That little Greta b$&@# convinced me to get rid of my car in September and go carless in the city. And I haven’t looked back. While I’m partially joking, I take the threat of climate change very seriously. I was inspired by Greta Thornberg to do something more in my own world to help fight climate change for our planet and have taken some action steps to be successful. Like reducing my wastefulness and selling my car to end up being carless in the city for the last 8 months.
Truth be told, I don’t like driving.
I’ve never really appreciated cars as anything more than pretty-at-times pieces of machinery that get us one place to another. While I had sentimentality toward my cars because I bought them and paid them each off outright, and there was the pride of making my first adult purchases and the follow through to make them officially mine, but I’ve never been too attached.
And I’ve been careless in the city ever since.
The old adage: nobody walks in LA is very rampant here. My friends can put in 40 on the treadmill, but when it comes to walking 5-6 blocks? Forget about it! No one is more lazy that the fitness-obsessed angeleno asked to walk versus Ubering. But this was before the coronavirus. I’ve walked all over this city and now I’m seeing others finally follow suit. It’s crazy how beautiful our city is when you’re on foot and able to actually take it all in. I’ll always be a little New Yorker at heart.
The biggest advantage to being carless in the city is the freedom.
I leave a lot earlier than I used to in order to hop on a bus or walk the distance. But now I’m not a slave to traffic. I hated commuting because it is so mind numbing being stuck in traffic. Now, I read or write and get work done on the bus or in the back of Lyfts. My stress levels are lower because I’m not fixated on weaving in and out of traffic to make it to work or a meeting. The time I have in the back seat or bus seat allows me to clear my head, focus on my goals and what is in front of me.
The figures are still out yet on how much money I’ve saved, but at this point, it’s safe to say
I’ve saved hundreds of dollars in the last 8 months.
I’m not paying the $120 a month in insurance. $15 a month to register the vehicle. $20-$35 in gas per month in my little SmartCar. And the $60 twice a year for oil changes. While I’ve taking a bunch of Uber’s, it’s not like I’ve really gone anywhere in the last few months due to the coronavirus pandemic. My car would be currently sitting in my garage collecting dust.
Yes I miss the freedom of being able to just jump in my car and head to the grocery store. I’ve had to invent new ways of lugging healthy groceries 10 blocks home. It can be annoying how long it actually takes to get from one end of LA to another via public transport.
But knowing I’ve taken one more car off the road, knowing I don’t have to worry about the stress involved with car ownership, and knowing I’m doing my small little part to save the world is worth it to me. Will I be carless in the city forever? That remains to be seen. I said goodbye to my little Star Wars Storm Trooper helmet; however, I’ve always wanted a convertible Smart Car. But in the meantime, I’m happy using my own personal mode of transportation: my own two feet.
