For me, there’s nothing more infuriating than being stuck in traffic. It’s not just the waiting or the concentration necessary to be a responsible driver but it’s also the nagging penny pincher in me knowing that every single minute I am idling there, it’s burning gasoline. I’m burning MAH MONEY.
Public transportation might not be glamorous but I get to space out on the bus. In my previous life,I thought about my wage, after taxes, including the hour-long commute AND the money on gas (back when it was $4.50 per gallon in San Francisco). I end up feeling like my American Hero, Al Bundy from Married with Children.
In all seriousness…happy Friday! We have a guest post for you today about the benefits of living car-free from Justin. Justin lives the atypical life pursuing financial independence by age 30 through extreme savings, expat living, and side hustles. He writes for Atypical Life, where he shares all of his tips, hacks, and experiences on how to reach financial freedom sooner. He is also an avid cyclist, international bike racer, cross-country cycle tourist, and promoter of bike commuting.
Are you tired of driving to work and getting stuck in traffic?
Wasting away hours and days of your life in a car just isn’t a great way to spend your life. Every day I could be wasting 45+ minutes each way on my commute to work which adds up to ~8 hours per week of commuting that could be cut out. Add in all the other activities that we all participate in, and we have 10+ hours of car time each week. I don’t know about you, but car time really isn’t very productive. It just seems like a waste of useful hours, especially if you are the driver.
As a passenger, you can read, work on the computer, check your phone, etc. but as the driver, all attention needs to be focused on driving. I have had enough close calls riding my bike to work to know that drivers need to be paying attention and not have their eyes and mind off the road.
You could be free of all of these the hassles of driving by getting rid of your car or downsizing your families fleet and have a simpler life.
Table of Contents
The Benefits of Car-Free Living
There are so many benefits to living car-free that we only have time to scratch the surface on how great it can be. Here are just a few of the many benefits you can get from giving up the car.
Better health
Less wasted time
Increased time outside
Money savings
Better Health
We all want to be a little bit healthier. You are a rare breed indeed if you do not feel like you have some area for improvement in the health and wellness department. Living car-free will help you along the path to better health because the replacement for all of that car time is exercise time. Whether it is walking, biking, swimming, kayaking or other commuting styles you will see the benefits of a more active lifestyle when you give up the car.
Riding your bike for 20 miles per week can burn an extra 600-1000 calories depending on how hard you are going. If you ride ~100 miles per week, you will burn an extra ~3,500 calories which is equal to one pound of weight loss if you don’t eat more to compensate for the increased activity. Walking is the same. The more you walk, the more active you are the better your health will become. The health benefits do not stop simply at weight loss either. You will not become sick as often, your heart will become stronger and many other risk factors for diseases will decrease.
If you are a foodie and just love eating, then the extra activity will allow you to eat that much more without gaining additional weight. You may even be able to eat more and lose weight by giving up the car and exercising more. The car-free life can open up so many new doors to become healthier.
Less Wasted Time
I hate wasting time, and the biggest waste of time I currently have is the commute back and forth to work. In China, this 27-mile commute takes anywhere from 45 minutes to 2 hours on a bad day! This is a huge waste of time. When you replace that car ride with a bike or walk commute, it may take longer, but you reclaim those wasted hours of your day and made them yours by exercising.
I cannot even begin to explain how nice it feels to have a productive morning commuting by bike in comparison to wasting away in the steel cage of a car. A car-free lifestyle will lower the stress built up from commuting and working allowing you to arrive home refreshed and happier to see your family.
In every aspect, the wasted time of commuting by car is improved upon by commuting by bike or foot.
Increased Time Outside
Studies have shown that Vitamin D is required to reduce stress. Do you know where it comes from?
Exposure to the sun creates Vitamin D inside our bodies and helps to reduce stress. Natural air and the freedom afforded to you by the bike or walking really help to reduce stress levels to lower than they ever have been. The exercise also releases endorphins to give you a cyclist’s high (or runner’s, walker’s exerciser’s high).
