This is part of an ongoing series where I dissect and discuss the reasoning behind various facets of my lifestyle. Through this, I’m attempting to separate the money aspect from the decision-making process, showing that I live a lifestyle that’s largely divorced from concerns about money whatsoever. Essentially, this is a lifestyle that I’d live regardless of my income/wealth. These facets thus aren’t about the money at all, but rather the result of thoughtful choices based around what I value and what drives my happiness.
Ahh, the bus. It’s wonderful.
Don’t hear that too often, do you?
I suppose that’s partly because our culture (here in the US) has been in love with the automobile and the freedom it provides ever since Henry Ford started mass marketing the Model T.
And so the vast majority of our cities and infrastructure are based around the car, wide roads, freeways, and open space.
I used to be a car lover myself.
After all, I spent my entire career in the auto industry, working for a variety of luxury car dealerships. I’ve been behind the wheel of an R8, a 911 GT3, and a special-edition EVO FQ300 (not all at the same time, of course).
Hell, I even wasted part of an inheritance I received at 21 years old on a Corvette. Going back even further, I always had a nice car in high school, and I worked hard to attain and maintain these cars.
But at some point in there, I realized it was all absolutely ridiculous.
As someone who grew up in Motor City, always loved cars, and spent an entire career in the auto industry, I’m here to say that cars are a huge waste of money. And they’re arguably a great way to lower your overall quality of life (depending on how you set your life up).
I first decided to try out car-free living back in late 2011, selling the 2006 Pontiac G6 that I had, up until that point, owned for a few years.
I was spending around $500 per month to own, maintain, and drive this car. I realized that it was a huge barrier to me becoming financially free before 40, and so it had to go.
It was a little scary, though. Car culture was so ingrained in my psyche that I almost couldn’t imagine living without one.
How would I get around?
What if the bus was late?
Isn’t public transportation dangerous?
At first, I’ll admit, it was a bit of an adjustment. (And it’s not like Sarasota, Florida is some kind of mecca for public transportation.)
But it soon became an incredible relief.
I mean, here I am, being driven.
I felt like a millionaire!
It’s funny to me, but I think being driven is one of the very few things that really rich and really poor people share in common, or it’s at least perhaps perceived to be that way. You have limos, taxis, and private drivers on one hand and buses and trains on the other.
It’s simultaneously seen as a sign of luxury and poverty all at once, depending on who’s doing the driving and what kind of vehicle you’re sitting in.
Sitting on a bus? Poor.
Sitting in a limo? Rich.
This is, at least, a viewpoint that’s common outside of really large US cities, where public transportation is robust and widely used; cities like New York City, Chicago, San Francisco, Boston, Philadelphia, and Washington D.C. come to mind.
As such, you can imagine the irony of showing up to a luxury car dealership by bus, where I was paid to serve high-end Volkswagen, Audi, and Porsche clients. It was… interesting, to say the least.
Nonetheless, I feel just as rich as the guy who’s being driven in a limo.
I’m able to get on, take a seat, and just… go. And every seat has a great view – with huge windows.
I don’t have to worry about traffic, red lights, dodging debris in the road, speed limits, directions, or weather.
I just sit back, relax, and enjoy the view.
In fact, being able to see the sights around me rather than focusing on the rear bumper right in front of me has definitely improved my quality of life.
I feel like I’m a greater part of the world around me. Not just sitting in my bubble and upset about traffic, I become a less-stressed and more in-tune member of my community and nature. I see trees, architecture, businesses, new construction projects, people, the sun, and the sky. I actually experience the world around me, rather than it being nothing more than a blur as I shift through traffic.
My productivity has also improved.
I can’t tell you how many ideas about financial freedom and this overarching lifestyle have come to me while sitting there, just thinking. This very article is an obvious example. But there are many. I can read, write, and theorize – none of which is really possible in a productive manner if I’m driving.
I also love the health benefits.
Going anywhere is a totally different experience.
