The Benefits of Living Without a Car

His name was Kabuki Dan. I bought my little red Toyota from a Hmong man in Saint Paul, dreamed up a silly car name, and took him everywhere - from the Colorado mountains to the Wisconsin flatlands. Once I settled into a major city and embraced public transit, though, I had to tell Kabuki Dan to find a new owner. Loyal as he was, I couldn't justify keeping a vehicle when there were so many benefits of living without a car.

In March of 2005, I transferred the title to an eager buyer and found myself footing it around the city and riding the bus. At the time of this writing, I'm about to celebrate a year of car-free existence, and I couldn't be happier. Not everyone can handle living without a car, especially those in rural areas or suburban sprawl settings. But for city dwellers like me, people who have ample access to public transit and a choice of pedestrian-friendly neighborhoods, the benefits of living without a car far outweigh the drawbacks.

I see my decision to go carless as not only practical but also political. In addition to saving lots of money, I set an example by reducing the size of my environmental footprint and engaging in more socially responsible behavior (at least as I define it). It's my little activist step in favor of smarter, mixed-use urban development and enhanced public transit. If I sound smug, I suppose I am. Several friends had suggested that my decision would backfire and that "only people in New York City and a few other places can live without cars." Here I am in Milwaukee, only the nation's 20th largest city, and I am successfully living without a car - proof that the benefits of this lifestyle choice are not limited to subway cities alone.

Rural New Mexicans or small-town Floridians, for example, may not be able to enjoy living without a car. But people in places like Omaha, Pittsburgh, Nashville, Albuquerque, and Buffalo could all live without cars if they wanted to, even though those are not cities known for expansive public transit. It just takes some planning, some vision, and some brassy confidence, and the benefits of living without a car can be yours.

What exactly *are* these benefits I am touting? Well, here's my top ten list:

10. No parking hassles or costs. I never feed a meter. I never purchase parking passes. I never drive around in circles looking for an open spot on a busy street. I never ask a merchant to validate my parking. I fear no meter maids. I pay no parking tickets for carelessly disobeying ordinances. (You get the idea.)

9. See things you never saw before. If you think you're an observant person as you watch the world from your driver's seat, you'd be surprised how much you're actually missing. Little shops tucked on odd corners. Amusing signs. Persistent pigeons. Hidden neighborhood parks. Public transit subculture. When living without a car, you look at the world around from a different angle and appreciate your city in a fresh way. I don't say this to be flippantly blithe; I say it because it's utterly true. Talk to most people who've given up cars, and they'll concur: this less cloistered outlook is one of the intangible but incredibly valuable benefits of living without a car.

8. Extra cash from a sale OR no car payments. While I owned Kabuki Dan outright, many folks lease or make monthly payments on their vehicles. Either way, you'll gain back money by going car-free. If you own your car and owe nothing, you'll make money by selling it. If you are still making payments and can find someone to take them over, then you'll be free of the contractual obligation and see more money in your wallet. Why pay all that interest, anyway?

7. Make a smaller environmental footprint in the world. Many of us have seen websites that will calculate how much you consume as an individual when compared to your fellow humans. We Americans notoriously lead the most resource-intensive lives, but it needn't always be that way. By living without a car, you help reduce emissions, decrease dependence on oil, and relieve urban congestion. Whether you walk, bike, or use public transit, the benefit to Mother Earth (and your fellow citizens) is palpable.

6. No car insurance. This is yet another expense that you can avoid by living without a car. GEICO says you can save 15% on car insurance, but I say you can save 100% by eliminating the need for it. Whether you're a high risk driver or a safe one, car insurance will set you back at least a few hundred dollar a year (and possibly even more). What else can you do with that money?

5. Get some free exercise. I love seeing overweight people go to the gym and then climb into a car, which they then use to shuttle their lazy butts around the city before driving through at McDonald's for dinner. Even if you're not one of those people, living without a car would build exercise into your life easily. You can walk and bike on a daily basis in the fresh air. Even when it's chilly (which is often the case in Milwaukee), there's nothing like some brisk outdoor exercise. If you're going to eat at McDonald's, you might as well earn it.

