Landon's Epic Vlog Thread: living without a car in a car-happy world

[Peakster]

Note: this was posted in the blog thread but here everyone (including guests) can keep tabs on my challenge of living without a car

Landon's Vlog #1: preparing to live without a car
[YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/v/T2Eji40Al4Q[/YOUTUBE]

Gas is $4 a gallon. I've already downsized to a Geo Metro. I spend well over $500 a month on my car. It's time to do something about it!

If I can survive in a automobile-centric city without a car, anyone can! Let me be your inspiration (as well as you being mine) to challenge yourself to a healthier way of getting around! By the way, that's Gloria's (my Ford Tempo's) passenger seat I'm sitting on

Landon's Vlog #2: Dressing for Success
[YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/v/i_i2FWdqqqA[/YOUTUBE]

It's one thing to go living without a car if you live in a moderate climate, but what do you do when temperatures reach -46*C with the windchill?

I tack on the additional cost of 'Gloria', my Ford Tempo, show what kind of fashion statement I make when I go outside, and get a sneak peak at my new (or used) bicycle!

Be sure to stay tuned for more Vlogs to come!

[GenKreton]

I completely applaud this decisions . I did it mostly while I was working in Houston, TX, which is a city with 8 million people (including those under the driving age) and almost 7 million cars (!). Everything was spread out too far for my to become completely independent. My biggest problem was to go grocery shopping I needed to go with my roommate because it is hard to carry many groceries on a bicycle, especially without a rack on it. How do you plan on going grocery shopping?

Do you plan on making the vlog solely in this thread or on some other website?

I will be attempting to be completely car free again this summer, if my situation deems it possible. So I will be right there next to you I hope !

Good luck, and I look forward to tracking your progress.

[Peakster]

Originally Posted by GenKreton

Houston, TX, which is a city with 8 million people (including those under the driving age) and almost 7 million cars (!).

Holy crap!

My biggest problem was to go grocery shopping I needed to go with my roommate because it is hard to carry many groceries on a bicycle, especially without a rack on it. How do you plan on going grocery shopping?

There is actually 3 major grocery stores to choose from near my house (I live so close to 'big-box' central, I used to be able to see all the stores out my kitchen window. Not so much now that they've developed houses/condos behind us) so it's very walkable/bikeable. Also, the entire city is only 46 square miles in area.

As a matter of fact, my house scored 37/100 on www.walkscore.com which isn't too bad for suburbia. Check out the website. It's very valuable in finding services where you live.

Do you plan on making the vlog solely in this thread or on some other website?

Definitely my focus will be this website's forum and blog since this is where my idea originated from.

I will be attempting to be completely car free again this summer, if my situation deems it possible. So I will be right there next to you I hope !

Sounds fantastic! What are some obstacles for going car-free during the winter months in Texas?

[GenKreton]

Originally Posted by Peakster

Sounds fantastic! What are some obstacles for going car-free during the winter months in Texas?

During the winter I am at home in New Hampshire or at School in Vermont. Texas would be MUCH easier to deal with since they never get snow or ice. At school I don't keep a car since all of my needs are provided by campus or a trip to a store with friends every ~3 weeks. At home it would be pretty impossible since ice mixed with snow banks shrinking the roads would make for some extremely unsafe conditions to bike or walk in.

Part of my apprehension about the summer is I am graduating in May, and maybe going to graduate school so I have no idea where I will be living...

A bicycle is what I consider the first step to independence from the oil overlords. I was doing 400-485 km (250-300 miles) a week pretty easily while working 50 hours. I'm not the most in shape guy, but pretty skinny, as well. A lot of the riding was for pure fun.

Are you keeping the car in a situation where things don't turn out?

[Peakster]

Originally Posted by GenKreton

Part of my apprehension about the summer is I am graduating in May, and maybe going to graduate school so I have no idea where I will be living...

Sounds like you're in a similar boat as me. This is also my last year of university and I have no idea what my future beholds. The exciting thing is that both you and I can start out our lives anywhere and anyhow we wish. We're pretty adaptable and young enough where it can't be a better time to make a change (since we don't have the responsibilities of mortgages, marriages, kids, jobs, etc.)

