Exploring Green, Reduced Carbon Transportation and Living

Yesterday on Twitter, I began sharing some of my thoughts on being carless in the city.

In October of 2010, my car randomly started catching on fire. Needless to say, I stopped driving it and junked it.

As someone who always owned a car, it frightened me to think about how I would live without one. I decided, however, not to buy a new one.

I was living in Austin at the time and lived fairly close to downtown where the WP Engine offices were and I knew there were options for getting around if I needed to.

I needed to. And yet, I did not want to take on the expense of a car payment.

I started using the bus, something I never did. Skeezy people ride the buses, or so I thought.

(Turns out, skeezy people are everywhere, whether everywhere is a bus or not.)

I discovered busing was a viable option, if I wanted to plan. The luxury of having a car (or among them) is that I could be spontaneous.

I could also get a Car2Go account. Eventually, I would also get a ZipCar account.

I found I could even walk, if I wanted to. Or take cabs.

I found that my lifestyle would change drastically, but mostly for the better.

I couldn’t date a lot of people, because they lived “far south” or “up north” or out in Lakeway or wherever. I couldn’t often get to places people with cars could.

But I found my life centered around a tighter group of people. I wouldn’t be tempted to drink and drive. I saved over a thousand dollars a month simply by not having a car payment, insurance, maintenance or the expense of gas. I could afford a nicer cost of living, simply by using transit options other than owning a car.

I live in Baltimore now, a much denser city than Austin. My options are more diverse now. I can use the Light Rail, buses, Uber, the Circulator (for free!), the MARC, Amtrak, bike, Zipcar… the options are there!

This new blog (Thanks, Medium!) plans to be an exploration of options for the single adult who wants to live in the city, be carless, reduce their carbon footprint but might be scared of what living without a car might mean.

I promise you it’s worth it. It’s been 3 years and I wouldn’t have it any other way.