QuakerInfo.com Forum

[bradleyp]

I am a proud pedestrian and walk almost everywhere unless offered a ride from a relative or close friend, and I even make regular use of public transit.
I feel that I am pressured to get a car from every angle, and for various reasons I can’t and I won’t get my licence or a vehicle, but still I feel this pressure to at least attempt it.

Although I know I won’t be getting a car ever, I would like to hear input from those on the forum who go car-less (and even those who do drive) and, at least give me some encouragement, advice and other thoughts on this topic.

This is a topic that has been weighing on me all my life, really. Certainly it is not, perhaps, specific to Friends, but I like this forum’s unique points of view on things. From your point of view, what are the advantages for me being a life long pedestrian.

if this is in the wrong section, feel free to change this
_________________
Bradley P.
Somewhere along the pathway back, the pathway forward, wherever it leads, I wish for an interesting walk.

[BillSamuel]

Bradley,

You're in the right section. Thanks for your testimony.

When John Woolman traveled in England, he insisted on walking because the horses which drew carriages were not treated properly. So there's a long and honorable Quaker tradition of our values having a great effect on the transportation options we use.
_________________
Bill Samuel, Silver Spring, MD, USA
Co-Coordinator, Friends in Christ

[barbara_q]

If you have access to it in a library or somewhere, the January 2007 issue of Friends Journal has an article on the topic:

[Diane]

I have never driven, though we had a car when the children were small - my husband drove it.

Now, though, I am in a difficult position. Having re-enter the workforce (at an age when most people are permanently retired), I find that I cannot even submit applications for the work I am qualified to do unless I have a current driver's license. It is assumed that I will use a car for work purposes, and without at least having the willingness to use a car, I will not even be considered for employment.

What a paradox - my new qualifications are in the environmental sciences!

[mtatum4496]

Three years ago, my car died. The event took place at a time when I had made a commitment to myself to get out of debt. I saw two options open to me - one was to take out a loan, thus defeating my resolve to become debt free; or use other modes of transportation while I saved money for a good used car. I chose the latter.

I looked into the city bus system, but was not happy with the arrangement of routes. For instance, to get to work, I would have to get up an hour earlier than usual, then with exchanges spend forty or so minutes for a trip that normally took me six to eight minutes to drive. Also, the system did not run on weekends at the time, which further limited its appeal.

Some quick calculations told me that biking would work well, even though it had been close to thirty years since I had ridden a bicycle. At the time, I worked 2.75 miles from my apartment. The church I attended was four miles from my home. My two favorite restaurants and a movie house were all of nine city blocks away. I had three different grocery stores and drug stores all within a one mile distance from my home. My doctor was a scant three-fourths of a mile away. I could get to all these locations without getting out on a main thoroughfare, so even in a town not set up with bike lanes, I could be reasonably safe as I pedaled around.

The bottom line is that it would take me roughly twenty five minutes to get to work, biking at a leisurely but steady pace. Church would take me roughly thirty-five minutes. Those destinations were on the outside perimeter of most of my basic movements. Everything else would take less time.

I invested in a bicycle and some basic equipment, such as a clip on basket for the handlebars. I had rain gear and a backpack and a toiletries kit that I could use to carry extra clothing and freshen up when I reached my destination. A bicycle tool kit and a spare inner tube pretty much had me ready for anything.

As a result, I lost weight, toned up, and had an excellent means of relieving stress from work - all of which cost me not one penny in gym fees and without the need for fancy workout equipment.

I did eventually save up enough to purchase a good quality used vehicle, but my bike is still here, ready to take me anywhere I want to go.

[Bromo33333]

There are many that bicycle to work in the summer months here at work (esp. when they live under 5 miles from work). In the winter we generally have so much snow that biking becomes very difficult (dangerous?) - so then people will usually drive.

As our workplace has a shower facility, I have toyed with the idea of purchasing a bicycle (I don't have one ATM) and biking to work - this post has me feeling a bit more motivated. I live 12 miles from work, so it is definitely do-able. Might be better exercise for me than the running that I do - and be more economical.
_________________
“The Humble, Meek, Merciful, Just, Pious and Devout Souls, are everywhere of one religion; and when Death has taken off the Mask, they will know one another, though the divers Liveries they wear here make them Strangers.” - William Penn

[bradleyp]

Thanks for the replies so far, they have inspired me.

