I replaced my car with a bike 8 months ago... This is what happened || car-free living
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- Опубліковано 6 жов 2024
- 8 months ago, I switched out my car for a bike. I now live on the coast, and my bike is my main mode of transport. Here's my experience of it so far...
My blog post sharing my experience over the past 8 months: simplynaturaln...
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❤ Vanessa
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11 years car free for me. I'm in Springfield, MO, USA. I'm 60 y.o. and my work commute is 6k/4 miles/20 minutes. The so called life-style change is rather uneventful. Trust me. You can do this, folks. It doesn't have to be hard core/every day, but can be incorporated once or twice a week as meets your needs. Ignore the negative commentary from society. With adverse weather one dresses accordingly, sits down and pedals. No problem. Your medical bills will likely go down and you will feel better physically and mentally. Your parking problems will evaporate. This is for you.
That's awesome Rufus! 11 years car free is amazing!
60?? I'm 59 and really debating giving up my car for a scooter. I live in the African continent near a coast and my car just sits on the parking rusting and costing me money in repair and maintenance. I'm encouraged! I'll do it!!👍🏾
lol...I'm 74 in two months, Toronto, and winters can be cycled, but it's really not a pleasure then. So I come alive every Spring, albeit it's not as easy as it used to be, snakes and ladders every year to climb back up to being in top shape.
It's odd though how some think it's such a struggle, because that's what the endorphins are for! God's reward for doing what the average plebe avoids. The pay-off is massive in so many ways.
You're a Babe, Vanessa! Don't lose track of that. You can keep it as long as you feed yourself the right things.
Welcome to the club!
Hello Rufus,
I too am car free for 3 years now, interrupted by a really good marriage of 42 years, then back to no car.
I am 75 yrs old and just east of you in hilly Jasper Indiana.
I agree with your assessment of the way you mentally approach the commuting lifestyle.
It does take some innovation, borrow a little from skiers, a little from my military background, Air Force Air Rescue, I am having more fun now with cycling than ever before, and once the hills feel good rather than dreadful you know you getting in shape.
I am 3 LB. Heavier than in 1977, I must work on that.
Presently on a Poseiden X.
Cheers
I calculated holding my car during this year would cost me around 2000€ between mechanical revisions and insurance. Not to mention my city is so overcrowded by cars that out of 2.5 hours of gym related activities probably half an hour was dedicated just to parking... So it is sold and now the 2000€ can have a much better use. But these days even with the car sharing options it becomes evident that owning a car is an absolute waste of time and a source of stress.
I wish the USA would catch up to the rest of the world with bike lanes, reliable public transportation and national health care.
From Greenville, SC: I completely agree! So frustrating. Where I live, forget about bike lanes, so many roads don’t even have a shoulder on which to ride along. So dangerous.
Agree. The small city where I lived decided the strip along the street's guttering would serve as a "bike lane". Obviously, a 20" wide strip is not really a bike lane, riding a few inches from the curb is hazardous, parked cars obstruct the lane, the flat tire rate increased to the point of stupidity, and no there is not enough traffic on most streets to warrant all the car lanes, but people road rage without much effort, so more space for cars and no space for cyclists is the norm..
We don't need nationalized healthcare, if the entire food industry wasn't poisoning us. Healthcare would be affordable and less needed.
Agree. There is no infrastructure for bikes where I live. Very little. On top of that, there is the cultural aspect. Cyclist are seen like something that should not be legally allowed. I’ve been cycling with friends on weekends, we are as far right on the road as we can be (on the shoulder really) and we have gotten bottle of waters thrown at, big diesel trucks stop and start smoking us, or “burning coal” as they call it. We have even had cars cut us to try to get us off the road… and it is only three of us in a line. Just crazy.
A city in the state I live in seems to be trying to install better bike infrastructure, however, it's projected not to be complete until at-least 2026
Good for you! I started commuting by bike 47 years ago, ended up commuting year-around for 22 years over the next 33 years, when work permitted, in rain, snow, heat, and dead of night, with distances from 1 km to 30 km each way. Two of those years, I went carless, with the occasional weekend car hire for shopping. For the last 37 years, I've shared my joy of riding with my partner, on a tandem, including multi-day touring into our 70s. At 79 and 77, we're still riding: a bit slower and not as far, but we can, and we do, because we did all those years ago. Keep it up!
Oh my goodness that is absolutely amazing! You both are such inspirations to me 😍
As a fellow Australian looking to go car free, this is immensely encouraging. I am always a bit saddened about how car-centric our society is, particular in Aus. It’s good to see it is possible (and enjoyable!) and I can’t wait to get into it once my leg recovers from a few torn ligaments.
Keep it up!!! 🥳🙌
Oh thank you so much Adam!! That's amazing to hear you're looking at going car-free too! I hope you recover quickly from your torn ligaments injury, and can't wait to hear all about your journey without a car!
While I am not car-free. Bike commuting +150 days a year has been a transformative experince for me. I feel like biking to work 1,000 days will change you as a person (for the better).
That's awesome Andrew!
I got hit broadside 2 years ago, got a concussion, broken ankle and many many scars.
I have not left the house without a helmet since. I ride 10 miles daily, car free and love it.
Love your video so much.... I watched it again and commented again.
Go safe.
Oh I'm so glad you're okay. That's so wonderful to hear you absolutely love biking! I'm so impressed you ride 10 miles a day! Thank you so much for watching and commenting, it means so much to me to hear that you enjoyed my video!
