Going Carless

April 22, 2005 the experiment begins.

Our 1980-something Subaru wagon served us well. I bought the wagon because the back was just long enough for us to sleep in, should the need arise. But in 2005 we went carless thanks to the Washington State Vehicle Redistribution Act. It was stolen. When it was discovered in a supermarket parking lot about 20 miles from home, it was cleaner than when we drove it, and the seat was tilted into low-rider position. It must be challenging to look cool in a car favored by middle-aged, white, urban dwellers.

Our road trip of the American Southwest was a fitting last car adventure.

Our Subaru was also sporting a leaking head gasket, so we decided on April 22, 2005 to donate it for good to a better cause.

That began our carfree life together. In my wildest dreams I could not have predicted that four years later we would still be carless. I wish I would have blogged my painful challenges to this lifestyle. Willie would have blogged a different story, and there you, dear reader, would have the fullest picture.

I still struggle with the carless lifestyle from time-to-time, and Willie still celebrates the freedom it brings. In four years we have both embraced mobility via foot, bicycle and mass transit. We’ve met neighbors walking our neighborhood, rubbed shoulders on buses with people we otherwise would not meet, and pedaled to dinner parties in fancy clothes.

In this blog, we hope to share with you the joys, frustrations, humor, pain, insights, wisdom, discoveries, and hope for better communities  living by foot, bike and transit.