Carless at last!
It's long been a dream of mine to live again without a car. When I was single, thirty years ago, people tried to give (or lend) me cars; I always refused.
With family life came two sequential, nearly identical Volvo wagons. Le Duc babied that car for 17 years, and it ran–still runs–with stolid dependability, a Harrison Ford of a vehicle.
I liked its cheery cherry boxiness, tight turning radius, dog and child-accommodating bench seats. Privately, however, I bided my time. One day, I dreamed, we would go car-free.
I can't stand depreciating assets; I'm aggrieved when something costly erodes. It's not just a matter of burning fossil fuels, spewing emissions, all that environmental stuff– though I'm on board with that, too.
Cars generate stress for me. I don't enjoy driving, I don't like the expense, and who was the jerk who drove into our trunk and then took off, last month?
So, we did it. We had originally planned to sell the car when we moved to Montréal, but Le Duc wasn't ready. Then, one day he was; might have been one of those $110 fill-ups. A genial professor bought it within a few days of posting on Kijiji.
This decision is possible because of our transit-rich neighbourhood: two bus routes stop in front of our building; two subway lines are a three-minute bus ride or ten-minute walk. There are two Communauto car rentals a few blocks away, a longer-term car rental agency just down the street, a Bixi (rental bike) stand at the corner, and, if feeling flush, a cab stand across the street. Le Duc has a bike. About all we're missing is a helipad on the roof.
And, since the major expense categories for seniors are housing and transportation, reducing the transit cost by hundreds of dollars a month would free up money for other priorities.
People say, "Well, I'd do that too, but I need my car." Some who think they require one or multiple cars may find that with planning or re-orientation, they don't. (I've always chosen where I live with commuting time and transit options top of the list.)
We have friends in Toronto who went decades without a car, even with a child. Now in their sixties, they bought one. So, each person decides whether and when. We may find that we want a car; I won't say need. It won't be need; it will be for the ease, the convenience.
We'll see. We are learning as we go what's necessary and what's habit, in this stage of life.
And right now, two months into no car, I love it; Le Duc is still seeing. Cars are very deep with guys.
With family life came two sequential, nearly identical Volvo wagons. Le Duc babied that car for 17 years, and it ran–still runs–with stolid dependability, a Harrison Ford of a vehicle.
 |
| Long may you run |
I liked its cheery cherry boxiness, tight turning radius, dog and child-accommodating bench seats. Privately, however, I bided my time. One day, I dreamed, we would go car-free.
I can't stand depreciating assets; I'm aggrieved when something costly erodes. It's not just a matter of burning fossil fuels, spewing emissions, all that environmental stuff– though I'm on board with that, too.
Cars generate stress for me. I don't enjoy driving, I don't like the expense, and who was the jerk who drove into our trunk and then took off, last month?
So, we did it. We had originally planned to sell the car when we moved to Montréal, but Le Duc wasn't ready. Then, one day he was; might have been one of those $110 fill-ups. A genial professor bought it within a few days of posting on Kijiji.
This decision is possible because of our transit-rich neighbourhood: two bus routes stop in front of our building; two subway lines are a three-minute bus ride or ten-minute walk. There are two Communauto car rentals a few blocks away, a longer-term car rental agency just down the street, a Bixi (rental bike) stand at the corner, and, if feeling flush, a cab stand across the street. Le Duc has a bike. About all we're missing is a helipad on the roof.
And, since the major expense categories for seniors are housing and transportation, reducing the transit cost by hundreds of dollars a month would free up money for other priorities.
People say, "Well, I'd do that too, but I need my car." Some who think they require one or multiple cars may find that with planning or re-orientation, they don't. (I've always chosen where I live with commuting time and transit options top of the list.)
We have friends in Toronto who went decades without a car, even with a child. Now in their sixties, they bought one. So, each person decides whether and when. We may find that we want a car; I won't say need. It won't be need; it will be for the ease, the convenience.
We'll see. We are learning as we go what's necessary and what's habit, in this stage of life.
And right now, two months into no car, I love it; Le Duc is still seeing. Cars are very deep with guys.
Comments
I've never owned a car, quite deliberately, but then I've always lived in cities and have no children. I do have friends with two small children and no car, but they use the carshare system for "big" shopping and other parental needs.
It is a nice car, by the way. Hope the prof likes it.
You sound very liberated about being car-less an attitude shift that is so positive.
My Volvo wagon is still reliable although I have thought that walking to the shops will certainly be a healthy alternative, less expensive and I do have an adorable French Market basket on wheels!
Retirement seems like a great opportunity to reassess and refine ones life.