Congratulations Vanessa! It's so encouraging to see young people reject cars, for whatever reason. At the end of the day you save a ton of cash, you hugely improve your physical and mental fitness, and you do your part for protecting our environment ❤🇨🇦 (I'm 20+ years living car-free in Ottawa, Ontario Canada)
Oh thank you! That's amazing you've been car free for 20+ years! Wow! That's so inspiring
I'm on board with you skeptic. Also Ontarian. I'm also vegan after watching Earthlings years ago. Anything to make this world sustainable and cruelty free for future generations, I'm all for. 💕✌️🙏👍
I have an ebike which I use for daily local transportation. I have a car, but it sits in the driveway. The engine compartment makes for an excellent refuge for spiders to build their webs. A tip for anyone who is spooked by traffic: get a set of mirrors--both on the bike and on your helmet. Knowing what is approaching from behind takes much of the surprise when cars whoosh by.
That's a great suggestion about the mirrors, thank you!
I have recently bought a small chilli-tech helmet camera. £42 here in UK. Very effective at encouraging vehicles to give you a wide berth. Increasingly head cams are assisting the police in effective prosecutions.
@@paulaspinall919 Oh really, that's such a great idea, thank you for the tip!
@@paulaspinall919 That is an excellent suggestion.
As a teenager in brisbane I don't understand why ppl drive everywhere. I've never had the option to drive cause I'm not old enough so I've always rode everywhere and caught public transport and i can get almost anywhere in south east Queensland its pretty awesome
That's awesome!
Lost my leg in a motorcycle crash 20 years ago. I can't ride a bike because of my lack of range of motion while wearing my prosthetic. Tried hand bikes. Arms aren't meant for biking. I was arriving everywhere sweaty. It's cars for me so I appreciate you bikers not adding to the traffic jams.
This is the point that so often gets lost when drivers are complaining about cycling infrastructure. Millions of people don't want to be in a car, so imagine if we took even a fraction of those people off the road and left that space open for people who actually need to use a car due to mobility issues, work, etc.? Things would be *better* for car drivers, not worse.
I'm in Ireland and the weather is so different but although your bike is pretty, I would suggest you spend a few hundred extra bucks and get a bike with a good ratio of gears to make cycling easier.
Or get an e-bike to really allow you to go further more easily.
A good rack on the back of the bike plus a selection of good removable or permanent pannier bags will make carrying groceries or anything else much easier.
And if you want to carry large amounts, get a bike trailer.
I have two and can carry anything from 70kg of weekly family shopping or anything else to a full sized lawnmower. A trailer really turns any bike into a real world practical alternative to a car.
Without owning a car, bus, taxi's and Ubers can fill in the gaps and hiring a car or a van for a day or a week occasionally as required can work too when you really need your own transport occasionally.
Good luck and I hope your biking life is still going strong.
Thank you so much for the tips! They were so helpful! I'll definitely look into the bike trailer, and the rack to put on my bike for grocery bags. Thank you.
I also agree with the bike rack, panniers and trailer for shopping choices. That more convenient than hauling shopping on or off buses and trains. Let the bicycle do the hauling.
33 years carefree next month. I think I'll make a video about lost trailer hitches. Thank you for your story! ~Velo & paix
That's awesome! What an amazing achievement! I can't wait to see your video!
I was engine free for about ten months. My old scooter, a 400cc Suzuki, died on me one morning, so I took the bicycle to work and stopped off to get a bus pass on the way home.
After that I went looking for a bike that could be converted to electric, found a good deal in a thrift store, and bought a Bafang mid-drive kit. That kept me rolling through the winter.
I even bought a cargo bike so I could do all my grocery shopping in one run instead of two.
But San Diego is too spread out and too hostile for bikes and transit. It can be done, but it's inconvenient and extremely time consuming.
So I spent $5,000 on a 150cc Honda PCX. I get over 100 mpg, so gas isn't too bad. And with a top box and the space under the seat it has good capacity.
My sister is in a much smaller city, so she uses her bike for everything.
Oh that's awesome, yeah sometimes using just a bike isn't possible
you will never regret buying a PCX. I have had one for 10 years, 20,000 miles and have never had a problem with it.
@@jesuisravi
I love it every time I ride it.
Almost every time I ride it.
I love it a little less when I climb a stiff hill or take a shortcut on the freeway.
But within the limits of that undersized engine, it has every virtue and no apparent vices. It's a great bike.
I just wish it was a 185.
@@JustClaude13 Yes, that would be nice .
15-16 years for us. financial crash of 2008 was when I gave the car back to my dad. My wife and I now live car free with our 2 boys. Traveling particularly for holidays by train has given us so much joy as a family.
We are about to enter our 40s. I would advise you to keep it up. The thing my wife and I are noticing now is just that we do seem fitter and healthier than our friends.
I had a friend, who goes to the gym tell me his arm were hurting from cutting the hedge back. I think a real benefit of the bike is you have to push yourself regularly at random times.
I just don’t think self-motivating at the gym works as well as needing to get yourself home.
I'm so impressed you live car free with two kids! That's amazing!! You both are an inspiration to me, and show what's possible even with a family
I live in the mountains, am 61 and haven't had a car in 5 years. So freeing. Bike, walk, bus, train, Uber ha ve all been part of my plan to get around.
That's amazing! You're very inspiring
I hope you are still car-free. I have been for getting on towards 10 years. I live in NW England and so we do have colder wetter weather than you. In making my own decision to go car-free I experimented for 6 weeks in not using the car and instead cycled or took public transport. What I did decide was to invest in a cycle trailer for shopping and I find this so much better than panniers.
