15 Comments
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Georgie's avatar

I've never driven, and moved to an area 4 years ago that's notorious for 'needing a car'. When I relocated and bought my flat, I assumed I would have to get over my hatred of driving and get a car like everyone else. However, I also thought long and hard about the flat's location to avoid driving as much as possible: walking distance to a train station, bus stop, and the town centre, yes please. I also got an e-bike and while I'm still nervous of riding it on roads, it's given me so much freedom and adventure. I've definitely benefited from having family nearby who drive (and now my partner, who lives with me and needs a van for his business), but I probably car-share once a week or less. I love not needing to drive, and now have no intention of ever getting my own car!

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elisa rathje's avatar

nice work!!! amazing resourcefulness. blinky lights on the bike help me be more visible in our grey roads. hopefully the speed limits will drop to life-affirming levels here soon too. choosing where we live, when we can, matters so much!

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joe tankersley's avatar

"the trick is to go ahead and live it." Great advice and another reminder that building a better tomorrow is about so many small practical steps and much less about grand poltical visions. Thank you for the inspirations.

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elisa rathje's avatar

oh, thank you joe! ╰(*´︶`*)╯so many small practical steps—yes!

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Michelle Jackson's avatar

I don't own a car anymore but I am a member of a non-profit car share. I absolutely love it. I've included a short podcast that shares how it works.

https://open.spotify.com/episode/0vY4clKyJiC4nPCYzEVNkK

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elisa rathje's avatar

yes! such a great option, i wish our little island had one. we lived like that when we were city folk

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Lisa League's avatar

I love living in downtown Kelowna, where I can walk to the grocery and we also have the farmers markets in summer. I walk to restaurants, shopping, to workout, to the eye doctor, dentist. We joined Modo car share this year and get a car for other errands every few weeks. It’s great that insurance, gas or charging, and parking is included. I love it!

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elisa rathje's avatar

what a life, the 15 minute village. we need such good design all over.

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Katharine Beckett Winship's avatar

i lived without a car for many years in Wickford, RI. It’s a walking town. Now living in the mountains of Western North Carolina, i need my Jeep for trips to town. My ration is one tank of gas per month for the commute to work. When i say no thanks to social invitations, i realize we have a long way to go to make transportation fossil fuel free.🌱💚🌎

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elisa rathje's avatar

every town should be a walking town ☆彡 a ration is a great way to think of it!

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Anna Pancoast's avatar

It's similarly been seven or more years since I committed to not driving. My husband still drives our old car, but I'm hoping that we won't get a new one when it finally goes. I resonate with so much of what you've written, the changes not driving makes to how you live your life. We live in the suburbs outside Boston, close enough to public transit to easily get around town or into the city and close to a long and convenient bike path. The biggest challenge has been setting expectations with friends and family about what and how much we can do, but the rewards are so worth it!!

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elisa rathje's avatar

amazing to hear it, nice work! i think my physical and mental health just from not driving is tremendously better, never mind all the things i do because i’m not. you’re so right, they are huge rewards ☆彡

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Cat's avatar

I love this reflection, as always!! 🚲

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elisa rathje's avatar

thank you sweet friend ♡

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Feb 3
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elisa rathje's avatar

oh i’m glad!

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