I too like having a car while in school (it real handy when I need materials for sculpture class and be able to quickly drive to a hardware store and use the Geo as my 'truck'). So I'm going to keep it until I'm done with the U. of Manitoba before going all out. Meanwhile this is a perfect time for me to get used to walking places and I may even start using a bicycle a bit before the semester end.

Are you keeping the car in a situation where things don't turn out?

That's a good question. The problem of keeping a car 'just in case' may lead to using it more than I need. For instance my mom wanted me to drive my sister to work downtown tonight. It would be a lot easier to say "Sorry, I don't have a car" than "I don't want to because I want to save money". By the way, I did drive her. I'll definitely give it some thought.

One part of me wants to sell my Geo (I'm not emotionally attached to the car and I could recoup some of the $2,300 I spent buying it since I'm sure high-FE cars will be in huge demand this spring) and keep "Gloria", my Tempo. That's because I really like Gloria: the insurance is cheap ($50 a month) and no one wants to ride in it!

On the contrary, I know I can live without owning a car at all.

[Daox]

Great resolution Peakseter. I have no ideas for you, but wish you good luck.

[DifferentPointofView]

If things don't turn out, you ride a scooter or street legal mo-ped!

[Peakster]

One of the challenges is the weather. Lower-Canada only has frost-free days 50% of the year, so there's more of an issue of freezing my buns off in the dead of winter rather than not being able to travel long distances. In the summer, I can bike from one end of the city to the other in about an hour. That same drive would be about 20 minutes, max.

Also, how do cyclists deal with rain?

[RH77]

Originally Posted by Peakster

One of the challenges is the weather. Lower-Canada only has frost-free days 50% of the year, so there's more of an issue of freezing my buns off in the dead of winter rather than not being able to travel long distances. In the summer, I can bike from one end of the city to the other in about an hour. That same drive would be about 20 minutes, max.

Also, how do cyclists deal with rain?

This is my biggest concern for you: cold snaps. Even at 10F, waiting 10-minutes for a bus, I recently froze my arse off. Bicyclists have to have a (potentially costly) adverse Weather kit, with multiple layers of clothing and a rain/snow-proof outer layer. I found a great coat at an outdoor supply store that lets you vent perspiration (to avoid moisture freezing), but repels precipitation. It was a bit costly, but really worth it when outdoors in the cold snow/rain for many hours. For me, I'd have to get into better shape to bike a decent distance. Goals, I s'pose...

I honestly respect your resolve. Bundle up and look for that public transit or bike route! I look forward to the result. I admit that I'm addicted to driving -- always have been. That seems like a big freedom to relinquish.

Best to you!

RH77

[Stan]

Originally Posted by Peakster

my house scored 37/100 on www.walkscore.com

Wow...my house scored a big fat goose egg. Zero. Zip. Nada.

Of course, living out in the country has its own rewards.

[Peakster]

Originally Posted by RH77

This is my biggest concern for you: cold snaps... Bundle up and look for that public transit or bike route!

I'll definitely find some tips about how Winnipeggers survive the cold without a car (there's a lot of them). I already bought some winter boots which are super warm. Instead of wearing a toque (aka knit hat) on frigid days I might wear a snowmobile helmet to enclose my face. Ski pants work wonders too.

The only thing left is the fact that my hands get ice cold very fast. I have yet to find any kind of gloves that prevent them from getting cold.

[GenKreton]

Originally Posted by Peakster

The only thing left is the fact that my hands get ice cold very fast. I have yet to find any kind of gloves that prevent them from getting cold.

Mittens. They may not make you the coolest guy walking or riding the streets but they will do much more than gloves ever can. The ones where the finger part flips up are ok. You may look into the lobster claw gloves where two fingers are kept together; they are supposed to be a good compromise although I have no experience with them.

For anyone who rides a bicycle in the winter, is it honestly practical? Do you switch tires and other gear to deal with ice?

[Peakster]

Originally Posted by GenKreton

Mittens. They may not make you the coolest guy walking or riding the streets but they will do much more than gloves ever can. You may look into the lobster claw gloves where two fingers are kept together; they are supposed to be a good compromise although I have no experience with them.

I was thinking along the lines of getting those thin black gloves, like the kind that kids used to wear in school, and wearing them under a well insulated mitten. That way there's the benefit of keeping all the digits nice and toasty in the mitten while having the ability to use keys, etc. without getting too cold when the mitt is taken off.