Instead of walking from my apartment to a car, parking as close to my final destination as possible, and walking from my car to a door, I’m walking to a bus stop, then anywhere from a block to multiple blocks away to my final destination. Then there’s more walking around from place to place, back to the bus, or even to another bus (if I have to go in another direction).
I’m basically forced into walking a lot more, which is great for my body.
And it’s better for the environment.
Our world is our ecosystem. And while nature is astoundingly tough, I feel good about myself knowing that I’m negatively impacting it less than I otherwise would be if I were driving everywhere. I become part of a system that saves 37 million metric tons of carbon dioxide annually here in the US.
Of course, the money I save is awesome.
It’s $1.25 per ride. I jump on the bus a few times per week, and I average somewhere around $25 per month in transportation expenses these days.
But it’s honestly not even part of the equation any more. Sure, saving money became the original impetus that led me to a car-free lifestyle, but I honestly now prefer not driving. You could give me $1 million – and I still would prefer to take public transportation over owning and driving a car. That’s the honest truth.
In addition, I’ve developed somewhat of a passion for urban planning and sustainable urban infrastructure design, where effective public transportation is a cornerstone to building sustainable cities of the future. So I’m eating my own cooking here, as I always do.
Now, there are drawbacks to public transportation – nothing is perfect.
Late buses, waiting around in the elements, and close contact with riders that clearly have personal issues are just a few potential problems. But the benefits, in my view, far outweigh the drawbacks, especially when comparing these drawbacks to owning, maintaining, and driving a car.
In the end, I love using public transportation. I love it so much that I have a desire to move to a larger city where the public transportation infrastructure allows me even more options to thrive.
Using public transportation isn’t about the money at all for me; I instead see it as a way to live a more dynamic, productive, green, serendipitous, healthy, and easy lifestyle. The fact that it’s so cheap is just icing on the cake. I’d pay more!
I’m having this dialogue with you readers in order to point out that the lifestyle one creates in order to become financially free at a young age doesn’t have to and shouldn’t lead to a decline in one’s happiness.
Not only does spending more money not automatically lead to more happiness, but spending less money can actually lead to more happiness.
It’s counterintuitive – which makes it that much more amazing. For some reason, people largely believe that money and happiness operate under a constant 1:1 ratio where the increase or decrease of the former always leads to the equivalent change in the latter. But it’s just not true.
And that’s not just due to the permanent shift in one’s internal “happiness thermostat” that one attains after becoming financially free, but it’s also due to the realization that the creation of a more robust lifestyle that concentrates on life and experiences more than stuff and money alleviates oneself of a silly and undue burden. This can actually improve the world around you, which simply compounds the benefits.
Finally, being in a position to make lifestyle decisions not based on money but rather the pursuit of happiness is, in my view, a wonderful way to approach life. I’ve found that I think not about money when I make decisions but instead about whether or not something makes me happy. And it just so happens that what makes me happy doesn’t cost very much money. It’s an incredibly virtuous cycle that’s part of an overarching holistic lifestyle that feeds into itself. Once you open your eyes to it, it’s almost like you can’t help but succeed, become financially free, and live life on your terms.
What do you think? Regularly use public transportation? Own a car? Is it about the money for you? Or is it a lifestyle choice? Would you change the way you approach transportation if you had a lot more money?
Thanks for reading.
This is awesome! I’ve always loved public transit while traveling, but have never considered using it at home. One of my sister’s friends had to take the local bus because she lost her license due to a DUI and I heard it’s not really a big deal or scary at all. Obviously your time might be a little more constrained, but so what? I also had picked up a friend at a train station a couple weeks ago and it was fun to see how many people avoid car traffic by doing a work commute via the train.
I wish riding public transit was more accepted outside of the large metros.
