My Ride

Here are a few necessary details for you to understand the ramifications of me going carless.

I live 2.5 miles from work. Thankfully that is not very far. It takes me an average of 12 minutes each way on bike (a little less going home). As you can see, it’s not that bad. I say that now. When it’s 30 degrees fahrenheit. I’m sure I’ll be singing a different tune.

Depending on the nature of my work I can telecommute. When I am writing and doing instructional design it works well from home. Lately I’ve been doing a lot of project management. That takes being at the office and giving people face to face time. So, yes, I can work from home, but haven’t been doing it lately.

I live 3 miles from the nearest grocery store. I prefer to ride 7.5 miles to a better store. The 7.5 mile ride is virtually flat and the store is much better.

I have a branchless bank. So I can deposit from home by posting a deposit online and sending the check in the mail. I can withdrawal at the convenience store with no fees within walking distance.

I live 3 miles to downtown Harrisburg. I have many friends and activities there.

The laundromat is .5 miles. Like I said I walk that one with the suitcase. That worked well.

I live 2 miles from a large mall. Not that I ever go there. The only time I do is to go to the tobacco store.

Map of my ride

I live 2 miles from the two Harrisburg micro-breweries. I can easily get my growlers filled on the bike. It’s still up in the air about how I am going to get cases of beer. I suppose I will have to be more determined about when i get the beer. This is an important one to me.

My girlfriend lives 45 minutes away. She will have to visit me more often or come get me (remember I have “bribe” money budgeted). Her roommate is good friends with my neighbor that lives two doors down. That means I will be getting my rideshare on. Spending time with my girlfriend is obviously more important than beer. Drinking beer while spending time with my girlfriend? Priceless.

My parents live 1 hour away. They will have to drive to visit me. Or I could possibly borrow my girlfriend’s car or have her go with me.

I live 3 miles from the train station. For an extra $5 you can just put your bike right on a rack on the train. So I could ride my bike the the station. Then just get off in whatever city and ride within a reasonable distance. If I go to Philly alone it actually ends up being cheaper with my AAA discount to ride the train than drive.

Harrisburg has a limited bus service. It goes to a lot of places, just not very often. That means I could theoretically ride it to Shippensburg, York, and around town if I needed to. This will help with visiting my parents. Chambersburg is only 11 miles from Shippensburg.

I have a rack and two large shopping bag panniers. They can hold most things within reason. You’d be surprised what you can strap onto a bike rack.

Those are the most common places I go and some other details to help you understand what going carless means to me. As you can see, the distances to the most critical places are not that bad. Everything is under 10 miles and could be under 5 if needed (if I went to the closer and crappier grocery store).

An important point I’m missing is the ability to up an go. Over the last ten years I have driven a lot. I mean a lot. I am used to the freedom of just hopping into my car and driving to wherever I want. So while all the distances are short that does not mean it is necessarily easy for me to go carless. It will be hard when my friend 25 miles away in Carlisle calls for coffee and I can’t go. When it’s midnight and I want to run to Wal-Mart for a project I’m working on is when I will feel the limitations of not having a car.

But I have considered these things. I think in a way it will add to the quality of my life to really consider where and what I do with my time. if it is important to me I will find a way to get there.

Share and Enjoy:

December 11, 2008

Going Carless |

8 Comments

By goch, December 21, 2008 @ 1:42 pm

This site, and particularly this part of the site, is extremely well laid out and easily readable. This page is so great because you lay it all out for the reader, distances, maps, etc. It let’s people considering selling their vehicle clearly see what’s involved and things to think about. well done! please continue to post your experiences over this first winter. I am considering moving back up north(upstate ny, and am curious how tough it will be to live there with just a bike)

[Reply]
Going Carless Reply:
December 21st, 2008 at 1:44 pm
Thanks for reading and commenting. I’m glad you find this page helpful. It was originally a regular post, but I figured it would make a good page.

Thanks for your encouragement to keep posting!

[Reply]
By Heather Palmer, January 5, 2009 @ 1:18 pm

I’ll always remember that car. Good times in Strawberry Square. But welcome to the world of the carless. It’s really quite enjoyable once you learn how to get around. I never feel the urge to drive, but then, I never liked it like you did.
If you feel so inclined, write me. And btw, great site. I woulda heard your voice in the post even if I didn’t know it was you. Strong.

[Reply]
Going Carless Reply:
January 5th, 2009 at 1:26 pm
Hey Heather! I had a lot of great memories in that car too. Remember when it was covered in snow and we sat in it like we were in a cave?

I envy your public transportation system. Mine is basically useless to me. Other than that I’ve enjoyed being car-free so far. I love to ride.

Thanks for your encouragement about the site.

Sorry we missed each other while you were in the area.

[Reply]
By jj, March 12, 2009 @ 8:07 am

I’ve been carless since last july. like you said, planning starts to get automatic. I have no desire to get a car.

I have a front rack over the front tires. it is simple and you can carry alot on it. heavy duty ones are out there too….porteur racks they are called, you may have seen them.

i would like to see you write some about how the overall winter riding experience went for you, what you might do different next year, etc.

Thanks for this site.

[Reply]
By Brian Smith, March 20, 2009 @ 4:10 pm

I take it you ride PA-230 alot? How is that, nice wide shoulder? I think it is great that you have AAA but no car.

When I move back North, the micro-brewery is going to be my house! Keep up the great blog, peace man!

[Reply]
By Jose, September 22, 2009 @ 6:19 am

I am about to go car-less myself. After months of to-ing and fro-ing I woke up on Sunday and made the decision. I discovered this site whilst researching people’s experiences of being car-less and I love it. I live in Bristol in the UK and, like you, I am ideally situated in the city to make bike-riding and walking an easy option.
I have enjoyed reading this, thank you very much indeed for posting it.

[Reply]
Going Carless Reply:
October 1st, 2009 at 8:35 am
No problem Jose. It’s sad I haven’t kept up with this blog. I have however kept up being car-free. It’s closing in on a year already!

Write back and let me know your experiences.

[Reply]