We have been a car-free family for over a year. In fact, we only recently came to this realization as it is not something we even have to think about any longer. Although this lifestyle isn't for everyone (Ontario streets in winter might not be safe for a cyclist, but they are probably not safe for drivers either), we have learned a lot about consumerism, immediate gratification, time management, and getting from point A to B.
We have found that we are NOT always on a bike or bus. When we had a car, we seemed to always be driving. We manage our time differently. We spend less time in traffic as we whiz by all of the cars through the bike lanes or we enjoy the beauty of the city on the Galloping Goose trail. We spend more time at home or walking to places nearby. Our kids are hardly ever taken shopping outside of the grocery store! We shop on our own (sans children) more. We spend more time doing what we want to do.
We spend less on insurance. Bike maintenance is less expensive than car maintenance. But mostly, we consume less. Without a car to carry stuff home in, without the convenience of "running out the store," we aren't buying things on a whim. We think about buying this or that for days or even weeks and when a trip to this or that store finally comes around we tend to either acknowledge that we don't really need that item or we excitedly purchase the long awaited thing and it's like Christmas!
No parking tickets. No paying for parking. Always a spot close to the entrance which means we hardly even have to navigate our pre-schooler through a parking lot.
We load up our trailer with similar things as a car. We have similar difficulty strapping our kids into their seats and helmets. We have to keep them entertained, safe, and the time in the 'vehicle' must be limited. Our trailer converts into a stroller. We cycle to downtown, the beach, the chiropractor, and we convert it, and walk around.
Yes, we did it for our budget. But mostly, we did it because we could! It's great for the environment, it's great for our health, and we feel like we are role-modelling to our kids.
Shay at home. We spend a lot of time at home or in our garden. It's really where babies like to be!
We arrive early for our chiropractic appointment and pull over for a swing at the park. Shay isn't as thrilled with the swing as Fin was/is. Fin is using the big-kid-swing these days as well.
We walk to local cafes and drink tea if we need a change of scene.
Fin loves hot chocolate, a new treat he is trying out this season!
Fin helps us get the bikes and trailer ready for longer trips.
I take the bus to school, which is great because I can get a lot of reading done while I ride. Here is Fin pretending to do his "cool-work" or school work. The wipes with the open lid is his "pu-ter" or computer.
Like I said, car-free may not be for everyone, but it works for us! I highly recommend lowering your use of cars and getting on the bus/bike more often.
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