I Gave Up My Car

I used to hop in the car to drive half a mile down the street. Simply because it was convenient and I had the option. I also lived in one of the nation's largest geographical cities, with little access to public transportation. Having a car was a necessity and one that I wanted to get rid of.

Americans drive trillions of miles every year. It only makes sense that transportation would account for most of the greenhouse emissions in the United States. Just cutting the amount we drive by 10 percent could cut 110 million metric tons of c02 of our atmosphere.

When I moved to a bigger city with better public transportation, I decided it was time to do my part, and give up my car for a while. After about six months of traversing on foot, I've learned a lot and worn holes into my sneakers.

From navigating bad weather to missing the bus that only comes once every 30mins. I believe I know most of what there is to know about traveling on foot. From my experience, you can assess whether making the switch is doable for you. Whether or not you get rid of your vehicle, cutting down even just slightly can significantly impact the environment in a positive way.

Pros of living vehicle free

Fewer Expenses

I no longer have to spend money on gasoline or car insurance, a significant benefit living in Portland, a city with some of the highest gas prices.

I also don't have to worry about insurance. If I had a vehicle, I would have to purchase standard insurance, but beyond that, vehicle theft numbers in Portland are beginning to rise.

People have been targeting standard vehicles (Hondas and Subarus) breaking into them, stealing gear shifts and other physical parts- sometimes the entire car.

To make matters worse, most apartments offer no parking, forcing residents to park on the street and be open targets for theft. Often when I leave for my walk in the morning, I see shattered windows, victims of the previous night.

I have a lot of peace of mind knowing that I do not have a car in Portland because it's becoming a matter of when, not if you will be a victim of theft.

Exercise

We are living increasingly sedentary lifestyles. By walking to get wherever I go, I have exercise built into my day without a second thought.

Since I also train more intensely, walking so frequently reinforces my training. I'm getting in extra cardio, and little bits of movement that aid in recovery and keep my body limber and fresh.

A New Perspective

No one can get their city's full effect by seeing it through blurred images behind a car window. You miss so much when you're passing through quickly and paying attention to the road.

As a walker, I've developed a relationship with my local mailman, found exciting places to visit, and located beautiful parks.

As we battle with the pandemic, the landscape of restaurants and stores is ever-changing. There are places I wouldn't know existed unless I had come upon them walking.

I feel like I have a better understanding of Portland because of how entrenched I am—walking the streets instead of passing them by. I get a more in-depth sense of the people, the street art they create, what's been annoying them, etc. I have my finger on the pulse of the city in a way I wouldn't have if I drove.

Cons of living car-free

Winter

I get up every morning at about 7 am to walk my girlfriend to work. During the summer, it was peaches and cream. But once winter hit and the sun took a permanent hiatus, it became a very different situation. About three times a week, we get rained on, shivering in the sharp cold air.

Given the pandemic, most restaurants aren't open for dine in. Since we walk, eating in a car is out of the question. So we find ourselves either hustling home to eat or eating with numb hands in the cold.

Lack of convenience

It's hard for me ever to get a complete grocery trip done because I have to carry every item home on my person. If I want fast food, I have to accept that it will be cold because most restaurants are a guaranteed 15-20mins by foot.

I never "run to the store." It's a multiple-hour event, and god forbid I forget something.

Limited Travel

For my girlfriend's birthday, I booked us an Air BnB on the coast. The trip took about three hours by bus (an hour if we had a car). I followed the instructions given to me, but we still managed to miss our connecting bus and were left stranded in a city we didn't know at night.

I wanted so badly to have a car; we could have gotten to our place within the hour. But instead, I paid an extra hundred dollars to take an Uber. Needless to say, It's a lot harder to take weekend trips without a means of transportation. I miss road trips dearly; I live within two hours of desserts, mountains, and beaches and can't experience any of it.

Parting Words

I know I ended with the cons so it seems like I hate being carless. It has its moments where I do. But overall I can understand why someone wouldn't want to give up the comforts of owning a car.

I plan to get one myself in the future. However, I wouldn't trade this time without one, I plan on creating intervals in my life where I don't drive. I'm learning about myself and the new city I live in.

My mental and physical health has improved since I made the switch. I see the micro and macro benefits of driving less in my life and on the environment. I would encourage everyone to try and drive less, it can be as simple as biking to work instead of driving. If we all cut back just a little, we'll see major improvements in our air quality and the health of Mother Earth.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Hi!

Thank you so much for reading. I hope you liked what you read, if you did please consider dropping a like or leaving a tip. It helps me grow and means the world to me.

Thanks again, talk to you soon.

Rj ;)