Car-Less or Car-Free?

I'm known about our small town as the guy who rides his bike. Heck, the town is but a little over a mile across, so why not. I've often wondered how life would be if we didn't own a car. Many do without and I suppose in a big city it would be possible to get around in a reasonable fashion.

I wrote a while ago about potentially losing my CA driver's licence. After an interview at the DMV, where the discussions seemed off topic as often as on topic, I passed. Medically and governmentally I have been cleared to safely drive the streets of California. But during that time of ambling about instead of riding a bike or driving, I pondered life without a car.

Financially it should be a boon to the family bank account. Estimates range from $6000-8000 a year for vehicle related costs. That's many bus tickets by any count. But what about the emergency that pops up from time to time? What about the time you need to haul something bigger than a backpack? What about arriving at a wedding without sweat stains? What about one of those daily, weekly or monthly occurrences of All-Hades-Breaking Loose?



We are finding out what it is like to be car-free. Above is a '93 Corolla, though ours recently didn't look like the one in the picture. Ours had more "character" than anyone deserved to deal with on a daily basis, and that includes the deer fur I kept attached to the broken light to prove I really did hit a deer after it ran out in front of me. My family put up with my desire to keep the car long beyond their comfort level, and they rarely complained. They knew and lived with Dad's penuriousness.

It's only been three days, but some impressions have become apparent. We have had difficulty without a car and our dependence on others is very evident. During the recent wedding my brother's pickup was needed, as well as when the Corolla was hauled to the wrecking yard. We could have rented a truck for the wedding hauling and a tow truck could have carried off the Corolla. It was nice to have a vehicle and do the job ourselves.

We have had some errands 15 miles away and a car has made these tasks more convenient. When a relative was in the hospital recently, I rode the bus to Visalia and walked the few blocks to the hospital. Hot and a bit uncomfortable, but not impossible.

My thoughts lately have centered on the segment of the population that doesn't have a car nor the money to buy one. I remember a student once complaining about the new law requiring mandatory insurance and his inability to buy the insurance and keep his car running. The car was needed for a job in another town. "There but for the Grace of God," was the thought that came to mind.

What about the poor? I know they will always be with us, but can't we feel some empathy for them? What would happen if many of us were put in that situation?

For us,we borrowed/rented a car from one of our sons and his wife. They were lent another car and theirs was free to lend us. I have a good paying job so buying a car is in our near future. For now, we will only have to think about the possibilities.

There but for the Grace of God go I.