On Jan 27, 11:02 am, bfd <bfd...@gmail.com> wrote: > On Jan 25, 10:56 am, "cyclotour...@gmail.com" <cyclotour...@gmail.com> > wrote:> Car-free and car-light are two different things, and both > > commendable!!! I doubt I will ever be car-free, but every year I try > > to drive less and less. It's fun, saves money, gives me great > > "parking", a little exercise, doesn't fund Islamic extremists. All my > > local errands are done on foot or bike. Luckily I live in a place > > where I can do that. > > I think your last statment is the key - live in a place where you can > do local errands, either by bike or walking. Unfortunately, most > Americans don't live near places to do local stuff and have no choice > but to drive. I know this is supposedly changing with the popularity > of "density housing" and living near "transit hubs," but let's face > it, most Americans believe in owning a home in the suburbs where they > have a white picket fence, the schools are good and its quiet. Hard to > get those things living in "the city." > > My buddy recently started a family and decided to buy a house out in > the suburbs. He and his wife drive everywhere. He complains about > "filling up" a couple of times a week. He also complains about not > having time to "go to the gym," and don't even start about the "cost > of parking." Of course, he goes on to brag about how quiet it is > where he lives, the lack of "riff raffs" living in his area, and the > greatest of the local public school. > He knows I commute to work by bike and rags on me about "growing up," > "being out in the elements," (while he's nice a cozy in his car with > the heater turned up, and my favorite, that "the War is Over!" - > implying that my riding is nothing more than being fugal, no make that > CHEAP! I laugh it off as his being jealous as I am saving money ; > being green - as I'm not using any gas and nor adding to the > pollution; and basically the have a reduced stress level as riding > helps burn it off. I'm probably preaching to the choir, but who has > it better?.... > > Note, I do own two cars, including a 21 year old BMW that is just fun > to drive and definitely have to use my cars as I have two young girls > and an elderly mom to transport. But, my commute is for me and I'm > glad to have the option to ride! Good Luck!
Trust me, I know I'm lucky. But it's by choice, too. We have a smaller, older house, without the modern amenities. Wouldn't change it for a house in the burbs for anything (and couldn't afford a house in the city). Tuesday the fam walked downtown for pizza and beer. Tonight I meet up up with friends to do a bicycle kitchen at our weekly farmer's market. But I work a half hour away by car including drop off at school and/or daycare depending on the day. No getting around that for me. The trick for me is finding an older town, established prior to WWII. That gives you a walkable/living scale. Not too big, not too small said Goldilocks. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en.
