Going car-free or having one or two car-free days is becoming a thing. With Uber, increased online connectivity and the idea of working from home becoming more doable, a lot of businesses and work-from-home professionals are finding that living and working close/r to home, really works.
World renowned blogger-writer of ZenHabits fame, Leo Babauta, his wife and six children, went small and ditched their family van. When they moved cities, they bought a house that was close to public transport. The family of eight bus, train, ride and walk everywhere. Saving money and improving their health at the same time. They find that a car-less life creates more experiences.
“Walking is amazing. It costs nothing, and yet you get fresh air, see people, see nature, see stores and restaurants and houses and plants you never would have in a car. You get in great shape. My little four-year-old can walk for miles, and sing while doing it. She runs up hills,” says Leo.
In Leo’s blog post about living a car-free life with a big family, he goes on to explain the benefits:
“People think of giving up their cars, and they immediately think of the reasons they can’t — the limitations. But I’ve come to realize these are actually strengths. Consider.”
“Takes longer. Yes, it sometimes take longer to get places — maybe 20 minutes instead of 10-15, or 45 minutes instead of 25-30.
Slowing down and taking fewer trips is better for us, our health, our environment.
But that’s OK, because cars (while faster) are also more stressful. Driving in traffic is stressful. So we go places slower, which is less stressful, more fun. I like a slower life.
The weather. Sometimes the weather isn’t great — but truthfully, I enjoy getting soaked in the rain. My little ones don’t mind either — they love stomping in mud puddles. We are so used to being in our metal-and-glass boxes that we forget how wonderful the rain is. And when the weather is good, cars isolate you from that.
Doing stuff that’s not close. It’s easier to get in the car and go to places, while walking or riding transit takes time and sometimes planning. So yes, you’re a bit more limited. I don’t see that as bad, once you accept this — it means you do less, which is simpler and less stressful. It means you only go places that are far if they’re important. It means you explore ways to have fun near your home. Cars encourage us to take more trips, which pollute more, cause us to be busier, use up more time and money and natural resources. Slowing down and taking fewer trips is better for us, our health, our environment.”
