Comments on: C’mon baby drive my car…because I don’t want to

By: Natalie_S

Natalie_S — Sat, 28 Mar 2009 01:30:00 +0000

Maybe get a smart car and share it? Or you could always get a reasonably cheap used Honda if you want something bigger.

By: Jeff Moser

Jeff Moser — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 17:56:00 +0000

I hear ya! My car gets washed when it rains. I’m meticulous with my bicycles, but drive my car with the oil a quart low. I drive so seldom that I forget how to do stuff…Like I’ll turn the windshield wipers on instead of the turn signal! I don’t think I’ll get rid of my car (yet), but I certainly won’t buy another one.

By: carfree-char

carfree-char — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 16:54:00 +0000

I went car-free over a year ago and have done fine without one. Of course, living in the Washington, DC area, and having Zipcar and the subway & public transportation helps a lot…but I mostly use my bike to get places, 'cuz I like to bike and get the exercise. I have a couple of folding bikes, so I can put them on long-haul buses (like up to NYC), or on Amtrak, which allows folding bikes. Maybe a folding bike is in your future as well? Charmaine

By: littletinyfish

littletinyfish — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 04:15:00 +0000

I feel the EXACT SAME WAY. Last summer I contemplated selling my car. I even got as far as posting it on Craigslist, but due to title transfer issues it never worked out. Thankfully, perhaps? I have the same reservations you do. Rainy, cold (though I cycle through the winter), and visiting my family, 6 hours away.

I could take a train, but then I couldn't bring my dog. I could take a plane, but then I couldn't take my bike. I can also pick up and transport bikes and people to the bike co-op I work with.

I just LOVE the convenience for those few times when I actually use it.

By: miss sarah

miss sarah — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 03:59:00 +0000

Hey!

I hate driving too. HATE IT. Does your ‘hood have anything in the way of a car share? That really seems to work great for our car-less friends in Vancouver and Toronto. You have a membership, and when you want the ride you just book it and then take it and put it back when you’re done. Like rental, but WAY more convenient. Anyway, that could be a good compromise if it’s an available option. If not… then like me, you might have to suffer.

I also find it really hard to be excited when people tell me they bought new cars. I’m always like, “Oh um… that’s great… uh… yeah.”

By: anna

anna — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 21:51:00 +0000

Great that you reconsider your choice of owning a car. Even if you decide to keep it, I’m sure you thought it through. Most people never get that far.

By: spiderlegreen

spiderlegreen — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 17:21:00 +0000

Funny, I don’t wash my car, was slow on getting the tabs and am so so on the upkeep. Reminds me of a previous relationship I was in. Dragging my feet. I didn’t realize until afterwards, that I wasn’t putting into the relationship because I didn’t want to be in it… Ditto for the car.

Right now, I work too far from home and have some family responsibilities that keep the car in my garage. But I am imagining a life without cars, so we’ll see what happens.

By: Elisa M

Elisa M — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 15:52:00 +0000

Liz-I usually only wait about a week or two after it needs it. I just feel like I should be doing it exactly on time! but thanks…you are right.
wle-No zip car in Bham, although I have requested one with the company. I do have a friend and she and I are thinking about doing a car share if the Mini does sell! woot.

By: Liz

Liz — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 15:48:00 +0000

i wouldn’t advertise the fact that you haven’t changed the oil regularly when you go to sell it. not changing the oil is extremely detrimental to your engine

- liz wells’s inner car nerd

By: wle

wle — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 13:42:00 +0000

maybe you can start a bike commune

or at least a group of people who want to jointly own one car, and live within cycling distance of each other

in atlanta, there are 'zipcars'

you kind of join zipcar, then you can reserve a car and pay by the hour or day or something flexible

www.zipcar.com

zipcar cities
* Atlanta
* Philadelphia
* Seattle
* Boston
* Pittsburgh
* Toronto
* Chicago
* Portland
* Vancouver
* London
* San Francisco
* Washington DC
* New York/New Jersey

maybe the ham has something like that

it;s better than just going to the rental car place

these cars stay in distributed locations

like transit stations

so you can ride bike to where the car is, or to the train then ride train to the car, just get in and go

wle.