Can you live as a family without a car?
We are currently living in the country with no public transport, so we are reliant on our own vehicle at present. However, we went for a year without a car when we were living in a city. The experiment was not exactly planned. It came about after my car was subjected to criminal damage and my insurance unfortunately did not cover me, which meant I had to sell the car for scrap, and I was not able to afford a new one.
I decided not to let this stroke of bad luck get me down, but to see it as a challenge. Could we as a family live without a car?
initially I felt quite vulnerable without my vehicle. My parking spot at the back of my house looked quite naked without it! The first few days were the toughest, and I think it’s because using a car is partly a habit. It was a real challenge at first – getting myself to work, then children to school and getting to activities and appointments all took more planning. But we managed it all and after a short while it became quite normal not to have a car.
After a few months the benefits became a lot clearer.
These are my top 5 reasons for not having a car:
- Cars are expensive!
Owning a vehicle is often the second biggest cost to households after rent or mortgage. Many people spend more on their vehicles in a year than on groceries.
Considering fuel, tax, maintenance and financing, it can run into thousands each year. Wouldn’t it be great to spend that money on a holiday instead?
2. Health
When getting in the car isn’t an option, then you have to use your own two feet. I know that being active is something I need to be better at. On some workdays I did very little exercise – driving to and from work, sitting most of the day and then usually sitting at night. The lack of a car has certainly changed my activity levels. On my very first day without a car, I achieved over 10,000 steps on getting groceries and running errands and this continued whilst not owning a vehicle.
3. Local Living
Without a car I lived my life more locally. I shopped locally, I used the local recreation centre, and other local businesses that I had bypassed before (hairdressers, doctors, veterinary clinic etc). At first there can be trial and error, such as visiting three local convenience stores before finding one that stocked dishwasher tablets. But I got to know where the best places were for certain products. I also got to know that people in the stores. The great thing about shopping locally is that it’s usually the same person behind the counter and they appreciate your custom. I also “saw” more of my neighbourhood.
4. Reducing stress
My first thought was that NOT having a car could be stressful! However, I came to realize that driving was actually causing me stress. I am not an anti-car person, as I do enjoy driving along a clear country road with beautiful scenery either side (just like the commercials!). But the reality was driving along the Highway in rush hour bumper to bumper, taking an hour to do a 15-minute journey – there was no joy in that!
As the only driver in my household there was a burden on me in terms of other people’s schedules and expectations. My daughter can’t ask me to just drop her at the mall or pick her up from a friend’s house. It forces her to plan and be more independent and there is no harm in that!
5. Environment
I am not the kind of person to preach about the environment. But I have met many people who are great advocates of green living, but still own at least one car in the family. It’s not always possible to manage without a car depending on where you live. But as I lived in a city, for the most part it was possible to walk, bike or take public transport. The growing trend for electric cars is positive in many ways, but they still have their own environmental impact, so surely it is better to manage without if you can.
How to live without a car.
Unless you suddenly find yourself car less, you may want to do your research first before considering this option.
Check out bus routes. Now I don’t know if it was just my city, but I happen to find bus routes and schedules pretty tricky to work out! You may want to just try out some bus routes to see how long it will take to get to your destination, if the connections work for you, and where the stops are. I’ve made a few mistakes in getting the wrong bus, but now I have a pretty good idea on bus routes for my most common journeys.
Does your city run a car share scheme? I was part of one and found it invaluable. I use the car to get to appointments that are further away, for work when I need to visit clients, for doing larger grocery shops and for going out to the countryside. The scheme I used was affordable for use 2-3 times a week and it’s easy to use. All costs are covered when you hire the car (insurance, gas etc), so there are no hidden costs. The great thing is you can drive a brand-new car and you do not have any responsibilities in its maintenance. It’s a great option if you do not use your car every day or for a second family car.
Many people use their cars to and from work. It’s convenient, but when you think about it you are only using your car for the morning and evening journeys, and it sits there the rest of the day? Can you travel with somebody else who lives near you? Is there an option to get public transport, walk or cycle? Are there days that you could be based from home, or a nearer location? In terms of long-term stress, commuting is one of the things that causes a lot of unhappiness. In the long term maybe, you might want to consider seeking employment that is nearer to your home.
Does your town or city offer a bike share scheme? If so, this is also a useful way of getting around.
Find yourself a reliable taxi firm and have their number in your phone for times when you will just need to get a quick ride somewhere. Or if you prefer to get the uber app.
Look into grocery deliveries in your area and see who will deliver to you.
Explore local shops near you. The local convenience store can be more expensive than the larger supermarket chains, but I find I spend less by not visiting the larger stores as often as I am less succumbed to + purchases. You’re also saving on not having a car.
Find local activities to do. For example, can your child go to a dance class that’s nearby rather than the other end of town? I have a recreation centre that’s within walking distance and we try to base as many activities there as possible (swimming, cooking class, exercise classes)