Can You Be Car Free?

These days it seems like everyone is trying to be a little more green, a little more healthy and a little more frugal. How can you do that in one single action? How about giving up that car of yours? GASP Give up your car?! That's insanity! Well maybe for some it is, but it's worth at least looking into. Here are some pros from Katheryn Vercillo of Hubpages you may not have thought of when you think about not having a car.

1.You immediately begin to get in better shape. People who don’t use cars have to find other ways of getting around. Walking and biking are the most common solutions. Even people who use public transportation and cabs are people who tend to walk more than their driving counterparts. This activity makes it really easy to get in better shape just by going about your daily business.

2.You spend a whole lot less money. Even though I pay for both buses and cabs on a fairly regular basis, I spend a lot less money on transportation without owning a car. Cars cost a fortune in terms of the car itself, insurance, gas, maintenance and various fees. I don’t ever have to spend that money which means that I’ve got extra money to spend on the other things in life that are of more value and importance to me than owning a car is.

3.You contribute to a greener environment. Yes there are a lot of green cars out there. I do think that if you’re going to drive then you should drive a green car. But it’s a whole heck of a lot greener if you just don’t drive at all. If you’re at all concerned about the environment then giving up your car is a great step to make towards a solution to that problem.

4.You get closer to your community. People who don’t drive tend to stick around their own neighborhoods a lot more. They go to local stores more frequently (because they can’t go just once and load up the trunk with a month’s worth of stuff!) They are out and about with others who are walking. These things provide opportunities to get to know your neighbors and to foster a stronger sense of community in your area than you may have when you’re a driver.

5.You see more of the world around you and live more in the present moment. There’s a lot going on in the world that you don’t see from your car. When you slow down by walking or biking, you start to notice things. This helps you to live in the moment and to really be present in your own life.

6.You reduce your stress levels. Driving a car is stressful. Problems on the road and problems with the car create causes for ongoing stress in your life. Financial concerns, emergencies on the road and other common issues related to driving all increase your daily stress. Sure you sometimes get stressed because the bus is late but it’s not nearly as persistent of a problem.

7.Not having a car makes driving really fun. One of my favorite things about not owning a car is that I really enjoy every chance that I do get to drive. I actually think it’s fun and exciting instead of stressful or exhausting.

8.The cars you do drive are always really great cars. If you don’t own a car then you usually only drive rental cars, borrowed cars or cars from a car share program like Zipcar. These cars are typically in good shape. They’re clean. They’re fairly new. They’re comfortable.

9.You get to be conscious about your choice to drive. When you don’t have a car, you get more focused on the reasons that you might want a car. If you do decide to get one again, it will be a conscious choice that’s rooted in your inner beliefs and needs rather than just something you do because you’ve always done it.

10.You get to set a good example for the future. Cars create a lot of problems for our environment and society. Unfortunately, it’s hard to give yours up because society is structured in such a way that most of us feel that we need our cars to get around. Making a change in your own life will set an example for others to make changes as well.

-Jodi Sonoda

Jodi has been blogging for over 3 years, and is excited to currently be blogging with collegejobbank.com for Nexxt. She is attached to the internet at the hip and enjoys the constant connection. She spends most of her offline time playing dolls and reading picture books with her two year old.