Two Wheels, Two Feet
November 16, 2009
[Taken in Tokyo earlier this year.]
Walking and cycling have been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. As a little girl, I spent hours cruising my neighborhoods on a yellow 3-speed; during college and graduate school I got around on foot and the bus. It wasn't until I was in my late twenties that I purchased my first car. I can remember a time in college when the thought of purchasing a car felt like one great big annoyance – paperwork, insurance, maintenance. Even then I saw how owning a car had the potential to dig into time that I could be spending on other things, which, back then, would have been happy hour and art classes. Cars have never held any great allure for me, unlike my husband, who marks each year of his life by the car he was driving. Yes, that means he changes cars like I change hairstyles – just about every year. He remembers the car, the year, the color and can wax poetic about what it was about each car that made him want to own it, drive it and then trade it in.
I've been with my husband for just over eight years now, and during our time together we've gone through a few periods of getting by with one car. Each time we've had well-meaning friends tell us we're crazy and/or gasp in horror, particularly since we've moved to Los Angeles. We are now a few weeks into another one-car episode, and so far things don't feel much different than they did a month ago, except I'm getting in better shape. Am I having to spend more time getting where I need to go? No, because I don't have to deal with the hassle of parking. Am I having to plan my errand routes a bit more carefully? Yes, but so what. Do I have access to a car when I need one? Absolutely, because my husband's office is a whopping two miles away, so it is easy for me to be his chauffeur when I am in need of four wheels instead of two. My car was sold more than two weeks ago, and so far I've only had to do this once, and even then once I was finished I took the car back to his office, parked it and walked home.
I feel lighter without a car and am grateful most of my regular errands are within a fifteen block radius. There is a bit more coordinating to do here and there, but beyond that having one car between us means life, overall, is simpler, and this is what I treasure. I find myself wanting to take the idea of purging and releasing to more expansive levels as time goes on, letting go of as many attachments as possible – material, emotional and everything in between. In releasing, space is created for a wild array of beautiful surprises.
"When I let go of what I am, I become what I might be." ~Lao Tzu
I’ve lived in L.A. since Christmas 1995 and my husband and I have only ever had one car. When he worked outside of the home, some days I would drive him to work and take our son to various parks and what not. We love walking but people still think we’re crazy for walking in L.A.! Some think we’re crazier for only having one car and it’s a small one to boot!
we sold our car when we left new zealand and, living in london, we’ve had no need of one! the subway & buses go everywhere and travelling out of london is so, so easy on the trains. i can’t really figure out why most people feel they need to have one here!
i’m trying to figure out how to live without one when we move back to new zealand, where there’s very little in the way of public transport!
I’m digging being a one car family! It’s been about 8 months now, and I’m not sure I can go back! You inspire…
When my husband quit his job 7 years ago to be a stay-at-home dad and go to university, we sold one of our vehicles (and several other unnecessary things we’d accumulated) and down-sized from a van to a car. We’re one of the only families of five I know with only one small vehicle. But even though my husband is working again, I’m in no rush to get another vehicle. I quite like the fact that we have no choice but to find ways of adapting and living lighter.
He he. We are in synch. I posted about not having a car today as well. xx
I gave up cars when I moved to Europe, as they all drive on the wrong side … they recently exchanged my kiwi licence for a Belgian one but they shouldn’t have.
I don’t miss them and you’re right, I am stronger, fitter, lighter and enjoying it.
I genuinely wish that I could adapt to not having a car. I am one of “those people” who just needs one. I’ve tried going without one, and it just drove me nuts to know that I couldn’t hop into the car and go somewhere at a moment’s notice, whenever I wanted to. Also, public transit is very bad in the Bay Area–I’d have to take a bus, a train, and another bus each way just to get to the place where I work, which would total an hour of commuting time each way, compared to 20 minutes in the car. Even with paying a bridge toll ($5), and gas ($3) for the trip, it’s still cheaper to drive than it is to pay the assorted fares for public transit ($12).
However–all that said–I’m wondering how much that will change as I transition into working freelance. I won’t be commuting over a bridge any longer, and I’m living in small-town Alameda, just outside of Oakland, which is really bike friendly.
Finding that as I let go of my “parenting as life project” attachment, I am ready for anything. Perhaps that’s why the universe has sent me you.