Yes I am currently still car-free 😊 Oh that's amazing!! 10 years is such a feat! Congrats 👏🏼 👏🏼 Oh that's such a great investment. I'll look into that. Thank you
I am an electrician in London UK, I'm 59 y.o., I've carried all my tools on my bike for the last ten year or more. I cover over 100 miles a week. I also go cycle touring. I love getting around this way. I hope you are still doing it in ten years, Vanessa.
That's absolutely amazing Paul! I'm super impressed. It's a wonderful way to travel around, hey! Thank you so much for sharing x
I live without a car in Melbourne. In the Eastern suburbs, it's relatively easy to get around on foot and with transport. So many people insist on driving even when it's not necessary.
That's amazing!! I'm so impressed! I love Melbourne and the public transport there is next level good 👍🏼
Good for you!
I live in Germany and haven't owned a car for over 15 years now. I cycle as much as possible and use public transport for virtually all my travel. However, I don't live entirely car free... for those few occasions where there are no alternatives I'm member of a car-sharing organisation, which I make use if once a month in average. This ensures that I don't miss out on some freelance jobs or social opportunities. It also makes transporters available to me as needed, or cars in other German cities in lieu of renting. Since the user fees are sugnificantly higher than train travel, I'm still financially motivated to travelvy oublic transpirt as much as possible.
Oh that's amazing! 15 years without a car is incredible 😱
Well, I think the public transport situation in Germany is a bit more favorable to surviving without a car than much if Australia is.... and like I said, with carsharing in the mix, I'm not entirely car free
I live in Sydney. I find it very easy to be car free. My flat, work, supermarket, family, train station and vet are all within a few minutes walk of eachother.
I gave up driving in 2011. My mental, physical and financial health has improved immensely. Provided you can make adjustments and factor things in, you'll be fine. With the money I've saved, I've been overseas several times, carried out a renovation on my flat and purchased new furniture and appliances. I've kept my license in case I need to hire a car for a holiday or family event outside of Sydney, but given that I hate the country, I never have the need to drive there often.
I won't go into the drama that car ownership brought me (humourous when viewed in hindsight), but let's just say it was a weight off my shoulders when I gave up my keys.
Oh that's amazing! It's so wonderful to hear how much living car-free has helped you! I'm so impressed that everything you need is within a few minutes' walking distance from your place. That's so helpful!
Greetings from Chile! I ride my mtb for some years now, but since past august i started to commute using one (i bought a second bike for that), after knowing that riding between my new workplace and my apt is viable and safe, and it was amazing, since now i don't think just in home-work-home-work trips, due the fact the pace on a bike is slowly than on a car, and allows me to explore unknown places until then.
That's fantastic!! I hope you're enjoying riding on your new bike!
Very cool video and I really appreciate your evolution from car to no car everything that comes with this major adjustment. Cool bike and I feel that after 5 years and counting of existing car free, it has been an incredibly positive experience and the longer that I go without a car the less I need or want one. Details of that come with much like you do, planning and understanding that a block of time needed to accomplish task such is shopping or even dating have to be planned in advice. Thank you for posting a really great video of the world of car free existence.
That's amazing that you've been car free for 5 years! Congratulations 👏🏽
I was paying for a car that I used 95% just for 1-2 km trips to the daycare and grocery store. I sold it a month ago and switched to an ebike and a kids bike trailer. So far, no complaints.
That's awesome!!!!
Congratulations to you miss beautiful, one of my greatest decision in my life is when I went back to cycling at the age of 40 it helps me quit smoking now I'm 54 & my legs are more stronger & testosterone levels went up too😍 c
That's so amazing to hear! I'm so happy for you!!
I started my car free journey last week, I live in Perth with 2 kids wish me luck 🤞
Oh my gosh that's awesome news!!!! I'm so impressed! Doing a car-free lifestyle with kids, I'd love to hear how you go! Good luck 😘💖💕💓❤💗
Love this, thank you! Love how you talk about the pros and cons, and the adjustment period.
Awww thank you so much! I'm so glad you liked it!
I have bike commuted most of my life (since teenager in 1980's). When you get comfortable with it, try a class 3 e-bike with a regular 700x32c wheel/tire. This is much safer in traffic as you can accelerate and move mostly at the same speed as cars. It can also carry groceries easily. It will still get you very fit. Avoid roads where you have better alternatives like trails and bike paths. Stick mostly to routes you know well and traffic is predictable to you. Always wear helmet and bright safety reflective vest. Use night lights even on rainy or cloudy days. DO NOT hug side of road when cars are moving fast. DO NOT ride where cars are not expecting to see bikes. In city traffic, take the full lane and make them slow down when you need to. Use a mirror to to watch your back and move over ONLY after they have slowed down and respected your right to the road. Getting brushed by a mirror or turned into (without signal) is a quite rare event, but it can ruin your week/month. Carry a repair kit and learn to change a tire on the roadside. If you use Continental Gator Hardshell brand tires, this will only happen to you maybe 1-2 times per year. There are other excellent products from Denmark...like Dutch style e-bikes, rain ponchos made especially for biking, rubber panniers for keeping computers dry etc. Consider often renting cars for road trips, vacations, and visiting family. It is still much cheaper and easier than owning a car. Happy riding and welcome to club !
This is such great advice! Thank you so much!
WOW Ness!!! This was sooooo well done! I absolutely LOVED this video!!!!