TJ,
It was kind of scary for me, too, back when I first started using it. I mean, being born in Metro Detroit and then spending the back half of my childhood in a small town isn’t exactly the kind of childhood that exposes one to or prepares one for public transportation. But once I got the hang of it, it’s been great. If I had grown up in Chicago or something, it’d probably be a totally different story. Instead, I had to develop that appreciation.
But now that I have that appreciation, I couldn’t imagine getting around any other way. It forces me to slow down a bit and really enjoy life. It’s more purposeful, which is what this is all about. Just another part of this holistic lifestyle. 🙂
Cheers!
Hey Jason.. I love this article / missive. I own my car outright, as it was purchased for me by my company (that I own) – cost: $31,400 (Hyundai Santa Fe), 4 years old this December. I am getting ready for my 60000 mile tune up, which will cost ~ $650.00, and most of the things on the list are ‘inspections’ by the service person. I will modify said tune up to get more tuning and less inspecting, which will make it ~ $700.00. Insurance: $110 / month. Gas: $200.00 / month. Cleaning / maintenance / parts / etc: $25 / month. Tolls: $100 / month. That money put into my retirement fund: Many hundreds of thousands of dollars when I get into the end zone. That said, I need my car for work, and I dream of the day when I can take a bus, not be in a rush, not have deadlines, be able to be / think more and do less, and watch my QOL (quality of life) factor skyrocket. First up… moving to Florida. 2nd up… become and expat and move out of the US. Will be in Sarasota in February, and hopefully, I will get a chance to show you some gratitude in person, for you started me on this wonderful path that has put over $360k in my retirement fund in just 2 short years. Here is to having 7 figures by the time I pull the rip chord. A hardy thank you sir! Andrew
Andrew,
Sounds like a great plan there. It’s really all about quality of life. I’ve experienced owning and driving nice cars. And I’ve experienced using public transportation. My QOL definitely improved in the latter situation. Being able to live slower and more purposefully is a great gift, I must say. I don’t think it’s a coincidence that European, Canadian, and Australian cities with great infrastructure and public transportation routinely cream American cities when it comes to QOL (of course, that being just one aspect). Few people are just dying to live in the middle of Iowa or something, where you have to drive great distances everywhere.
If you’re ever in the area, definitely give me a shout!
Best wishes.
I’m still working and I do have a car, but I take bus to work.
Apart from saving almost $175 per month, I enjoy few other benefits by taking bus to work. I could take a nap for 30 mins, read books or blogs, text or talk with friends and family members etc.
Plus, it is much faster and safe rider than car (especially the extreme winter weather in Canada) for a fraction of cost.
Cheers,
FJ,
Indeed! It’s not about the money at all for me anymore (hence the article’s title). If I wanted a car, I’d go buy one. But I prefer public transportation, money aside.
It’s just easier, more interesting, more beneficial, and safer. I honestly have no plans to ever own a car again.
Enjoy those rides! 🙂
Cheers.
You have doctors, nurses and even lawyers using buses. A lot of them do not want to pay the ridiculous cost of parking in a downtown area. Some cities like Halifax, have both regular buses that make tonnes of stops and express buses. The express buses are better insulated in this case and therefore more quiet and arrive at the destination quicker. In Halifax, the express buses cost a little more.
I personally have used public transportation in the last 5 years which has allowed me to start a stock portfolio that pays roughly $300 a month in income. If I had owned a car, then I would not of been able to do this.
IP,
Definitely. I was just up in Chicago last weekend, and I saw people with custom-tailored suits jumping on the trains and the buses. It’s a bit different down here in Sarasota, obviously, but the mindset for public transportation is really fantastic in our bigger cities here in the US. It’s just a shame that our infrastructure and attitudes largely favor the car outside of those areas.
I hear you there on the cost savings. I attribute selling my car as one of the best moves I ever made in regards to becoming financially free so early in life. Had I not done that, I for sure would not be here right now. But I now use public transportation for reasons far beyond the savings. It’s just a lifestyle that I prefer. 🙂
Thanks for dropping by!
Cheers.