Pseu: We did not really think about becoming unable to drive (Le Duc is only 58) but yes, that day comes and it's smart to plan ahead.
Kathy: It is a result of social policy, for which I can't take credit, but am grateful.
Swissy: Your village sounds delightfu1! We're in a city of 2+ million but in a neighbourhood with everything we need day to day just steps away.
lagatta: For many in this neighbourhood, owning a car is still considered a need, and some people view cars as a pleasurable possession. I suspect most of the deep car-lovers are men.
hostess: You put it well- a time to reassess and make new choices.
I envy the city people. My son, who now lives in Boston and formerly lived in D.C. and Philadelphia, gave up his car in college. He loves the freedom of not looking for parking, not paying insurance and all the other trappings of car ownership. Wish I could do the same.
Now, I must say that our family and friends (though they don't say it), think we're nuts as most are suburb dwellers (though a couple are within the city suburbs if you want to consider Yonge & Eglinton that). They wonder how two people in their right mind could raise two kids DOWNTOWN and WITHOUT CAR.
If I had my choice we would live in a quaint little house somewhere in the city (good luck affording that anytime soon!) along the subway line and maybe have one car for big shopping trips such as stocking up at Costco or visiting family and friends that live in the outer burbs like Richmond Hill.
Sorry about the long, drawn our post, but I have to say that though I never planned things to be this way, it has worked out pretty good for us. I, too, hate driving and have always found it stressful. Not to mention the traffic in the GTA these days. It makes me feel better to hear from people like you even if it's just as positive reinforcement that we are doing the right thing. Helen in Toronto
Helen in Toronto: I wouldn't consider Yonge/Eg a suburb, maybe "uptown" but hardly, say Richmond Hill; it is well-served by transit. Every family will decide for themselves.
When my twin sons were small (we lived in Leslieville for 25 years) I was happy enough to have a car though I never drove around the city, preferring transit. (Le Duc used the car, I avoided it.) At 25, only one of those boys has a license and neither owns a car.
While retirement in a suburban environment is desirable, it doesn't offer the easy public transportation that a major metropolitan area offers.
Perhaps the answer is to keep one car that is inexpensive to operate such as a hybrid or electric car.
Wishing you a very happy New Year.
I'm pleased that our kids manage so well without in their city lives, although some of them have ended up with a vehicle, especially to make life with little ones more manageable. Still, we all appreciate the city's transit and walkability, and I'm convinced that the urban lifestyle ends up being much healthier for that single reason. . . .Some day, I imagine we'll join you in carlessness, although we'll certainly rent occasionally and/or join a carshare. Meanwhile, you're leading the way . . . ;-)
I really admire you for the courage to move to a new city. How are you handling the need to find a new doctor, dentist, hairstylist, etc?
materfamilias: The key words are "much easier", we all have things that bring ease and though we know they are costly to both us and the environment, we keep them. For me it is air conditioning!
LauraH: I've posted about the move occasionally but in short, found hairdresser by trying a few nearby places, dr. through referral from local health centre, dentist by web search. Very happy with all!
Susan: Full disclosure, a branch of my family are Texans (Houston and Dallas) so I am well acquainted with the policies of your governor, as well as the extremely limited transit options of both cities.
At the same time, I was over the moon to sell my car when I moved to Madrid. It is sometimes a pain not to be able to haul everything I need home in one shopping trip, but figuring out the logistics helps me keep my strategic thinking skills sharp. And my grocery store delivers orders over 40 euros, so when I have a lot of heavy and/or bulky stuff to buy (detergent, wine, TP), someone will bring it to me.
C.
I don't think carshare /car sharing is as popular in France as in Germany, Netherlands and other northern European countries, but it is on the rise and you can research it on the net.
By the way, Mary Soderstrom, who lives nearby (in Outremont) has written at length about green and walkable cities, and is definitely of an age for Duchesse's blog! marysoderstrom.blogspot.com
Karen: I brought a car into Manhattan precisely once!
rubi: Oh, I like *driving* (open, dry road, scenic) very much, it's owing a car that I dislike! And- owned some cool cars back in the day, fun to drive- but not to service.
RebeccaNYC: I'd probably want a car in rural France too, to explore neighbouring towns or take longer jaunts. There are trains and buses but you might want the ease of a car.
C.: I'm on foot sometimes but for longer distances (this is a big city), take bus or subway, so I use a backpack- nothing special, just a basic functional one. Your carts are charming.
lagatta: Carshare is great though we've found that we usually want a car for a half-day (or more) and the classic car rentals will do that as cheaply, without a $500 membership fee.
This has long been a dream of ours too, but not one likely to come true living in the SF Bay Area.