A related thought that has been weighing on my mind is when I’m on my own [I am one of those young adults who, for various reasons, have not yet left their parents home], how am I as a non-car person going to manage something like the groceries. How have you approached this particular prospect.
_________________
Bradley P.
Somewhere along the pathway back, the pathway forward, wherever it leads, I wish for an interesting walk.

[Bromo33333]

[Shay]

I used to be a lot more bike-oriented than I am now, but we moved across town from the grocery store area and it would be uphill both ways (half the way there and half the way back) plus toting a child on a very busy street so I fell off the bicycle and haven't gotten back on, so to speak.

I do have a Vespa that I drive whenever I can (it's hard with the kids) and I can fit about four bags of groceries on it, maybe a little more if I wear a backpack. (I bring sturdy cloth bags with me) I can fit two on the front between my legs on the bag hook, one in a bag I have rigged up to the back, and one under the seat. If I sprung for some gear I could probably fit a lot more with saddle bags and front racks, too.

A friend of mine is a professional juggler and can fit most of his gear for shows on his scooter, as long as he doesn't need set pieces.

It also gets about 64 miles per gallon. If I hadn't gotten the larger one, (I wanted to be able to go on highways) the gas mileage would be even better. For comparison, a Honda Prius (hybrid) gets 48 MPG, and a PT Cruiser gets 29 MPG. My husband's Harley Davidson gets about 45 mpg. And a smaller scooter can get 90 MPG! (But they generally only go up to 50-60MPH top speed and aren't recommended for highways.)

Scooters are getting a lot more popular- they don't cost as much as other vehicles, they're easier to drive than standard motorcycles, and they're very fuel and space efficient. The Vespa dealership downtown has a waiting list- especially for the models that don't need an motorcycle class license. The other scooter dealership (They have Buddys and some other models) is doing a brisk business as well.

I wouldn't recommend it if you live in a rural area, but for most city and suburb folks it's pretty all-weather. Scooters are very bottom-heavy and pretty stable, but I think you really need someplace where they plow the streets.

If your work is just a stretch too far to bicycle or you need a little more range than foot power will give you, it's something to think about. I have a friend who'd considering one in California purely for the gas factor- she lives a half hour from work, too far to realistically bike, but the weather there is nice enough that a moped is usable year-round, no problem.

The downsides are: you are still using gas, there's repair and maintenance you might need someone else for, depending on the model you would need extra licensing and insurance, and let's face it, it's easier to steal a scooter than a car- some can be lifted by one strong person. It's not as easy to store as a bike, and of course, you have to learn how to ride it. (I highly recommend an MSF course, for Americans.)

So, there's another option. Hey, I wouldn't mind having a couple Friends to ride with every once in a while either.

On a totally different note- Diane, I don't know if you need a car to be considered, or ID- if it's a matter of ID then states will issue a picture non-driver license.

[Shay]

[barbara_q]

WOW! That grocery cart really brings back memories! I used to walk to the supermarket with my grandmother when I was little, and we would bring the groceries back in one of those.

Less happy : the homeless who use one to cart their worldly goods around everyday
_________________
http://www.pax-et-lux.blogspot.com/

"Together, let us reject the clamour of fear and listen to the whisperings of hope."
Statement on Peace, Aotearoa (New Zealand) Yearly Meeting

[Nenad]

I don't drive a car, never bothered to take my driver's test and get a license. I use public transport to get to work, and either ride a bike or walk to get to closer destinations.

[Bromo33333]

[orPowers]

It seems to be the case that in the older urban environments developed before the general use of the automobile as personal transportation, much greater consideration was given to the need to have necessities more readily available and space for personal living was relatively limited for that reason. In newer areas, particularly in the West, the sprawl is a sort of perpetuation of the cause: you almost have to have and use an automobile extensively just to live. Talk about a vicious circle. And it continues.

In His Love,
orPowers
_________________
Romans 8:38-39

my blog: http://mild-side.blogspot.com/

[kevin roberts]