I understand your point of view, and for your life style and many others, it does pay dividends (no pun intended). However, for some people, people like myself, my car earns me between $2,000 – $3,000 per month in added income from my side business. I could not conduct my business without it. Also, there are smart ways to be an auto owner. For example, I purchased a used 2002 Toyota Camry with 76k original miles for cheeeeeeeap. I have been driving this car now for 6 years with no mechanical issues. Knowing what types of cars to buy that are basically bullet proof, certainly helps. Also, since my car was cheap and I did not finance it, I am not required to pay expensive car insurance. My insurance payment is $27/ month. My car also achieves 40 mpg on the highway at speeds below 65 mph. The point is, in my situation, a car makes sense. Even if I did not have a side business, I would not cut off the car expense. In my opinion, they are greater cost savings elsewhere (such as in housing, food, entertainment) that would also impact me FAR less. There is also the social aspect. Having a car certainly helps the dating process. I am not saving you can’t date without a car, but it certainly makes the whole process harder…and sometimes a bit embarrassing. Not that I care what people may think. It comes down to how much inconvenience you are willing to live with and what the cost savings are within the parameters of your life and what you have going on in it. For me, if I don’t drive, I lost my 2nd income stream…not good. That 2nd income stream get me to FI far quicker than the cost savings associated with not owning a car.
Jim,
Well, there are pros and cons to both owning a car and using public transportation. My intent with this article wasn’t really to rehash that (there are thousands of articles online that’ll go over that). Rather, I was just attempting to generally dispel the notion that using public transportation is purely a lifestyle that one would choose based on monetary considerations only. Specifically, I’m discussing how using public transportation is a lifestyle that I personally prefer at a micro level, money aside. But just looking at it in terms of dollars and cents, I’d pay more to be driven rather than drive myself. If I had the choice of living in a rural/suburban area with a car or in a dense city without a car, I’d prefer the latter, even if it ended up costing me more. Fortunately, that’s not been the case for me. My lifestyle choices have actually been quite congruent with saving a lot of money, even while coming naturally to me. To each their own. 🙂
If I were to ever own a car again (I hope not), it’d definitely be a Corolla, though. That’s a great choice. Speaking from all of my years of experience in the industry, it’s probably the best you can buy. My last car was a Corolla. And I’d own one again, if I had to have a car.
Thanks for dropping in!
Best regards.
I keep saying I’m going to try the bus system over here in Clearwater. I even have a few friends that work for the bus company that tell me I could ride for free if I wanted and they would drive me, so it would be like riding with a friend. Still haven’t pulled the trigger though, I do however use my car for driving for lyft and uber and make some money from that so not really sure getting rid of my car is the best choice for me.
Tyler,
Having a car for business purposes is definitely a great way to offset the costs, though there’s time/effort involved in that, too. So always pros and cons. But, honestly, that’s just being paid to drive. I’d rather not have the money and not drive. It’s a lifestyle call, though.
I’m not sure how robust the bus system is up in your neck of the woods. But it’s really something where it only has to work for your specific needs. I remember many co-workers thought I was crazy when I started using the bus. Of course, we see how that all turned out. 🙂
Cheers!
You make some very convincing arguments Jason (as always). We’ve got two cars (kind of a requirement with two kids), but thankfully both are paid for and did not break the bank (by any means) to get them. I hope they last for at least 4-5 more years in which I think money shouldn’t really be a concern. Thanks for sharing!
PID,
As always, everyone has to figure out a lifestyle that works for them. But you could gift me a car tomorrow – and I still wouldn’t drive around town. It’s just a lifestyle call. Like I said in the article, it’s not about money. If I won the lottery tomorrow, I’d still prefer to not drive. I see it as an incredible luxury to not have to drive and worry about a car. Just one more way in which I’m free. But I also don’t have two children. So it’s an individual thing. Then again, my significant other has also lived without a car for years, and she has a child.
