Record amount of carless households

[Ryland]

Driving is over rated, I see a lot of people walk or bike past my house every day on their way to work, people in their 40's 50's and 60's, neighbors that while they own a car are not driving because they choose to live where they spend their time.

I grew up with back to the land parents who wanted to live in the country or as part of a commune I never liked the 5 mile long bike ride to get in to town, so when I was looking to buy my first house top of my list was a house that I could walk to where I wanted to be and slowly everyone else I know started moving in to the same neighborhood for the same reasons.

It's not just about saving money and being able to live on a lower paying or a part time job, but being able to spend your time doing something with your time that is more meaningful then sitting in a car and spending all of your money fueling, maintaining and insuring that car.

Look at the figures on driving an EV for "free" compared to a gasoline car you realize pretty quickly how expensive the average car is for it's owner, even if you factor in repair costs of a used car, because so many people don't do their own work, owning a car costs a lot! $0.20 to $0.50 per mile for a reasonable vehicle.

[Frank Lee]

^Yup. Maybe some are starting to catch on. But there's a looooong way to go.

[Ryland]

Originally Posted by Frank Lee

^Yup. Maybe some are starting to catch on. But there's a looooong way to go.

At work whenever I have to give someone a bid I am often shocked at how impressed people are that I can do basic math in my head, because it turns out most people can't handle doing basic math in their day to day life and long commutes are a great example of that in so many ways.

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

With gas prices going on and on, and EPA whining against Diesel engines, I'd expect to see more folks going carless. For many folks a small motorcycle with a single-cylinder engine is more than enought, and as a last resource a side-car can be used to improve cargo capacity and stability.

[101Volts]

I'm 21 and I don't leave the house much, The most I drive is to get groceries with my Father. I don't care for the ridiculous new cars much, I can't afford to buy a new one for one thing and we already have the Caprice in the garage. It might get fuel economy equivalent to a Caravan with a spare tire on the roof, But at least it runs and doesn't have a microwave built-in. Who needs that sort of thing. But, I'm one person - Not a majority.

It won't be too surprising for things to become similar to the ways they were 500 years ago. And if we end up having lots of dirt roads, You can kiss the high tire pressures goodbye to keep the car's suspension system longer.

And on a similar note, The Amish folk seem to have things going fairly well. I don't think they get excessive-driving fatigue much!

Originally Posted by cRiPpLe_rOoStEr

With gas prices going on and on, and EPA whining against Diesel engines, I'd expect to see more folks going carless. For many folks a small motorcycle with a single-cylinder engine is more than enought, and as a last resource a side-car can be used to improve cargo capacity and stability.

Just keeping noise in mind at night, Hopefully:

[JRMichler]

My 17 year old daughter does not want a drivers license. Maybe someday, she says.

My truck cost $22K brand new. My previous truck, a 1995 Dodge Dakota 5 spd 2WD standard cab, cost $14,000 brand new. That $31K average is pushed up by the oversized optioned up vehicles.

[freebeard]

Quote:
The average new car costs nearly $31,000, according to TrueCar.com
Are you f***ing kidding me? Who in the hell spends $31k on a car?

Apparently your average new car buyer.

(Who in the hell buys a new car?)

OOh, there was a whole second page. I was telling someone at the grocery store today that car insurance is like feeding a horse oats—you have to pay whether you ride or not.

[euromodder]

Somebody's got to buy them new, or there soon won't be any second hand cars available

I buy new cars as I don't want to inherit someone else's hidden troubles.
As it is, the last few new ones were giving enough troubles ...

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

Originally Posted by JRMichler

My truck cost $22K brand new. My previous truck, a 1995 Dodge Dakota 5 spd 2WD standard cab, cost $14,000 brand new. That $31K average is pushed up by the oversized optioned up vehicles.

And also by the nanny-government mandating many safety features and emissions control devices which increase weight and manufacturing complexity

[shovel]

Originally Posted by cRiPpLe_rOoStEr

And also by the nanny-government mandating many safety features and emissions control devices which increase weight and manufacturing complexity

Though I do think modern driver safety features are a bit nannying and unnecessary (and may make many of us worse drivers) - any time I get behind an old pre-70s survivor with no cats and no feedback controlled engine & have to breathe its dense exhaust I'm glad there aren't a million more of them in my city.