I'm so glad you liked it! Thanks Meg 💖💕💓❤💗
"It's not impossible, I used to bullseye womp rats in my T-16 back home..."
Kudos and cheers to you for losing your gas glut vehicle for a much healthier lifestyle! People don't realize how physically unhealthy we get when addicted to cars. That highway bike lane Australia needs to do something about for cyclists safety, maybe add intermittent reflector bumps on the demarcation line so any car wandering into the lane gets physical bumps/warning.
To Consider: Get a rear rack and some matching shopping panniers to increase your shopping haul ability and comfort level (loose the backpack) Rear rack-$30-$50 Panniers-$50-$100 you might be able to get the panniers second hand. The rack get at and have installed at a bike shop (safety, security, warrantee). Best of Luck and well wishes on your course!🚴
Oh thank you for the tips! I'll look into them, thanks
A rear bike rack is an absolute must... there is quite a variety of bags and laptop cases that clip to it, and with bungy cords used cleverly, it's amazing what you can carry by bike.
Now that bike actually looks fashionable. I like it.
Aww thank you ❤
Agreed! I miss my pink hybrid step-through bike (stolen).
What you have done is commendable - well done!
Oh thank you so much! That really means a lot to me 😍❤
Keep up the good work! Get your friends interested in cycling! Two or more going out on a wonderful day is always so much fun. I've lived most of my life being unburdened by owning a car. I've been lucky to live in bike friendly cities like Washington, DC, and NYC.
That's such a great idea Steve! I'll get my friends on board. That's fantastic you've been able to live so much of your life without needing a car!
@@VanessaDixon Go on treks with friends! You'll amaze yourselves as to the distance you can do, and how incredibly high you get from the experience. Take a train out to somewhere outside the city, and then figure out the best routes to cycle back in on. You're right to be concerned about the proximity of cars on major roads. Find routes that avoid them.
Remember! If you can walk all day, you can cycle all day too on a comfortable, efficient bike. And do ten times the distance, and achieve 'escape velocity' doing it.
@@stephensaines7100 Oh that's such a brilliant idea! I'll try that, thank you :)
We will be 4 years of being car free this Nov. It’s a life choice once we moved to Munich as the public transport is great. This was however not possible when we were in Malaysia due to non efficient public transport in the state we live. This move is definitely possible provided there is a good infrastructure. Kudos to your shift of being carless
That's amazing! Congratulations on 4 years with no car, that's absolutely incredible! I very much agree, it's really important (and helpful) to have good public transport around. Aww thank you 💖
@@VanessaDixon welcome, we are lucky
About 8 years for me, but I have access to our family car when I need it (which is probably once every two weeks). Electric cargo bike the other times. I work at home which helps. I also feel the lack of a car for long-range exploration, which now requires bus and train planning to go anywhere. But I've saved a huge amount of money, and I'm outdoors a lot more.
That's awesome!! I'm so impressed! 8 years is fantastic, and I love how not having a car has allowed you to be outdoors more. I've experienced the same thing
Remember, it’s not just one or the other, having a bike does not mean you can’t have or drive a car when you need to. I have a car, a nice car that I like to drive, but a bicycle is always my first choice. I have an electric Brompton and having multimodal and electric transport is fantastic. Don’t underestimate the distance you can do on a bicycle and also remember it’s often a lot quicker if there is traffic.
Weekly shop? Just break it up into two or three trips to the supermarket. Remember you can often park a bike quicker and closer to the store, meaning no time wasted looking/waiting for a parking space and less time wasted walking from the car to the store.
Oh so true, I very much agree, it doesn't need to be one or the other, like you've demonstrated can use both!
Great video. Do any Australian supermarkets do home deliveries? That would probably make getting groceries easier, especially the heavier items.
Yes They do! Thank you for the suggestion! 😍
8 years ago I spent my last tank of petrol and started this cycling life style. it was quite a challenge, for here in Indonesia the dry season is very hot and humid and the rain sometimes got so hard. It was only a very short period of adaptation and no more thought of going back to internal combustion engine. As time goes by I figured out how to carry my things using racks and bags, how to pack my raincoat, doing bike maintenance and upgrading parts on the bike to make it more hill friendly. I feel good for I have done something for the environment as my carbon footprint shrinks. I feel fitter and healthier too. I made a good choice.
That is absolutely amazing, I am so impressed. Your story is very inspiring 😍
As someone else mentioned the type of bike you use will have a huge effect on how easy/hard the ride is. Hybrid or fitness bikes have a bit less of an upwards stance but they're often times lighter and the geometry allows for a slightly more aerodynamic position (basically current bike would be like having a vertical wall in the wind, vs hybrid would have a bit less surface to create resistance against the wind). The pedalling also will become more efficient in a different position.
Most of those will allows you to set up a rack at the back where you can have panniers or a rear case of some sort.
Try to see if some shops in your area rent them and get a feel for it, the speed alone might sell you on it.
Very cool journey. Thanks for sharing.
Awww my absolute pleasure 😍💖💕💓❤💗 thank you for watching
Since the 1980s automation has caused workers to make three times more production. The problem is that wages have been stagnant. Cars have doubled in price. hospital bills have increased 400percent. Cars are not a investment.
As Living car free about 4 Years now, but in Switzerland ... in the first year i also made the mistake to look at google maps for the shortest route... i started to look for another routes, and maybe there is a route through one or two suburbs instead of the highway, makes fifteen minute longer but hey no car driving insanely fast besides you...