So, of course, having children doesn’t automatically demand living in a rural/suburban environment with a large home and multiple cars, even though that’s what a lot of people do. But if one decides to do that anyway, and they’re okay paying for it, then that’s the way to go. No right or wrong way to live. I simply define the concept of “luxury” differently from most people, which is also okay. 🙂
It’s really all about being free to live on your terms, with those terms obviously varying from one person to the next. I suppose I’m fortunate in that my terms don’t cost much.
Thanks for dropping by!
Best regards.
Jason,
Very nice article and I remember the articles & days when you went car less, pretty awesome. Cleveland isn’t/doesn’t have the greatest system, but I am sure it is better than Sarasota, it just has to be. Big issue with me would be the disparity of where all of my family and friends are located as in 40-50 minutes driving away with no bus transportation to get there, and it’s only really gotten worse. So that’s been a thorn in the side. Really wish I was in a bigger city/dense city with a robust public transportation system that connected to all loved ones. What would you do in this situation? Just curious, is all!
Great article, and I have come to find the things that make me truly happy – game nights at my house, with a pot-luck type of event (bringing your own food/drink) and enjoying eachother’s company is incredible, and ends up being very inexpensive. Further, when I do take public transportation within Cleveland, I absolutely have so much fun and enjoy it – as well as accomplish about 45 minutes of total work roundtrip on the ride. I was in Chicago 3 weeks ago and felt at home/at peace/in a better feel of life when riding the rail.
Appreciate it, as always.
-Lanny
Lanny,
Yeah, public transportation isn’t for everyone. No doubt about it. But I really think it’s a lifestyle call. I don’t believe all these people who talk about how ‘it won’t work where I live’. If I’m making it work here, it can probably be done in any city. So it’s one thing to just say you prefer a car and you’re willing to pay for it. But it’s quite another to pretend that that’s not the case.
I will say that Cleveland’s density is 5,100 people/square mile. Sarasota is 3,500 people/square mile. So you’re definitely living in a far denser city than I am. And your transit score (per Walk Score) is 47. Sarasota gets a 34. Again, it’s not even comparable. You’re in a city that’s just much better for public transportation. But like I said, it’s a lifestyle call. If one prefers driving a car and one is okay with the associated costs and drawbacks, it’s all good. I’m simply saying that I genuinely prefer public transportation, money aside. The fact that it’s so much cheaper is just icing on an already delicious cake. 🙂
Chicago is really magnificent, though. I make it work quite well here in Sarasota. But Chicago is just amazing. I honestly could not imagine why anyone would want to own a car in a city like that. I mean, I can see why people like having a car in a city like Sarasota, even though I personally prefer not to have one. But the argument for owning a car becomes quite difficult in a city where public transportation is so robust, even factoring out costs.
By the way, renting a car is always possible for those moments when you have to visit family and/or friends that are 50 minutes away. It’s not like not owning a car means you have to turn in your driver’s license and you’re never, ever allowed to drive a car again. You guys even have platforms like Zipcar up your way, which makes that easier for quick jaunts to hang out for dinner or something.
Thanks for dropping by!
Best wishes.
Great Stuff Jason!
Nice to see you back and on your way.
I really would love to use public transportation. It’s easier to use here in Germany as in US, especially if you live outside of a big city.
I’m thinking about to sell my car and use car-sharing if a car is needed.
Patrick,
Thanks so much. I’m glad to be back at it! 🙂
Best of luck with making that move, if you decide to go in that direction. I can say for sure it was one of the best things I ever did. Not just from a monetary standpoint, but also when looking at my overall quality of life.
Cheers!
Mrs CF actually has a public transportation card provided by her company. Considering the places she needs to go and where we live. It also provides her with some time to work/relax as well on her way to her office. its brilliant!
