Member-only story
Like most Americans, I’ve always relied on my car to get around. Driving was just ingrained in me growing up — taking the bus or riding a bike felt strange. My Toyota Camry was my trusty steed, essential for my 20 minute commute to work and all my errands about town. Until the repair bills started piling up, that is.
Between car payments, insurance, gas and nonstop repairs, keeping my car on the roads was getting expensive. When the mechanic quoted $1,200 for a new transmission, I’d had enough. I decided to conduct an experiment: could I ditch my car completely and just rely on my bike and public transit instead?
I felt nervous at first, selling my aging Camry and becoming a car-free commuter. But it ended up being the best decision I ever made. Here is what I learned after three months of living car-free:
- It saves an insane amount of money. No more car payments, insurance bills, gas station fill ups or pricey repairs. I’ve saved nearly $500 a month so far not owning a car! And commuting by bike is free once you own one.
- It forced me to discover my city in a whole new way. Instead of zooming through neighborhoods in my car, I…
