Would you live without a car?

[cardtrick]

I haven't had a car since 1990. I like to walk and take public transportation. When I have a big load to carry, I call a cab.



Wow, $100 per month is a lot for a transit pass. I think where I live they are $62 a month.

It's a bit pricey, but that's a cost I just can't cut out. It's cheaper than paying per ride and I can use it on the weekends as well. I'm also saving so much money by not owning a car. In the past 5 years, I've probably used a cab maybe twice. I love to walk everywhere too! One big reason why we don't move to the suburbs. Besides the car cost savings, I also own a beautiful condo in the city that I got for such a terrific price, I'm close to everything and I save on property taxes vs the suburbs.

And assuming a 25% tax bracket, my real cost for the pass is only $75.

[moneymaker1008]

It's $112 in NYC. But it's still much cheaper than gas would be for the month.

[hamchan]

Mine is $100 in Seattle. DH gets his as an employment benefit for $18 a month. We'd probably pay more than that just for a parking spot six blocks from our apartment.

[Manthony]

I sure wish I could live without a car.

[dunnrobert700]

I would LOVE to live in a situation where I didn't need a car. Not feasible for me now though.

[Freddy McFrugal]

I live without a car in Los Angeles. I found a place close to my work to live, and I have an electric-assist bicycle so I can go places w/o getting sweaty. I could pay for a car, but I like the benefits of living car-free: I walk more, stay in shape, avoid the stress of driving, I see the world, I meet people, freedom from parking.

Relayrides.com offers a way to rent cars inexpensively from other car owners for occasional needs.

[gabby169kitty]

Living without a car.. never again, if I can help it. I didn't have one for almost 3 years and it was hard! The bus routes here are only so-so and it takes a half hour or more to get where you want to go. The routes stop at 5pm.

A car means freedom to me. I didn't have my car for 4 days this past week because the transmission was getting rebuilt and ball joints replaced. I saved $200 doing the front lower ball joints now vs later because they had to take most of the stuff apart anyhow to get the transmission out. I knew about the worn ball joints previously. Now my car is happy again! I thought I needed breaks done soon, but it was all my transmission.

Repairs come with the territory of having a vehicle, but it's worth it imho.

[sunchangping]

I could live without 4runescapegold.com a car and pretty much do live my life as if I do not own a car because I live close to everything. I leave my car parked weeks on end collecting dirt and topdiablo3.com dust... however, I still own a car because it is very convenient to have it around when I do need to take a trip or to shorten travel or some sort.

My cost of car ownership is very low though. Maybe 1500 annually mmotank.com or #125 a month tops.

My cost of car ownership is very low though.

[figuringmoneyout]

My car does cost me a bit more per month than I would like to spend but I don't really think I could survive in my city without it. I tried our public transportation system before and it's horrid - late, unreliable, full of sketchy dudes that made me feel unsafe. I hate that because I've loved using public transportation in other cities but I can't do it here. Car it is!

[KenDuy]

Yes, why not. I can easily take the subway and the bus to wherever I want. sure it takes time but.. I can save a little

[AlexSalvage]

Between gas, tolls, maintenance, car registration, insurance I spend around $350 and I have a car payment of $300 so that is 650 a month. ugh

Would you live without a car? I have been toying with the idea lately, even if just for fun.
Of course I would need to calculate a transportation budget to use public transportation and taxis for emergencies...

what do you think (outside the box)

only in cities with good public transportation like New York. You gotta understand not all places have buses or subways that travel everything. That's not a possibility in some states

[Weird Tolkienish Figure]

Between gas, tolls, maintenance, car registration, insurance I spend around $350 and I have a car payment of $300 so that is 650 a month. ugh

Would you live without a car? I have been toying with the idea lately, even if just for fun.
Of course I would need to calculate a transportation budget to use public transportation and taxis for emergencies...

what do you think (outside the box)

Owning a car is worth every penny IMO.

This weekend I drive to nearly any location in north America, practically. Just on a whim.

Try doing that with public transportation.

[hamchan]

I can takeAmtrak, Greyhound, or something similar almost anywhere. There are a few places I can't really get to without a car, but being able to go absolutely everywhere lpwould not justify theko expense.

[George707]

Living in Europe is a different story. I tell you, you don't need a car in London, and life is so much sweeter without one. The money saving, the health benefits (I cycle everywhere) for me and the community. - Actually I think almost every social ill is assisted by the removal of cars from the streets of big cities. - right down to social exclusion issues.

Thing is, it didn't used to be this way in London. When I started cycling to work 20 years ago there were only a handful of brave souls with me. Since then the number of cyclists on the roads has increased by a factor of well over 10. - even our mayor bikes to work these days.

Here's the point. Even in a country built for the car (how I see America), change is possible. Once cyclists get onto the streets in sufficient numbers (critical mass) motorists behaviors do change and the effect becomes self-sustaining with more and more people getting involved.

There's no question I save thousands every year by choosing to bike, but really that's just the half of the benefits it brings to my life....

[Ashcroft]

Probably not! My car is my extension of my life, family, and activities. Full Liberty always comes with a cost no matter where you live.