An article in today's 'The Telegraph' newspaper offers writer Tracy Corrigan's experiment without a car, with positive results.
"For once, I am at the forefront of a trend. Four months ago, I gave up my car. The decision was, in truth, rather forced upon me by the fact that I had to return it to my previous employer when I moved jobs. Still, I decided not to get another one.
The experiment has been a triumph. Not only has it become clear that this was a financially astute move, what with surging petrol prices and my habit of forgetting to pay the congestion charge.
It also turns out that I am at one with the zeitgeist. Our attitudes to travel are changing - trains, buses and bikes are in, cars and planes are out - and I just may be an agent of change."
The experiment has been a triumph. Not only has it become clear that this was a financially astute move, what with surging petrol prices and my habit of forgetting to pay the congestion charge.
It also turns out that I am at one with the zeitgeist. Our attitudes to travel are changing - trains, buses and bikes are in, cars and planes are out - and I just may be an agent of change."
Read the complete article here and tell us what you think about giving up the car. Could you do it? Many of us rely on the car to pick up our children, weekly shopping trips and so on, and the car has become an essential mode of transport. But after reading Tracy's article, it does make you wonder whether or not it really is essential or something that can be a temporary luxury. It would save money at the moment with fuel prices high and the cost of living going up, so maybe it's time to take the plunge and try not to use our cars.
What do you think?
20 comments:
I have given up my car for 6 weeks and am loving it. I miss the comfort of my own moving form of transport but feel healthier, fitter and more in tune with what's going on around me. I didn't realise how claustraphobic and reliant the car made me. I haven't done anything radical like start cycling, I just walk if I can locally else take the train. I've read 3 and a half novels on the tube, planned my morning meeting on the way in compared to the night before and feel London is just brilliant when I see others on the train. Because I expected the worst from it, I'm happier when there are no delays and when there are then I always allow for an extra 30 mins before I begin my journey so I'm not disappointed.
I use my car only when I have lots of shopping but that's once a week and it doesn't justify (yet) owning it. I didn't want to just sell it and be stuck then buy it back, so I'm trialling not using it then planning what I can spend the £1000+ I'll save on MOT, road tax, insurance etc.
I'm not doing it to be green but I like that it makes me feel that way! It's all about saving money for me!
I gave up my car for a day then married it the next. I'm hopeless and hate it. I'm overweight, unhealthy and feel like everything is about going from one place to the next.
I also hate traffic to the point of it giving me headaches.
I'm going to try again soon.
I recycle, I buy green and I give to charity but I couldn't give up my car because of all the reasons I needed it. Then my kids told me I'm poisoning the planet and I tried it.
I now pick up the kids by foot because the school's a lot closer (and quicker to get to) than I thought. Seems the car journey really wasn't needed for a 10 min walk each way. I do my shopping in 2 segments and carry it on the bus because the bus drops me 14 steps from my front door. This means I force myself to do more exercise than I used to - I used to have a daily routine of using the remote control on the TV, driving everywhere and going up and down my stairs when I needed to. So after the first few days of exhaustion I'm now feeling on top of the world and have even lost visible fat.
My car is a P reg saloon and I'm selling it for £990 for the pocket money. I haven't renewed the insurance and am saving there, it has MOT until November but I don't intend to have it that long and I'm saving a packet on road tax and fuel.
We're not greenies just sensible with money and actually care about the future for our children (althoguh officialy we dont have time to).
Re-evaluate if you need your car. I did and now mine's up for sale.
What colour is it and what's the mileage? Full service history? Send me a PM cos I'm interested.
All details PMed but I recommend you try living without one.
Thanks, for the board, I'm going to see it tonight. Let you know if I buy it.
Gwaan!
This is better than teletubbies, corrie and all that.
I NEVER want a car. I like to use taxis a lot and would feel guilty doing so if I had a car too.
minicabs are the way forward. Cheaper and you get a driver too and don't even need to look up any maps! Save on owning a car and start using others. Even car clubs are a good option.
Otherwise if you own a car, just try writing down all the things you use it for in a day (best to do this straight after using it for accuracy) and see which of those you could do another way or combine, you'll be surprised how much you can save on fuel costs and running costs. If you can knock all your chores out once a week by car, then a car club is for you. If not then slowly cutting car use to save you money is a great start.
I still have my car but will sell it soon as I've tried this and am finding I could save enough holiday money if I just was more sensible, and given where we're located for buses, I can manage without a car at all.
I bought myself a sweet bargain at £800. But after meeting Faisal he went through how he goes about everything and I think I might try a car-free lifestyle too.
If I sell this car, will let yous know.
i gave up my car a while back and now use bike for short local trips and walking if i can, for longer ones i use the train or minicab.
no mot. no road tax. no petrol. no worries.
I can't imagine life without my car, I use it to go everywhere. I've cut down my travelling with rising fuel costs but never seriously considered trying a different route and way. Reading this, sounds like a good idea. I'll look into where I go and how and then make a decuision. Keep you posted.
I've recently been feeling the pinch with British Gas putting their prices through the roof and petrol prices being high. I've started walking more and dug out the old bike to cycle too. I enjoy it a lot more than I thought and stick to quiet roads only. I use the car on average now 2-3 times a week compared to every day a few weeks ago. I'm glad I'm saving money because I think things will get worse before they get better.
I have now officially given up my car! I didn't renew my car insurance and sold the car last weekend. I've done it!!! Thanks a lot everyone! You can do it too, your life will be better!
WELL DONE CAROLINE!
I;ve cut down my car use too. I used to take it out 2-3 times a week now it's once every 10 days for my shopping. I'm so glad I tried it!
We sold our car due to the high running costs and were dreading how we'd cope but now we don't miss it at all. The amount we spent maintaining it was ridiculous. We have saved so much since switching to public transport and we're planning to save more as we cut down those trips and switchto walking as well. My husband and I are thrilled we gave up the car, you don't miss the traffic jams!
mmm... jam...
I'm going to try giving up my car and let you know how I get on. I won't hold my breath though, it's like a suitcase for me. The back's full of emergency clothes, my overnight bag, extra pairs of essentials and work-related stuff. I'll clear some stuff out and see if I can go without, but don't expect to.
I have now given up my car after months of research and trial and errors. I know all the local routes by foot and bus and that's how I mostly travel now. I break my monthly shopping into smaller chunks and do a bit each week, and if I need milk or anything the kids get it on the way home.
Well done to this blog for encouraging me and to all who do the same. You've proved to me that life can be better without a car! Thank you!
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