008/04/30/i-need-your-advice-on-going-car-free/#comment-12428 Mark Thu, 01 May 2008 17:33:38 +0000 http://www.bikecommuters.com/2008/04/30/i-need-your-advice-on-going-car-free/#comment-12428 A car accident last year (other driver was at fault) and an extended, fruitless battle w/the insured's insurance company sealed my fate to ditch my car permanently (actually a P/U). I live in a small Western capital city where there are only 4 minor bus routes, which end at 6:30 PM weekdays, 4:30 PM on Saturday and no Sunday or holiday bus coverage. So, I've managed to make do buying two commuter-type bicycles, outfitting one with panniers and the other w/a small cargo rack bag, which will fit a half-gallon of milk and a few soup cans so more frequent trips to the store but less overall buying. Other than walking, biking or busing, I don't drive a car except at work, supplied by my employer. You just make "do" without a car as best you can. You buy less, explore your haunts locally and live within your own muscle power. After a year, you just get used to it. Oh, my biggest mistake. Next winter I'll put studded tires on one of my two bikes (the Kona Smoke 2-9). A car accident last year (other driver was at fault) and an extended, fruitless battle w/the insured’s insurance company sealed my fate to ditch my car permanently (actually a P/U). I live in a small Western capital city where there are only 4 minor bus routes, which end at 6:30 PM weekdays, 4:30 PM on Saturday and no Sunday or holiday bus coverage.

So, I’ve managed to make do buying two commuter-type bicycles, outfitting one with panniers and the other w/a small cargo rack bag, which will fit a half-gallon of milk and a few soup cans so more frequent trips to the store but less overall buying.

Other than walking, biking or busing, I don’t drive a car except at work, supplied by my employer.

You just make “do” without a car as best you can. You buy less, explore your haunts locally and live within your own muscle power. After a year, you just get used to it. Oh, my biggest mistake. Next winter I’ll put studded tires on one of my two bikes (the Kona Smoke 2-9).

]]> By: steve http://www.bikecommuters.com/2008/04/30/i-need-your-advice-on-going-car-free/#comment-12409 steve Thu, 01 May 2008 12:30:17 +0000 http://www.bikecommuters.com/2008/04/30/i-need-your-advice-on-going-car-free/#comment-12409 I've been car light for 2 years now and the only problem I've encountered is getting around while injured. My wife and I shared the car while I was recovering from a recent crash. Fortunately, it worked out because we both have really flexible hours for work and much of it can be done from home. I think sharing the car and getting around would have been more difficult if we had more fixed work schedules during this time. I’ve been car light for 2 years now and the only problem I’ve encountered is getting around while injured. My wife and I shared the car while I was recovering from a recent crash. Fortunately, it worked out because we both have really flexible hours for work and much of it can be done from home. I think sharing the car and getting around would have been more difficult if we had more fixed work schedules during this time.

]]> By: Ghost Rider http://www.bikecommuters.com/2008/04/30/i-need-your-advice-on-going-car-free/#comment-12408 Ghost Rider Thu, 01 May 2008 12:06:26 +0000 http://www.bikecommuters.com/2008/04/30/i-need-your-advice-on-going-car-free/#comment-12408 "My Car Has Handlebars"....Gavin, that's a fabulous idea for a sticker/t-shirt . “My Car Has Handlebars”….Gavin, that’s a fabulous idea for a sticker/t-shirt .

]]> By: gavin http://www.bikecommuters.com/2008/04/30/i-need-your-advice-on-going-car-free/#comment-12396 gavin Thu, 01 May 2008 08:27:40 +0000 http://www.bikecommuters.com/2008/04/30/i-need-your-advice-on-going-car-free/#comment-12396 My rural location and five small kids make it very difficult to go completely car-free, but I personally drive about 10 miles a week at most and that is typically with every seatbelt taken. I have managed to tough out even some REALLY nasty Utah/Idaho winter weather and just kept riding, after all, the van is HER car. My car has handlebars. My rural location and five small kids make it very difficult to go completely car-free, but I personally drive about 10 miles a week at most and that is typically with every seatbelt taken. I have managed to tough out even some REALLY nasty Utah/Idaho winter weather and just kept riding, after all, the van is HER car. My car has handlebars.