The ones where the finger part flips up are ok

Oh man, I've used those before and they were horrible! Wind kept on getting into the flaps which was real unpleasant.

For anyone who rides a bicycle in the winter, is it honestly practical? Do you switch tires and other gear to deal with ice?

Personally I don't think riding a bike is practical in the snow at all. Some people in Winnipeg do it but I think the dangers outweigh the benefit of getting to a location faster than walking.

Keeping warm in even the coldest temperatures is totally possible. Recently, I took 5 blankets from the sculpture building to my dorm-room in real cold weather and the only way to carry them was to drape all of them on my body. I looked like one of those shepherds in biblical times. By the time I got to my building I was sweating!!! If only it was more practical.

[igo]

You probally don't have a car share program like flexcar?

They are available in most large cities in the US. It is a good idea for carless people who need a car, "just in case".

Good luck with that Landon. I think gas needs to go up a few dollars a gallon before I make the leap.

[Peakster]

I'm pretty certain we don't have Flexcar in Regina. At least I've never heard of it on the news or by word of mouth.

If absolutely required (such as hauling a whole bunch of lumber from a hardware store), I can always rent a vehicle, either from a friend or professional renter. I'd much rather spend $20 to use a friend's car for a a single trip than spend $550+ every month for a Geo metro plus $220+ a month for a Tempo I rarely use.

[bennelson]

Going carless is very bold.

We live in an entire culture based on the automobile.

Way to go - Keep us all posted on this!

Maybe you can end up encouraging a few other people to do the same, or at least cut down to just one renewable powered vehicle.

PS: You might want to sell the Metro to somebody else on this board or people of similar mindset.

If you figure all the money you spend on a car, and instead invested it into a retirement account, you will be set!

Here is what Dave Ramsey has to say about car payments:
True cost of cars video

[NoCO2]

Good luck to you man, if you can do this I will be dually impressed. I live near a very large city myself and the only real driving I do on a regular basis is to work each day. If I could replace this with either using my bicycle (or electric bike, see thread in alternative vehicles section) or taking the bus, I could easily stretch a tank of gas in my little Putsaround to last over a month, so far I can get about 2 1/2 weeks per tank and nothing more with all the driving I do.

[Peakster]

Two and a half weeks per tank is pretty amazing. I'd be lucky to ever go than long on one tank in my Geo (I don't think I've ever have, so far). Are you in the same situation I'm in where the weather plays a major role in deciding to live without a car?

[NoCO2]

Well, it's easier during the summer and fall months to live without a car. I live in Georgia where the weather, unfortunately, is rather unpredictable. Generally, however, the summer and fall months are pretty moderate, enough so that riding my bike would not be too terrible in order to get to work. The main reason I get such long stints on a single tank is really just do to the tiny amount of driving I do per week. I drive to and from work daily, which is only about 10 miles round trip and then I go to the grocery store, maybe once per week. Other then that I might take the occasional trip to my girlfriends house which is maybe 7 or 8 miles away and that's about it. In reality, my car only gets between 20 and 30 mpg. I live on my college campus which is in a pretty commercial area so everything I need to live can be found within a 5 mile radius easily.

[Peakster]

Originally Posted by bennelson

Maybe you can end up encouraging a few other people to do the same, or at least cut down to just one renewable powered vehicle.

I certainly hope so. I think it would be fantastic if I got some video responses of people doing the same thing. Misery love company you know .

PS: You might want to sell the Metro to somebody else on this board or people of similar mindset.

Hmm... I'm not too sure if I like that idea. The Geo has just rolled over to 280K today (driving back to Winnipeg from Regina) and, well, let's just say I don't feel that she's in the shape where I'd like to sell it to someone I know.

If you figure all the money you spend on a car, and instead invested it into a retirement account, you will be set!

You read my mind! Once I sell both the Tempo (which is costing me 220+ a month) and Geo (which is costing me $550+ a month), I'm going to still pay the $770 a month... to myself! Then, after this is all done, I'm going to make a finale Vlog at the end of the year (Psst: hopefully a down-payment for a house).

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Notice: Thanks for all the replies everyone. However I think I'm going to let this thread die and move this discussion over to the thread I have going on the DIY category HERE.