Car Free

[phantom power]

Some people at the Times discuss the possibility.

I think a key point is that while it isn't realistic to imagine that much of the country will become a car free paradise, it is realistic to imagine that relatively small changes to land use, planning, and transit could reduce the number of cars that households need. They may need one, but not one per driving age member.

As for me, personally, living in one of those small number of walkable downtowns, I'm quite content without a car and lacking one doesn't negatively impact me at all. That wouldn't be the case if affordable and convenient carsharing wasn't available. I easily could live without a car in that case, but at some point I'd probably decide it was a luxury I was willing to pay for. Cars are useful things, even if you don't need one.

http://www.eschatonblog.com/2009/05/car-free.html

[KGodel]

1. L.A. is usually thought to require a car,...

but since I went blind, I've found it fairly easy to get around. It's not really as bad as people think.

[madokie]

2. If I lived in the city I'd be car free

The two times I've lived in the city I used the buses exclusively and loved it.

[xenussister]

3. Haven't owned a car since 1990, by choice, BUT

we live in Chicago, where it's easy to get around via public transportation, cabs are (fairly) cheap and plentiful, and iGo and Zipcars are everywhere. If we had to move back to where we came from, Kansas City, we'd have to have a car. That's one of the (many) reasons I never want to move back.

It sure is nice not having to deal with car payments, tags, licenses, city stickers, gas, repairs, insurance, general maintenance, parking, fear of crashes or damage, or traffic tickets, and we get to feel good about not adding to pollution. All that would be negated by moving back.

[phantom power]

5. One of the things about reducing car dependence...

which your post reminds me of, is that reducing car dependence has the best financial impact when you can actually get rid of a car completely, since a lot of the cost is payments, tags, licensing, insurence, etc. Even when you don't drive a car, you still have a lot of expenses that have to be paid, just to own it.

Do you use car-sharing services?

Also, it is a pleasure to meet Xenu's sister. I'm always the last to know.

[excess_3]

4. tax on jet fuel for international flight ... ZERO

tax on jet fuel for domestic US flight... four cents a gallon
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sadly, some here think that the poor don't deserve cars
or various foods
or carbon

















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