That's amazing that you've been living car free for 4 years!
@@VanessaDixon oh Switzerland makes it easy, we do not have the Netherlands Gold Standard of Infrastructure but almost every place you can reach with bike, and we have a lot more bikers here so car drivers are more used to us...
@@SirHeinzbond that's fantastic!
Great video, I am impressed, you did great, I bike to work and everywhere else, I love it, with gas at such a high price, insurance and maintenance that I’m not paying anymore, I just smile every time I’m on my bike,,thank you,,From. Canada
That's awesome to hear! I'm so happy you're loving biking too!
Found your channel, we are moving to a car-free life (if possible). We have an upcoming 200 mile commute which will occur from time to time (I realize that is a challenging distance) so we are reserving our car for in case we do not make it. Subscribed.
That's awesome to hear! I can't wait to hear how you go with your journey!!! Thank you so much for subscribing, that means the world to me! I hope you enjoy my future videos, and welcome to our UA-cam fam!
@@VanessaDixon yes please. more bike commuting videos, tips, and living life would b much appreciated. we bike with heavy load (pull a trailer) because we want to pull out our chairs whenever we feel like and want to sit down and enjoy a bite to eat or take a short break.
@@drivestorage1779 that's so awesome!! I'm so impressed you bike with a trailer. Of course, I'll do more bike videos moving forward 😊
I'm so pleased about this.
In addition, I'm really happy to see you ride without a helmet, on a step through single speed with a basket.
Excellent life choices all 'round!
Woohoo!! Go ness!! 💪🏻This is amazing 🥳🥳 I’m so proud of you🥰❤️
Awww thank you Em 😍💖💕💓❤💗
I've not owned a car for about twelve years now, and usually think of myself as 'car-light' because I will hire an EV (probably under two weeks total a year) or take a taxi when cycling or public transport isn't an option - my car use has just become much more efficient, rather than owning something I only need 2% of the time.
While I originally sold the car to reduce my expenses (I was a cash-strapped postgrad student at the time), now that cycling is my main means of transport I've become more willing to spend money to make sure it meets as many of my needs as possible, whether that's having an electric-assist cargo bike for hauling stuff around or having a folding bike that I can take on the train at any time.
That's amazing! I'm so impressed, 12 years!
I'm going to give my car to my 17 year old and instead of buying another car, I'm thinking about buying a bike instead. You've encouraged me even more! Been thinking about transitioning for years, now I can't wait!
Oh that's so cool to hear! I hope it goes well for you, and that you come to love biking also x
I never owned a car. I made the decision, to live car free around the time I was old enough to make a drivers licence. As a kid I was probably a bit more independent than other kids so by the the time I could drive a car I already had to figure out how to live without one. Perhaps this factored in into that decision. Not wanting to own a car factored in my decision to where to live.
As an improvement to your car free quality of live I recommend getting a bicycle trailer. I think doing grocery shopping with a bicycle trailer is even more convenient, than it would be by car. I use it as a shopping cart and than just click it onto my bike. And when I am home, I just role the trailer directly to my apartment so I don't even have to carry grocery bags there.
That is absolutely amazing!!! What an achievement! I'm so impressed. That tip about using a bicycle trailer was so helpful, thank you 💗
@@VanessaDixon I don't think it is that big of an achievement. sure where I grew up I would have been the odd one out and it would have been quite hard to live car free. But where I live now it is quite common not to own a car. We have descend public transport and most stuff is close enough to go by bike or even walk to.
I would go so far to say, most people in my hood owning a car are being a bit reckless and unthoughtful against their fellow humans doing so.
Nice idea to recount this. I have been "car free" for 4 years. I personally found no difficulty in fitness levels.
Several points of advice from Europe:
(a) always wear a bright coloured helmet and
(b) a bright safety vest
(This attire is greatly appreciated by motorists who hate surprises. It also provides no excuses to them should they run you off the road and should the unthinkable happen, it will be easier to sue them for dangerous driving. Here in France motorists are generally very bike friendly as everyone has a relative who cycles if they do not cycle themselves.)
(c) transport shopping in rear pannier bags (Ortlieb are particularly good). They have a realistic total capacity of 20kg per trip. The additional advantage is that Ortlieb bags (mine are bright fluorescent yellow) impart great respect from "Mum Truck" drivers who would not appreciate their "car" body work being damaged.
(d) make decisive hand signals: motorists need to know what they must do.
I find the Google suggested times are about right here as they give a comfortable margin. Some but not all routes can be good. The cycling is also useful for recovery from other sports (running, rowing). I only cycle/run/row about 100 km a week to keep in shape but I'm an oldie.
the best part she never forget to put the helmet on the basket to save space
Terrific video Ness. I am inspired to use the car less!
Awwww thank you Cheryl 😍💖💕💓❤💗 That means so much. And thank you so much for watching my video 😘
You can upgrade by getting a bicycle with a deraulier . That will make you more efficient and less tiresome in your daily commute.
Oh that's a great suggestion, thank you!
Hello.. 12+ years only bike user here, 4 seasons, winter, slow, rain.. Non-stop.. Of course in the city mostly. 100k km and keeps climbing. The best thing was to forget about insurances, visits to the petrol station, taxes and to not care some about traffic cameras. All that give me anxiety and stress in a vehicle, even with motorcycle. Some people think motorcycles are ultimate freedom.. year, right... I absolutely felt free like a bird after a month of bike use and the anxiety about vehicles get away. In the rural or more remote arias it is more needed even necessary to have some vehicle but it may be combined with bicycle for some stuff.
