If I had a nickel for every time I got a DM or reply on Twitter saying “I want to go car free, do you have any advice?”, I would probably have a couple dollars. That’s not a lot, but the fact that it’s happened so many times is a sign that ditching your car isn’t exactly easy, especially in America. Thankfully, over my life (except for the ~18 months I worked in the suburbs of LA) of living without a car, I’ve picked up on some tips that can make going car-free less daunting. I hope you find them helpful, and please feel free to share any tips that you may have in the comments!
Tip 1: Track your transit and plan your trip
While it’s great to live in a place where the train/bus comes every 5 minutes and you don’t have to worry about missing the train, the reality of American transit makes things a bit more difficult. Luckily, the internet can be pretty magical and one amazing feature is being able to track your bus or train in real-time so that you can plan on leaving your house so that you get to your stop just a couple minutes before your train or bus arrives.
When I spent a summer commuting from my parents’ house in Maryland to Capitol Hill, being able to live-track the Ride-On bus that only came every 30 minutes meant that I could time my schedule and know exactly when I need to leave, resulting in an extra 15 minutes of sleep every night.
This means less time waiting, which is extra nice if the weather is bad, but also means shorter journeys. But perhaps most importantly, it means confidence that you’re not going to be stuck waiting indefinitely for a bus that feels like it’s never going to come.
Tip 2: Don’t be afraid to walk
One of the biggest benefits of ditching my car is that I’m naturally far more active than I was when I had to drive every day (fun fact: according to my iPhone, I averaged 3 miles a day of walking in LA, 4.5 miles in SF/Boston, and 6 miles in New York). I personally love walking, especially in cities and cool urban environments, but I understand that not everyone feels that way (or sometimes the weather is bad).
More broadly, most apps will not show transit options that are >20 minute walk away, however, if you don’t mind a bit stroll, you can sometimes find a more efficient route that ends up being faster and requiring fewer transfers. Looking at your local transit map or searching on your mapping app from a slightly different location can reveal some of these routes!
Tip 3: Stay flexible
A lot of the stress that comes with relying on transit comes with the fear of being late to events or missing appointments. But taking transit doesn’t have to be stressful. I find that building time into your schedule so that you can afford to miss a connection or deal with a minor delay significantly lowers the stress factor. It’s also helpful to know alternative routes that can get you to your destination so if you miss your bus, there might be a different bus coming that gets you close enough to your destination.
Furthermore, being open when communicating with your friends/colleagues about your timing is always better than mysteriously being 15 minutes late with everyone wondering where you are. It happens with transit, it happens with cars if there’s an accident on the highway, and knowing when you need to bake in extra time vs. when it’s ok to be a little late is an important element of lowering your transit stress levels.
Tip 4: It’s ok to rent a car or call a taxi
A fact of life is that there will be some trips in which a car or taxi is just superior. Maybe the weather is terrible. Maybe you’re going on a road trip for a hike. Maybe it’s 3AM and you need to find a way home from the club. Maybe you’re picking up furniture for your apartment. It’s ok, and nobody is going to judge you for using a car when you need to.
The beauty of going car-free is that you save so much money (AAA recently reported that the average cost of new car ownership has surpassed $10K/year) that you can afford to take a taxi or rent a car for a weekend and still come out far ahead in the long run. I typically budget a ~$100 for rideshare every month, which (when combined with an ~$100 transit pass), is far cheaper than the ~$600/month I was spending on used car payments, maintenance, insurance, gas, and parking in LA.
Tip 5: Follow your transit agency on Twitter
Many transit agencies post real-time updates on Twitter that can help you plan your trip and are more up-to-date than what you can find on transit tracking apps if there’s an emergency or unexpected issue. Furthermore, you can ask transit agencies on twitter for real-time information in the event of an unexpected delay.
Tip 6: Figure out the shortcuts to optimize your route
There are a ton of little tricks that can add up to shorten your route. Off the top of my head, some include:
Knowing which entrance/exit is most convenient and using it
If you are waiting for a train, moving up or down the platform to get closer to the exit you plan on using
Using cross-platform transfers from an express to a local train
Getting off at an earlier bus stop if there’s typically a slowdown or traffic before your last stop (when taking the 70 bus to Central in Cambridge, walking to the red line from the penultimate stop is typically quicker than being dropped outside the station)
Tip 7: Re-orient your mindset
Transit, especially in the US isn’t perfect. But it’s important to remember that the alternative of driving has its own daily stresses. Every time my train is delayed or I miss the bus, I remember that the alternative would be stressing out about my car’s maintenance, spending 20 minutes looking for parking, and being stuck in traffic.
You can’t compare transit to a magical form of transportation that quickly gets you from point A to B with 100% reliablilty. You compare it to the alternatives. And, at least when your transit is delayed you can take it easy and read instead of being stuck behind the steering wheel.
Tip 8: Combine trips
Relying on transit has made me much more conscious of the trips that I make. I try to be thoughtful of my destinations and string together multiple spots in one neighborhood whenever I go out.
Furthermore, you can take a quick trip within your transit agency’s transfer window (typically 2 hours) and end up with a free “transfer” home. Also, combining bikeshare with a transit ride is always clutch.
Tip 9: Check out a monthly pass
Most transit agencies offer weekly/monthly passes that provide much lower per-ride costs than paying for each individual fare, along with peace of mind that comes with knowing each marginal ride is free. In a month in New York, I took about 100 transit rides, meaning each one came out to slightly more than $1 based on a $127 monthly pass - a fantastic deal!
Furthermore, my credit card comes with free Lyft Pink membership which gives unlimited free bikeshare unlocks in many cities.
Tip 10: Think about where you live and work
This might actually be the most important piece of advice. You have to be intentional about where you choose to live and work. If you choose to live and work in deep-suburban LA (like I did for 18 months), it might just be impossible to go car free. My 30 minute driving commute would have been 3 hours and require four transfers via transit… clearly not a feasible option.
However, in most US cities it’s surprisingly easy if you live and work downtown. Even in a sprawling car-oriented city like Atlanta or Houston, if you live and work along a frequent transit line (or live within walking distance of your job), it’s surprisingly easy to go car-free (as long as you supplement with the occassional rideshare).
Tip 11: Get an e-bike
In the US, 52% of all trips are less than 3 miles. This is the perfect length for an e-bike trip, which can be even faster than driving once you factor in parking and traffic. And you can find a decent e-bike for under $1000, with near-zero maintenance/insurance costs. However, biking isn’t always safe or enjoyable, which brings us to our final tip:
Tip 12: Get involved!
Every single street is a political choice, and pushing elected officials to make streets more equitable for non-car uses can make going car-free a lot easier in the long-term. Join local advocacy groups that are pushing the needle in the right direction, call your state and local politicians, and show up at community meetings and political hearings to make your voice heard!