For me it’s different, my work recently relocated and I have to visit different locations on a weekly basis. That’s why I was provided with a company car. However, with an upcoming move to a different company (interestingly located at the same address as the current company) the company car will disappear. Public transport is not an option due to the location and bad connections. I’m therefore going to increase cycling to work. The distance is just under 17 miles (26.5km) one-way, I’ve tried it once already and it’s definitely doable. When the company car is gone, and I’ll be using our own, each day I’m cycling it saves me about €15 in overall car related costs. That starts to add up! Funny thing is, they actually will partially compensate me for transport costs (irrespective of what type of transport you decide to use). It’s practically a double win.
Team CF,
Cycling sounds like a great way to go, too. I know there are a lot of passionate fans of biking here in the PF community. I’m personally not terribly into it, and I did give it a try. But it’s really the ultimate way to go. It’s cheaper than public transportation and far more healthy. Although I get in plenty of walking, I’m sure I don’t combine my transportation and exercise quite as efficiently as I would be if I were biking everywhere. And if you’re paid to do so, that’s even better. Getting paid to save money and get in better shape. Imagine that! 🙂
Best of luck with that, if you give it a try.
Thanks for dropping by.
Best regards.
Wow, it’s incredible to see how cheap and easy public transport is in some countries. Here in Holland it would take me about twice as long to get anywhere compared with a car, and public transport can even be a little more expensive than owing a car depending on where you have to go.
Honestly, if public transport was anywhere near some other countries as far as cost and efficiency goes, I wouldn’t mind taking the metro, train or bus 🙂 For me it’s not even that I enjoy the public transportation, because trains and busses tend to be filled with grumpy people, begging drug addicts, smelly people (ever been in a full bus stuffed with wet people after a rainy morning?), and so on. But I still prefer all of that compared to the stress of driving in a traffic jam, or driving amidst people who really cán’t drive.
But for me, public transportation is really a lot more stress-free. Aside from the rare occasion where the bus can be delayed for example, you just sit down and wait till you arrive at your destination. I mean, how much more relaxing can it get right? 🙂
Joram,
Wow. I’m surprised to hear that your public transportation is so poor over there in Holland. I’m not familiar with all of the cities over there, but I do know that Amsterdam is a model (perhaps right there with Copenhagen) for biking and walking, which really trumps public transportation. But I imagine it’s a lot like here in the US, where options dramatically between larger cities and smaller cities (and even more so in rural areas or suburbs). I walk quite a bit, but I live in a city that’s too sprawled out to walk everywhere. But if I were living somewhere more compact, I’d walk to places far more often. I was in Chicago recently and we ended up walking 10 miles on a Saturday while going from one place to the next. How fun.
It’s a shame that your buses and trains are filled with grumpy people and drug addicts. I can’t say I can relate. There are some unsavory people that occasionally pop on the buses here in Sarasota, but that’s largely because most people who can afford a car, drive one here. So you naturally have this economic shift playing out on the buses here. That said, I’ve never had a problem. And I can say that I was on multiple buses and trains in Chicago (one of our largest cities) last weekend, and they were honestly filled with well-dressed people that didn’t appear to have any personal issues.
Then again, perception is reality. So if one perceives public transportation to be this big pain in the butt where everyone who uses it is a drug addict, that’s exactly how it is. If you believe you can’t do something, you can’t do it.
Overall, I can’t really say there are many drawbacks to the lifestyle. If I thought driving a car were a better way to go, I’d buy a car and drive it. But stacking the two options against one another, it’s not even close for me. 🙂
Thanks for sharing that!
Best wishes.
Reading your response I see it came off as if I was complaining. Sorry about that! 🙂 Public transport in Holland is actually quite good. I think the car wins out most of the time because we’re living in such a small country with relatively expensive electricity (about 23ct per kWh), that taking the car actually saves quit a bit of time without neccesarily being more expensive. Our cars in general are a lót smaller than the average car in America, which helps a lot in the mileage 🙂
I wonder though: if one lives in America and works close enough to home, could biking become an even better alternative to public transportation? I’ve heard that a lot of places in America aren’t really built for bikers, but seeing as there are quite a few bikers in New York City and Florida (Orange County if I understand my wife’s family correctly. They live there half the time) how do you think that would work out?