It was very common in the US for university students who stay on campus to not be allowed a car in their first year of school.
Brava bravissima! 😊
Here no car for 18 years now, I use very rarely carsharing services, mostly I use my beloved bikes! (6, including a beautiful and very comfortable recumbent!).
Love and hugs from Torino, IT, EU 😊❤
Wow that's amazing! 18 years, you're a legend!
@@VanessaDixon go on, you can do it too! Not so difficult! 😊👋👋
@@m4d3y3m00dy haha aww thank you
Tremendously impressive. One suggestion is the best possible bike lights. I added a very strong rear LED light in about 2007 from DiNotte and on North Sheridan Road in Chicago, found that car drivers were suddenly treating me a like a motorbike and giving me lane 1 to myself and taking lane 2. It was awesome! When that light gave out -- or more specifically the battery started to give out, as the light itself seemed indestructible -- in about 2017 I got an even more powerful and USB-chargeable rear DiNotte light, the Quad Red, which continues to encourage drivers to give a wide berth. (I still have a car though....would lose it if I lost options for out of town trips I'm afraid)
Oh this is such a great suggestion, thank you! I'll look into getting the strong LED lights
I recommend a front hub dynamo as a basis for lighting... never have to worry about batteries... In Germany, most modern bikes, even used ones, have this feature.
A rear rack with panniers helps a lot for shopping.
Hi Vanessa, nice video. I've just bought a bike and now commute to work three times a week. Its 4 miles each way and like you I've found my fitness lacking. I hope this will improve with practice and I'll lose some weight. I've not exercised for nine years and just started the gym too. I'm not ready to sell my car yet as my Mum lives 200 miles away and I like to go and see her as often as I can. Also grocery shopping is so convenient with my car buying a week worth of food at a time so its staying! Best regards xx.
Even though I own a electric vehicle, I still use my bicycle to get to and from work. Ridding my bicycle may not be saving me money at the pump, but istead it is saving me from having to spend money on going to the gym. Great video.
That's a great way to look at it! Riding is such great exercise. Thank you so much for sharing x
I watched your video on 5/27/23. On 5/31/23 I will have been without a car for 5 years. I have to admit that it was a difficult decision and I've certainly become more isolated. But I've really become used to it after all this time. My main reason for quitting the car was the ridiculous cost involved. Also, because I became a bicyclist and I saw how terribly people drove their cars I learned to hate cars. I have no regrets.
Wow five years! How amazing! Congratulations!
I've been car free for a few months in Florida....I don't miss the car! I feel great and love it! My bike looks very similar to yours. Society will judge but what matters is doing what's best for you....And biking is only a win win for everyone!
I don't know whether you can get Dutch bikes where you are, but a 7 speed hub gear bike with Dutch cargo carrying capabilities is a godsend. They cost a lot compared to thrift shop finds, but are nearly maintenance free and rock solid
Oh that's great to know, thank you!
The Dutch box bikes are great. Transported my daughter's with them all over Amsterdam. These days they come with electric assistance. Don't get the three wheel versions. More work to ride them.
@@rjdverbeek oh great tip, thank you. I'll keep that in mind
@@VanessaDixon- I expect by now you’ve fitted some pannier-racks and gotten some panniers and maybe a saddlebag for your shopping trips. Gears are nice, but you can always wheel your bike up the steeper hills. You make everything look idyllic, though I’m sure ‘stralia is just as ‘carrendous’ as where I currently live, in the US.
@@alexwilsonpottery3733 Haha that's very much true. It is super tiring at times, not all idyllic
I've been car free since 2021 best decision I have ever made I'm 56 years old. It was hard at first but I love it. The extra money is great to couldn't go back to a car
That's awesome! What have you loved most about not owning a car (besides the extra money 😊)?
Sadly, I work less then a mile from work and still ride my car🙄. I do ride my road bike (10+miles) a few times a wk though after work .I need to change this habit soon..nice job, keep it up!
That's awesome you're swapping out a few trips a week for biking, every little bit helps!
Well, you haven t seen the traffic in the big cities in China... I am literally car-free for 7 years now, cycling around 15000 km each year. Challenging when the weather is bad (like Typhoon, back rain week, thunderstorms) but manageable. Now, I am on the third bike, as you need to regularly (each 5000 - 8000 km) repair and exchange things...
Wow that's such an incredible achievement, well done!
Riding by highways on bicycle is just crazy. It's no way healthy as it's very stressful experience coupled with lots of poisonous exhaust. Governments need to do better to make sure that there are bike routes running in parallel to highways but not on the curbside of the highway. In the end of the day even building completely new bike lane cost very small fraction of what it costs to build a highway and your taxes that you pay endup building highways that you don't even use. Actually it's often cheaper to build a separate bike lane that runs some 100 meter away from highway than it is building a wider highway to accommodate bicycles because bicycle lanes doesn't need same amount of expensive foundation and asphalt to support multi ton vehicles running at 100+ km/h. Building new bike roads is extremely cheap compared to car roads. Yet they often include bike lanes running on curbside of the highways just because they lack don't want to start a completely new project.
Im 25 already and i Still dont own a car. Heck i dont even have a license 😂 i adjusted my surroundings to my mode of transport. My work for example is a 20 min ride. And to be honest i don't mind not owning a car. This is way healthier and i dont get sick fast because im constantly out in the weather instead of climate controlled spaces.