4. No maintenance costs. I've never had to replace my body's alternator or jump start my own feet! Especially if your car is no longer under warranty, unexpected repairs combined with routine maintenance can add up to hundreds or even thousands of dollars. Why not avoid all that? It's more than just the money you save - it's the headache of the whole car repair process you eschew. If the bus breaks down (which has only happened to me once in a year worth of transit riding), it's not even your responsibility. Just kick back and wait for the next bus to get you.

3. No gas. I'm really hitting it hard on these economic points, eh? Whatever gas prices are these days - $2.36, $3.25, $2.77 - I don't pay much attention because it only affects me indirectly (through transit fares). Even if you have a fuel-efficient car, you'll still save by getting rid of it altogether.

2. Support neighborhood businesses. People often ask how I get everything done. You know, errands and whatnot. Well, I tell them that I made a purposeful decision to live in an urban setting where most of the services I need day-in and day-out are within walking distance or a short bus ride. In ten minutes by foot (without even using a bus), I can get to a grocery store, several coffeeshops, a dry cleaner, drug stores, video rental stores, a deli, pizza joints, several doctor's offices, a post office, bars/clubs, clothing stores, barbershops, florists, public parks, and plenty of other businesses. I have no real need for a mall, but I can always take a bus ride to one. And I don't just support local businesses because I *have* to; I support them because I care about the neighborhood and want to see a thriving community around me - where the local butcher remembers that I like my chicken breasts butterfly-split and where the video store clerk knows me by name. One of the benefits of living without a car is that your surroundings become even more important, and you start caring about the people in your neighborhood in new ways. It makes for a friendlier lifestyle, honestly. See #9 again.

1. Be part of positive social change. First, public transit is hard to refute. It's a smart, practical way to reduce pollution, cut congestion, and build community. And transit continues to get better when more and more people ride it. Second, when you help transform your community into a pedestrian-friendly one, you encourage planners and developers to avoid yucky urban sprawl and create mixed-use buildings. In short, you become a role model and a participant in a healthy urban revolution. How's that for sass without gas?

Finally, this wouldn't be a complete article on the benefits of living without a car unless I addressed a few common questions:

Q: What about the lack of control you have over public transit?
A: With some planning, the "lack of control" is rarely an issue. Usually, it's a bonus: none of the headaches of driving. When I ride the bus, I can read a book, balance my finances, or stare out the window blankly. Let someone else handle the traffic.

Q: What about walking or waiting for the bus in winter?
A: I wear warm clothes (layers), look at bus schedules, and enjoy the crisp weather. Sometimes I'll be exposed to the elements more than I'd prefer, but those extra minutes of chilliness aren't a big deal compared to all the other benefits of living without a car.

Q: What happens when you need to buy something large or you need to go beyond the limits of transit?
A: I have friends with cars who can help out if need be. Otherwise, I save enough money that I can justify the occasional cab ride or even the occasional weekend car rental for $40. When you're saving hundreds of dollars a month by living without a car, you can afford these "luxuries" from time to time. n the last year, I have only truly needed a car twice. Twice in twelve months!

Q: How much are transit fares? Is it worth paying for the bus?
A: I only pay about $60 a month for *unlimited* bus rides in Milwaukee. In some cities (like Chicago), that price goes up a bit, but it's still reasonable - usually not more than $100.

Q: What happens when you want to get out of town?
A: Public transit serves the airport and the train station. I can also rideshare with someone by using Craigslist.org.

Q: Do people think you're a loser for living without a car?
A: Sure. But I can't worry about what others think when I am doing something that makes sense for me. If people are so car-coddled that they can't see beyond life with a vehicle, then they're the ones with a problem. I also remind folks that it was my choice to live without a car and that I still keep a driver's license.

Q: Do you advocate the benefits of living without a car to EVERYONE?
A: No. Some people *have* to drive based on the nature of their jobs, and some people don't (yet) live in areas with adequate public transit. However, many Americans do live in mid-sized or large cities with decent transit, and these are the people who should consider going carless.