4 car-less days

[KnottedYet]

Ok, it's only 4 days without any internal combustion engines. (all biking or walking, no car nor bus nor other engine) But it still feels kinda nifty. It's a far cry from those days long ago when I didn't have a car at all and did everything by foot or bike or bus.

Isn't it neat how free you feel when you transport yourself everywhere? sigh...

(gettin' the bag of dogfood home was interesting, I gave up on the usual big bag and just bought a little bag. Not cost efficient, but I really wanted to try going without the car)

[DirtDiva]

Welcome to my world.

[KnottedYet]

I do miss the years when I didn't have a car. sometimes. I can't imagine how I'd do the single-mom thing without one, though. I'd be beholden to so many of the other parents to shuttle my kid around to school functions and stuff.

Hmmmm... just thinking about a tandem Xtracycle....

www.xtracycle.com

Wouldn't have to worry about the size of dogfood bags with one of these!

[surgtech1956]

You girls just choose to bike instead of drive or you don't have a car? What about the weather?

[KnottedYet]

You girls just choose to bike instead of drive or you don't have a car? What about the weather?

I didn't have a car for a long time. This week, however, I just chose not to drive. (my kid was away, so I wasn't needing the car to take him to school and such).

My bike is going to the shop today, so I might have to break my car-less streak FOR my bike! Ah, the irony!

Our weather here in Seattle is pretty managable. It rains, but I have wool biking clothes and raingear and fenders and water resistant panniers. I'm a prolific sweat producer, though, and often find I'm more comfortable in the rain in just my wool clothes. Rain gear holds the sweat in too much for me.

[Aint Doody]

Knotted, I can identify with your smug feelings! I kept my car parked for 4 days last week, too. (This week is sorta different.) I even convinced my husband to take the scooter to work instead of his car--that's a BIG deal! He wouldn't dream of riding a bicycle or walking (it's 3/4 mile!).

[KnottedYet]

Awww, I didn't mean to sound smug!

It's just kind of exciting to re-discover that same sense of freedom I had when I was a sexy young thang tootling around everywhere by bike.

[Velobambina]

Knotted -- That's wonderful! I envy you. I hate driving because people in DC, for the most part, are obnoxious drivers. Ironically, I live inside the beltway, 1/2 mile from a paved bike path that takes you into the city, and I'm a mile walk from a metro stop. Unfortunately, my employer is moving my work unit from Tysons Corner out to the Dulles area. The new location is the epitome of suburban sprawl--surrounded by highways, unfriendly to pedestrians & cyclists, and inconvenient to public transportation. My commute, by car, will go from 7 miles to 26 miles (one way). When I mentioned my concerns about it, mgt treated me as if I were an idiot for living inside the beltway (??? because me and my husband sacrificed to buy a 2 bedroom, modest home in Arlington instead of getting a mcmansion 50 miles outside the beltway ???) Needless to say, I'm looking for a new assignment more convenient to home.

What rain pants do you use? I'm thinking about investing in a pair....

[KnottedYet]

I have a pair of nylon-goretex Schollers I got for $10 at one of those TJ Maxx or Ross Dress For Less places.

I wear them if I'm biking to work in my work clothes and it's dumping rain. Or if it's raining and really cold. Otherwise I just wear my Ibex wool biking capris. I really do sweat a lot. My Canari Bio-Vent jacket is generally wetter inside than outside. (so I call it the "Bio-Swelter", but I think it's not the jacket's fault, it's just I'm a sweaty-Betty.)

[Trek420]

Awww, I didn't mean to sound smug!

It's just kind of exciting to re-discover that same sense of freedom I had when I was a sexy young thang.......

was?

I strive to bike to work a day a week. The only times it's been more were when the car's in the shop. This could be a new goal for me, see how many back to back days I can do.

My ride to work is not very scenic but short.

[DirtDiva]

I don't have a car. Hmm. Does that make me a sexy young thang?

[Trek420]

I don't have a car. Hmm. Does that make me a sexy young thang?

Yes!!

[pooks]

I definitely think "no car" must mean not only "sexy young thang" but also "very Euro chic!"

[KnottedYet]

I don't have a car. Hmm. Does that make me a sexy young thang?

ABSOLUTELY!!!

[DirtDiva]

I must come back to this thread every time my ego needs a boost.