That's so amazing to hear! I'm so impressed you have never owned a car. I love how you've adapted your surroundings to your current lifestyle
Pretty crazy as someone from Switzerland. Didn't own a car since I was born 32 years ago. Not a big deal. Everything I need on a regular basis is within a ten minute radius by bicycle or public transport. The train to the nearest big city is faster than getting to the city center by car. If I ever want to go hiking or mountainbiking in the alps, the train is clearly my prefered choice. Because who wants to stare at a road for two hours if you can watch out of the windows, relax and see the mountains getting ever closer?
Great effort though, I don't want to sound negative. This challenge is probably much harder on the other side of the globe.
Free Julian Assange! :)
Wow, I'm amazed you've done this for 32 years, that's awesome!
I used to love these kind of basket bikes, but recently I rode one of those more sporty ones with the bent down bars and the thin tires, and it's astonishing just how more efficient they are! I started winning google estimate times with them, and found they do wonders to my back ache, since I'm not compressing them while riding. I'm now a proud owner of two bikes heheheh
Oh fantastic, I'll look to switch to a more sporty bike, thank you for the tip!
@@VanessaDixon Hello Vanessa. An upright bike with a basket (like yours) is far more practical and safe than a sporty bike with bent bars. If you have an accident with a bent down bar sporty bike you are far more likely to have a serious head injury. Plus you have a more difficult time being seen by drivers, and you have a more difficult time observing your surroundings when bent over vs. upright. A big part of the enjoyment of city riding on upright bikes is to be able to enjoy the sights and to interact with people along the way. Always enjoy the ride and the ride won't seem long enough..... just like life itself.
@@joansmith7649 Oh I love that Joan, "always enjoy the ride and the ride won't seem long enough... just like life itself", that is such a beautiful saying. Thank you for sharing your thoughts on sporty bikes, I'll keep your words in mind. Thank you
Aero is life
@@VanessaDixon I had a sporty bike for many years. But only over the past few years have I found the joy in cycling, at least for me. My upright city bike has only two gears, an internal hub, and coaster brake. So I have no cables to adjust whatsoever. I rarely cycle faster than 11mph... usually around 9mph on average. Of course the sporty riders fly by me at 15 or 20mph, and they do arrive at their destination faster. However, when these sporty riders do have a crash they often get seriously injured and then they don't arrive at their destination at all. From what I saw in the video, you have made many smart decisions, and I hope you remain safe and happy in your travels.
I made a committent to never having a car when I 'went green' after a huge mushroom trip in the mid 1980s. I have never owned a car, although when I got my degree I was told I'd be unemployable if I didn't have a driving licence so I passed my test. Passing my test aged 29 was the last time I drove. I'm now 57 and have been a kids entertainer for 30 years. I take all my circus gear around via cargo bike and public transport. I do a big waste food collection for composting - all by bike. I run my house's heating and cooking with clean-burn wood stoves, and all the wood comes to me via, you guessed it, load-carrying bike. Cars are horrible, dangerous, kill wildlife and pets and pedestrians and cyclists and drivers and passengers. They are noisy and emit brake dust, tyre-wear dust, NOx and greenhouse gases. Society would be far better if we didn't base everything on cars, and they were used for essentials only - but humans are lazy and selfish and are heading towards extinction because of this. Saddens me as I too am a huge extrovert and love people. Individuals, not humanity as a species.
Wow I'm amazed at how you manage to do all of that by bike. That's a huge inspiration to me.
I love bicycles and wanted to follow your path.
Awww thank you ❤ I love bikes, too!
I haven't owned a car since 2005. I rode motorscooters, but switched to a bicycle than ebike, and motorcycle. I enjoy riding my ebike more than the motorcycle. I ride up to 5 miles on the bike.
Great story!!
Thank you Grace 😍❤
I am a week into a no personal car Summer challenge. I am planning on 2 months during the Summer to see if I can do it. I am sure I will make the 2 months, I hope I decide to keep it up after 2 months, I think about keeping it up even in the winter, but we will see once it starts getting cold.
bus and bicycle my whole life , cars are so strange to me i get sick in them . i only like the way my dad drove a car , very slow but if i drive a car i go fast and become agitated .
Earlier today I saw this video: "What is a 15 minute neighbourhood like?".
Her video gives a good idea how cities need to be in the future. The video is only 16 minutes, take a look.
considered folding bike? spendy (a bit over 5k aud for a folding electric like i have) but may make getting out more easy? for me makes it possible to carry 2 loads shopping. and easy to bring inside work and house and in the boot of a friend's car. kinda reduces the fitness benefits tho...
That's a great suggestion, I've actually been considering a folding bike for the exact purpose of being able to transport it on the bus or in the boot of a friend's car. Thank you for the tip!
Great Video! I’m in LA, I did no car for several years. IMO you should update to a more commuting bike. Like a hybrid bike or road bike. Also, I dress better for biking line thin pants and athletic shoes. But that’s just me… Good on you for ditching the car. Thank you for the great video 🙏
Being "car free" is awesome, BUT I just realized I've strived to bike everywhere for the last fifty some years ( even though I own a PERFECTLY good car)there's NO real hope for the planet if that's something considered a little strange by the general public!😢🚴♀️🚴♂️
That's really awesome Gary! So great to hear you biking everywhere too!