]]> By: Mike Myers http://www.bikecommuters.com/2008/04/30/i-need-your-advice-on-going-car-free/#comment-12378 Mike Myers Thu, 01 May 2008 02:57:38 +0000 http://www.bikecommuters.com/2008/04/30/i-need-your-advice-on-going-car-free/#comment-12378 Jack---I've ridden to work in the rain a couple of times. Even when the weather is cool, you are faced with a dilemma. If you wear a rain jacket and rain pants you will sweat so much you'll be soaked. If you don't, you'll be soaked. I wear scrubs at work, so I pack in a few sets every week. Even if I get grubby on the way in I find I can clean up OK with a towel, alcohol wipes, deodorant, and body spray. Rain gear? My usual kit is a helmet cover(for the Bell Metro), rain jacket(even IF it doesn't breathe), Rainlegs, and booties. Still get wet or sweaty. Jack—I’ve ridden to work in the rain a couple of times. Even when the weather is cool, you are faced with a dilemma. If you wear a rain jacket and rain pants you will sweat so much you’ll be soaked. If you don’t, you’ll be soaked.

I wear scrubs at work, so I pack in a few sets every week. Even if I get grubby on the way in I find I can clean up OK with a towel, alcohol wipes, deodorant, and body spray. Rain gear? My usual kit is a helmet cover(for the Bell Metro), rain jacket(even IF it doesn’t breathe), Rainlegs, and booties. Still get wet or sweaty.

]]> By: Ghost Rider http://www.bikecommuters.com/2008/04/30/i-need-your-advice-on-going-car-free/#comment-12359 Ghost Rider Thu, 01 May 2008 00:25:34 +0000 http://www.bikecommuters.com/2008/04/30/i-need-your-advice-on-going-car-free/#comment-12359 Shanyn, great book recommendation -- I checked it out from a friend's library today! I should add that being "car-light" is not a new thing for me...I've driven just a hair over 1000 miles in the past FOUR years (averaging about 270 miles a year). Hauling isn't too much of a concern, either -- although I lean towards an Xtracycle rather than a pull-behind trailer. Shanyn, great book recommendation — I checked it out from a friend’s library today!

I should add that being “car-light” is not a new thing for me…I’ve driven just a hair over 1000 miles in the past FOUR years (averaging about 270 miles a year).

Hauling isn’t too much of a concern, either — although I lean towards an Xtracycle rather than a pull-behind trailer.

]]> By: Shanyn http://www.bikecommuters.com/2008/04/30/i-need-your-advice-on-going-car-free/#comment-12351 Shanyn Wed, 30 Apr 2008 23:49:49 +0000 http://www.bikecommuters.com/2008/04/30/i-need-your-advice-on-going-car-free/#comment-12351 I went car free a few months back, and am glad I did! This book by Chris Balish has great tips, along with some hard questions you need to ask yourself to see if it is doable for you to go carfree: http://www.amazon.com/How-Live-Well-Without-Owning/dp/1580087574/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1209599192&sr=8-1 I went car free a few months back, and am glad I did! This book by Chris Balish has great tips, along with some hard questions you need to ask yourself to see if it is doable for you to go carfree:

http://www.amazon.com/How-Live-Well-Without-Owning/dp/1580087574/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1209599192&sr=8-1

]]> By: r. http://www.bikecommuters.com/2008/04/30/i-need-your-advice-on-going-car-free/#comment-12349 r. Wed, 30 Apr 2008 23:37:10 +0000 http://www.bikecommuters.com/2008/04/30/i-need-your-advice-on-going-car-free/#comment-12349 I lived 9 years car free and thunderstorms aren't that big of a deal, usually. Memphis has installed bike racks on the route that picks me up from the airport; if it's too scary I just put the bike on the bus and get home. The grocery/hauling can be overcome by building your own trailer. I saw this article on a DIY site: www.instructables.com/id/bicycle-trailer. This guy made one out of a cooler, it looks like it might have a similar capacity to a BOB trailer w/0 the cost. Other than the hauling issue, you should be able to make 98% of your trips by bike, and c'mon Florida has awesome weather. I'd be there now if I wouldn't fry in the sunshine, redheads burn easily out there. Good luck and I hope you find a buyer for the car. You won't regret going car-free. I lived 9 years car free and thunderstorms aren’t that big of a deal, usually. Memphis has installed bike racks on the route that picks me up from the airport; if it’s too scary I just put the bike on the bus and get home.

The grocery/hauling can be overcome by building your own trailer. I saw this article on a DIY site: http://www.instructables.com/id/bicycle-trailer. This guy made one out of a cooler, it looks like it might have a similar capacity to a BOB trailer w/0 the cost.

Other than the hauling issue, you should be able to make 98% of your trips by bike, and c’mon Florida has awesome weather. I’d be there now if I wouldn’t fry in the sunshine, redheads burn easily out there.

Good luck and I hope you find a buyer for the car. You won’t regret going car-free.

]]>