Joram,
“I think the car wins out most of the time because we’re living in such a small country with relatively expensive electricity (about 23ct per kWh), that taking the car actually saves quit a bit of time without neccesarily being more expensive.”
It’d be an interesting thing to take a look at. I’d have a hard time believing that there’s any *city* in the developed world where a car isn’t more expensive than public transportation, but time and convenience are harder to measure. Nonetheless, what I’m saying is that I’d prefer to be driven rather than drive, regardless of the cost. The fact that public transportation is so much cheaper than a car is just really a side benefit. It’s a lifestyle choice, in my view.
I do think biking is a better way to go, all in all. Although, I actually walk quite a bit. That aspect of it was insinuated in the article, but I wasn’t really focusing on it as much (due to the focus on PT). I walk a rather substantial distance every week, which is really part of the fun. But biking is a great way to go. If you’re able to just bike everywhere, that’s probably the best choice of all. It’s cheaper than PT, yet you’re getting immense health benefits out of it. And some people just love it. It’s a lot of fun for many. I personally don’t like biking, and I do fear the risks (drivers don’t necessarily watch out for bikers here), but that’s probably choice #1, if you’re able to make it work. I think that’s another thing that should be a lifestyle choice, rather than a purely financial choice. I prefer public transportation. But others might very well prefer biking. I say to each their own. Either way is much better than driving, in my opinion.
Cheers!
It’s taken a long time for my family to accept and stop bothering me over the fact that I don’t drive. I prefer taking public transit over driving because it’s less stressful and because I can read the Internet on my phone or zone out.
Plus, there’s no worries. I don’t have to worry about accidentally killing someone’s child because I was adjusting the music volume or something.
Like you, Jason, I’ll take buses and trains over driving any day of the week.
Sincerely,
ARB–Angry Retail Banker
ARB,
I’m with you all the way, man.
The lack of liability cannot be understated. Although I was really focusing on the lifestyle aspect, the potential liability of hurting/killing someone is just one more reason I prefer not to drive. Not sure if I’d ever be the same person again if I accidentally killed or substantially injured someone. That’s not even to mention the potential financial impact.
Enjoy the car-free and carefree lifestyle. 🙂
Cheers!
Amazing post!
Congratulation for your car-free since 2011 (you’re still car free, right?). Being myself car free since 2008 I agree with all of your points, including the fear of perceived poverty. In Italy it was tough – probably in the US it’s even worse – but in Switzerland, where I live now, not owning a car is super easy!
MrRIP,
Indeed, I’m part of that elusive car-free club. Car-free and carefree. Glad to be in it alongside you. I hope to never own a car again.
It’s definitely easier to live without a car in certain places, compared to other places. I never really considered it a priority before, but if I ever move again, public transportation infrastructure and quality would be a top concern of mine. It’s just a lifestyle call. Glad it’s working out so well for you over there in Switzerland! 🙂
Thanks for stopping by.
Best wishes.
I’m looking forward to the day that self driving cars will become part of the public transportation infrastructure.
I’ve been spoiled out here over the years by having a company appointed car and driver to shuttle me around. Otherwise I’m happy to use public transportation. The only challenge with that is after I grocery shop with many bags from the weekly shopping, that will be too cumbersome to take on the subway & skytrain system.
-Mike
Mike,
I wouldn’t mind a company car and a driver at all. If I had the use of something like that, I’d be all over it. 🙂
Grocery shopping actually hasn’t been a problem for us at all. I use a Versacart, which can fit an amazing amount of groceries. We generally go once a week, and we’re getting food for three people. Moreover, we don’t eat out much, so we pack a big punch when we go. And if you live in big cities, grocery delivery is becoming fairly ubiquitous. All in all, I don’t see the grocery thing as a challenge at all.
Thanks for stopping by!