Like someone who approach half a century and riding all year almost every day, never owned or drive (legally) a car, all I can say is: Congratulation and keep riding! :)
Thank you!! That's amazing that you've lived a car free life your whole life 😱
stayed at mates place in cairns when on business travel a few times , bought a bike second time for return visits left it there , freedom good health good luck
I live in a small town in Belgium near the coast. No car. I have normal bikes and one electric bike, and a Radical Design trailer. Works for me. Shopping center is 6km from my house. I never liked the huge cost of a car, nor driving. I don't mind everything going slower. However I am not entirely guilt-free, because I order a lot online, which is then delivered by van.
That's awesome, I've heard a lot of great things about ebikes, and having a trailer would be so handy.
@@VanessaDixon I didn't buy a stock e-bike. I installed a Bafang middrive kit on a regular bike. Much cheaper ! And with Bafang you can change the max speed on the display. Regarding trailers, the good ones are a bit expensive, but they last forever and cost less than running a car for a few months.
@@VanessaDixon Also, tires! I used to have lots of flats. Tried many, including the Gator Skins suggested below. I switched to Schwalbe Marathon Plus tires and only got one puncture in 20 years. They last a long time too, 20000km at least ! A bit cheaper are the regular Marathon Greenguard, which are also very puncture resistent, and despite their looks have a very low rolling resistance.
@@VanessaDixon Regarding maintenance, you can do it yourself easily, and if you don't know something , lots of tutorials online. For your bike you only need a few cheap tools.
@@AlexanderSax77 Oh that's cool, I'll look into a Bafang kit. So true, investing in good quality items mean they can last a lifetime
Good video i used my bike for everything get a bike rack and put a basket on it you will get a lot of shopping in it.
@seanoreilly6774 that's awesome! And I so agree, having a basket on the bike is such a game change for carrying groceries
Way to go 👍
Thank you Saran!
Congrats on going well!
The proponents of car-centric lifestyle would find a thousand reasons why they can't go car-free. They would say it's possible only if you are a family free fit young male.
Thank you so much! It is more challenging, but I find it allows me to slow down a little more, and I enjoy riding as it's so much more scenic!
Very nice video. Glad to see that your transformation worked out well. Did you lose weight and gain more sleep as a result of this effort? Keep up the good work!
Haha yes I did manage to lose a little weight. But mainly my fitness improved a lot more
How do you feel about ebikes? I will be selling my car soon. It is going to cost too much to fix it. I have not been driving it for 3 months. I ride my bike more often, and carpool with family. It has not been that bad at all. Next, I would like to purchase an ebike instead of buying another car. My parents think I am crazy. I live in Florida, USA.
Oh that's really cool, I'd love to hear how you go with an ebike
@@VanessaDixon Absolutely. Hopefully, I will be getting it within the next month or two.
@@Lanae8199 oh that's so exciting!
Nice! But girl, set higher your seat and your pedaling will be way more efficient.
Heya Vanessa! great going young lady! kindly get yourself a bicycle helmet... even if its a very reasonably priced one... safety first!
Haha thanks Andrew. Will do.
You probably know this already but anyway, a bit of trivia, if you were able to somehow provide an average cyclist with the same amount of energy as that contained in one litre of petrol, they would be able to cover a distance of about 1756 km
It was very courageous of you to do bike mechanicing and chain oiling in a white dresss. Did it say white?
Hahaha yes, I managed to avoid getting grease on it 😂😅
If you keep up with riding for transportation, you will get really fit. And your body will look very beautiful. And you will have no problem attracting guys everywhere you go. Imagine turning heads everywhere you go. That is a lot of incentives. You won't regret it.
Hahaha yes very true, thank you
Did you start of with a single-speed bike? That would make things more difficult than they should, especially going up hill.
I have a 3 gear bike, so I can change the levels of resistance which helps
You are my all time favourite 😘😘😘 lvu and ur vedios , keep growing 💗💗
Awwwwww thank you so so much!! That means the absolute world to me 💖💕💓💗 thank you so much for watching 😍😘
@@VanessaDixon u most welcome 🤗🤗🤗
Been car-free for 10 months. Have 2 bikes. How many do you have, Vanessa?
That's amazing!! I have the one bike at the moment 😊
Hi, nice vidéo. Bike free too in France. Exception because of my wife (she's pregnant and a Bad disease so when we move together unfortunally we're using car), but toi me, job and Shop, only Bike. Great Video.
That's amazing! I'm so impressed! How long have you been biking for now?
@@VanessaDixon thanks for your answer. Since i Can use a Bike as child as i remember. I never wanted having my driver licence but i passed it, usefull as i said with my wife, but i never feel alive using car. That s cool because you do everything very quickly, but i think it s the Problem of our time, WE Re Just loosing the taste of taking time. So Biking since, to give you a date, 28 years now, is like freedom.
@@LaVraieFrance wow that's amazing! I totally agree, it's a great way to slow down and appreciate the simple things in life
I have been car free for a year and a half best thing to happen I am lucky that everything is with in ten miles and great for cycling my job is 1.8 mile from home fishing and swimming is seven to eight miles away just an easy forty five minute to an hour ride a feel good fun ride
That's awesome!! Congratulations on making it to a year and a half without a car! That's amazing!!
I ditched car for a bicycle and I commute to work on the bicycle and I am happy and healthy
That's awesome Kiran!
@@VanessaDixon Thank You 💐. By the way, it is not so difficult to make that decision if my work place is just one mile from where I live... 😂
@@KiranMachiraju Haha very true
Love these stories that are so full of holes that you could drive a bus through them !
I didn't think i could live without a car i was so wrong.
That's awesome! How long have you been without a car for?