CNN staffer goes car-free

[OakLeaf]

http://www.cnn.com/2010/LIVING/11/19....html?hpt=Sbin

[shootingstar]

I haven't really looked at this link yet.

But there's enough of us staunchly car-free ..for several decades. No matter how cold it gets!

[PamNY]

Very interesting, and I'm sure not easy to do in Atlanta. Excellent that his employer is supportive. I'd love to know more about how he handles day-to-day shopping, etc.

[emily_in_nc]

Great article! We aren't totally car-free YET but just sold my DH's truck so have only one vehicle now, plus a fleet of bikes. We ride, walk, or take the bus whenever possible. We're fortunate to have moved to a neighborhood with a grocery, bank, restaurants, etc. within easy walking distance, and the post office is a few mile bike ride away. We can also ride to the farmer's market and food co-op, and do most of our shopping (other than food) online. I do still drive to work 4 days a week (telecommute the fifth day), but we live 19 miles closer to my workplace than we did before our move, so every bit helps.

[Tri Girl]

that's great!! I love that CNN exchanged his parking spot for a gym membership and public transport tickets. Really great that they support those who choose not to drive!!

I am trying to go car-lite, but car-free just isn't an option here. Too much urban sprawl and dangerous roads that aren't conducive to bikes. I do what I can- got a job 3 miles away instead of 26 miles away and live within 2 miles of my bank, grocery store, library, pharmacy, etc. Baby steps, right?

[emily_in_nc]

I am trying to go car-lite, but car-free just isn't an option here. Too much urban sprawl and dangerous roads that aren't conducive to bikes. I do what I can- got a job 3 miles away instead of 26 miles away and live within 2 miles of my bank, grocery store, library, pharmacy, etc. Baby steps, right?

Absolutely! Too many people just never think about not hopping into their car for every little thing. We live less than a quarter mile from a grocery store, liquor store, bank, etc., and yet we see people in our complex hopping in their car to go virtually across the street to these places all the time. Why not walk!? Sure, if you're going to get 5 bags of groceries, that's one thing, but dollars to donuts most of those trips are for just a few items.

I did see an elderly lady in the grocery store this weekend with a rolling cart. As I was walking back to our apt with my one bag of groceries, I saw her rolling her cart down the sidewalk over to the "elder" condo complex nearby. Was so nice to see someone else walking! But the sad thing is, you rarely see the 20-somethings doing that.

[Koronin]

Some places it's just impractical to walk or bike to, but if it's close enough and you aren't lugging a ton of stuff there or home, then it does make sense. I told my hubby that my hope is to eventually be able to ride my bike to the grocery store, drug store, and dollar store that are a couple miles from where we live I'm sure exactly how far, but it's probably close to 4-5 miles. right now I am so NOT confident enough to even try to ride a bike on the main road. I have no problem riding in our neighborhood or the neighborhood across the street, which is where I usually ride, but they hardly have any traffic at all. I'm more likely to have to avoid a ball rolling across the street that kids are playing with than see a car on the street. I'm also still not comfortable at riding more than about 15 mph and the speed limit on the main road is 55mph without any kind of bike path, so I'd have to ride in the right hand lane. Just not ready for that. We are hoping, however, that they will eventually build a bike path all the way to the bank which is down the main road the other way. As it does seem they are doing that in front of new businesses. Even though that is not our primary bank, it would be awesome to be able to ride to that bank anyway.

[Koronin]

Also wanted to add that I think it's great that CNN is helping that employee with the public transportation tickets.