I was raised in small town Oregon, so I know that if you live back of the hill and drive 30 miles to work, that a car (and sometimes several) is a necessity. This diary isn't here to make you feel guilty about where you live or that you must own a car because of the work you do.
Despite being raised under Douglas Fir, I'm an urban person at heart, and found myself in 1983 living north of Chicago, in the land of the CTA, Metra, Amtrack and Pace. I have never owned a car. My spouse has never owned a car. We have raised two children, never having owned a car. To learn how we have done so, read on.
It was working at a religious non-profit that did it. I had a roommate with a car and she was constantly worried for funds to cover insurance payments, emergency repairs, gas, and even the yearly city sticker. I rode the CTA train to work.
Once married, my husband and I focused on rent, school loans, and saving up funds to visit either side of our families. We are bi-coastal with all of mine West and all of his East. He rode the train into the city. I rode the bus to work. We just didn't need a car.
We made babies. I very much wanted to stay home with babies. We did it by staying in our third floor apartment for eight years and walking a lot. I stopped counting at 13 strollers. Now we have a small townhome with big bedrooms for the kids, right around the corner from their schools, and within walking distance of several bus and train lines. Here is how we manage the rest:
The whole family owns bikes that are the right size and in good repair. In good weather we ride everywhere and I do a lot of marketing in the summer using my huge bike baskets. My kids can ride their bikes all over our neighborhood and to downtown Evanston and back. My teenage son has explored the whole city and Skokie by bike.
Peapod. Which is a company that delivers groceries to your door. I get asked about grocery shopping more than anything else when people learn we don't own a car. We can order large amounts of groceries online and schedule a specific delivery window. The prices are fair, and the driver brings them directly to my kitchen door. The delivery fee is equal to the price of a magazine.
Taxis. No, paying for a taxicab is not overly expensive when you figure it goes door to door in very bad weather or when time is tight. I can take a taxi many times a month for less than other people pay for the cheapest car insurance.
Walking. While my spouse takes the train to work, I can walk and often do. My kids don't think a thing about walking six blocks to the drugstore and back. Granted we have a very nice neighborhood to walk in.
I-Go Car Sharing. You have heard of FlexCar and ZipCar? In Chicago we have I-Go, which has grown by more than 100% every year, way beyond the most optimistic projections. There are now several cars parked within walking distance of our home and we can rent by the hour. If you have this option where you live, get on an email list. Sign-up fees are often waived in January. We pay just $25 a year in membership fees. AND, it gives us a corporate membership for multi-day car rental that can't be beat.
Supportive Friends. Yes, sometimes I thumb a ride. I've done my share with after-school child care and such and have made good friends in the neighborhood who will happily call me if they are making a run to Trader Joes. I'll take any ride to Trader Joes that I can get.
We don't look like people who can't afford a car. In fact, if we wanted to, we could. But after so many years of car-free living, it's become a badge of honor. Our friends consider us eccentric, and a little odd. But they have also commented upon how nice it would be to avoid the trials of car repair. When the price of gas went up so high, we were approached with envy. And we know several families who decided to drop down to one car instead of two, following our example of ample use of public transportation.
Yes, sometimes we wait too long in the rain for a bus. Yes, trains get crowded. And there are a few corners in our hometown that are very tough to get to without a car. We don't go to the mall as often as my teens would like. And, I just can't run out and pick someone or something up. That means that other parents often bring my children home after the playdate or sleepover, but we are usually right on the way.
Living car-free requires thinking out transportation routes in advance, and sometimes puts you in unfamiliar company. But it can also lead to great adventures, and a greater familiarity with a city like Chicago. It's not for everyone, but it's worked for us.