Cheers.
Spoiled here in California bay area. The Bart,bus and train system gets people anywhere around the bay. A trip to the city ( San Francisco) from the south bay area or east Reagan is faster by Bart then by car.
The tube takes you under the bay and pops you up into the main heart of the city. A day in the city just takes a Bart ticket and a back pack. Gas for the car trip cost more then a Bart ticket. Add parking and aspirin cost to the car trip also. Bikes are allowed on Bart, so a lot of people bike and Bart or use the bus and Bart systems.
Yes I own a car so I am not in the car free club, but I do like public transportation here where I live and use it quite a bit. A little of both worlds works for me.
Enjoyed your article Jason
Regards,
Rick
Rick,
I’ve never been, but I understand the SF area has one of the best PT systems around. It’s usually rated very, very highly. I’ve actually heard that SF is a lot like many other major cities in that owning a car can actually be a drawback rather than a benefit, due to all of the added constraints that people, say, out in the suburbs don’t deal with (extra taxes, fees, tickets, parking, traffic, etc.).
But, hey, if you’re able to take advantage of both and it’s working for you, go for it! 🙂
Thanks for sharing that.
Cheers.
One of the most impressive things to me is that there is a sizable number of people who have the yearly income you do that are supported by the government. You are self-reliant and in many ways the proto typical self sustaining, do it yourself, pursuit of happiness, let me run my own life American that has defined the rich history of our country. I find it highly impressive.
Paul,
Thanks for the kind words. I appreciate that. Although I make note of the fact that one could take advantage of certain programs in my passive income updates, I personally do not. It’s a situation where you could, not that you should. However, government support in the more traditional sense (like, say, food stamps) would actually be quite difficult for someone like me (a white male with no children) to attain.
But I have no desire to be subsidized by anyone. I’m intensely proud of the fact that every dime I have is that which I worked really hard for. Nobody gave me anything. Something like government benefits is just a method of control, in my view, which further limits your freedom. It doesn’t make you more free. I can understand and appreciate that there are people out there that genuinely need help, which is why I’ve become a philanthropist. But I also grew up in a situation where we had government benefits (SNAP, WIC, etc.), and I saw my mother really take advantage of all of that. It benefited her much more than us children. So I guess I have a negative view of “welfare” in general.
Thanks for dropping by!
Best regards.
I’ve managed to never to own a car (age 27 currently) and would like continue that trend. More feasible when you have an atypical job that doesn’t require a commute. But the advantages of public transportation and using your own two feet are certainly underestimated by the masses. I still find some folks that see car ownership has some level of progression in life. But when your driving around 40% of your net worth….I’ll beg to differ. Great article!
Mike,
“I still find some folks that see car ownership has some level of progression in life.”
I agree with that. It’s a “natural order” of things. It’s just part of the progression you see: get a car, graduate school, start a career, get married, etc. There’s very little thinking outside that box.
Nonetheless, that’s perhaps what makes it that much more fun for people like us. I see it as a fun challenge to think outside the box and see what’s really possible. Gives me an edge, I think. The fact that thinking and behaving in that kind of manner also leads to a richer and healthier life is just an incredible side effect.
Thanks for dropping by!
Best regards.
The perceptions on what we consider rich and what we consider poor are interesting eh? I personally enjoy catching public transport for the reason that it gives me the opportunity to read without concern I’ll have an accident.. At the same time though if we get self driving cars that may change 😉 haha
I’d say my preference depends really on when and where I’m going and as much as possibly I’m attempting to be flexible, which helps hopefully create greater “happiness” 🙂
Cheers Jase!
Jef,
Perceptions are interesting, aren’t they? I think most people would perceive me to be relatively poor (based on how I live), yet I’m probably wealthier than most who would think that of me. I’m quite happy to ride on the bus all day long while others zip around in expensive cars. To each their own, but I find the benefits of public transportation far outweigh the drawbacks. 🙂
Cheers!