If you are not already spending time outside, you should start now. It is a major benefit you will gain with car-free living.
Last, but certainly not least, car-free living frees up tons of money to be put to much better purposes like investing in index funds. An average car is driven somewhere between 10,000 and 20,000 miles per year. Even at 10,000 miles per year with great gas mileage (40 mpg), you are still looking at 250 gallons of gas or $600-750 depending on gas prices.
In addition to gas savings, you no longer need car insurance which was running $500+/year depending on your history and how many cars you have. Add to that savings on:
maintenance costs on your vehicles
registration tax
property tax
inspections
depreciation costs on vehicles
You easily save $2000 or more per year by foregoing your car and living car-free.
The replacement to these costs of course if purchase and maintenance of bicycles, however, you can expect yearly maintenance of bicycles to cost $300 or less even if you are paying your local bike shop to do the maintenance for you. If you have the frugal gene though, you will be wrenching and be working on your bikes yourself saving even more money.
“But I Can’t Give Up My Car!”
I know it is hard to imagine a life without a car. They definitely have their uses, and long distance travel is the one that is most reasonable to me. You can get the majority of the benefits of a car-free lifestyle by just leaving your cars at home. Cars should only be used for long-distance travel anyways. The only benefit lost is lower gas usage. You still gain better health, lower stress, and less wasted time. You can talk to your insurance about lowering rates because you are a low mileage user.
Going car-free is hard, there is no doubt, but it can be done.
Conclusion
Cars are seen as convenient and as a status symbol. However, when you become frugal, you no longer view cars as so convenient. Cars can conveniently spend all of your money for you, create stress, and waste valuable time you could be using more productively. Biking and walking, on the other hand, are free activities that will help to keep you healthy and happy.
Ultimately, going car-free is a very personal decision, but one that is entirely possible. Think objectively about your life and see if you can go without a car. Even decreasing your family’s fleet is a good first step towards car-free living.
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I always enjoy traveling to cities like Boston and New York where I can get off the plane and not have to bother with a rental. We could definitely cut way back on our car usage but eliminating them would be quite difficult in NC. Very limited public transportation here. We would also need to move somewhere closer to our jobs. Blah blah blah we have all the typical excuses like everyone else.
I am hoping to drop back to one in the future though.
Realizing that it really all is excuses is the first step to making it happen. I grew up in NC too, just outside of Raleigh. It could be possible, but you would have to be very committed.
I agree that living car-free can have so many benefits (i.e. health, money saving). When Mr. FAF was living in another city, I didn’t have a car in DC and could get around in the city with Metro. Now we are a one-car family. We might get another car in the future when we have more kids, but we’re ok with one car right now. We won’t have to pay too much for gas, insurance, and maintenance.
They certainly have their time and place. We lived with one car as well as we prepared to leave for China. Certainly different than 2 cars, but it was very manageable.
I’m hoping to land a job 4.6 miles from work so I can start biking. Right now my commute is 27 miles which is way, way too long, so I’m doing anything I can to fix that.
For me the money saved is icing on the cake – it’s my time I am most excited about, combined with being outside and multi-tasking a workout in there, too. It’s one thing to have a 40 minute drive like I do now; it’s another to have a 30 minute bike-ride. Sure it’s only 10 minutes, but I can get my cardio in then too! 🙂
dude tell me about it. It suuuuuucks so much. I get paid decently here, but this job I’m trying to get (still haven’t heard back from the recruiter, ugh) pays just about as much and $0 gas money.
Agreed. My commute is also 27 miles right now and I can only do 3 days per week by bike because I get too tired. It’s also pancake flat by the ocean, so it is an easy 27 miles. The close job is the best one.
Our goal for 2018 is to become a one car household. We enjoy having one car to make visiting my in-laws a lot easier. We have spent 2017 reducing our local area car travels and are super close to being willing to sell on of our cars! I’m glad to hear how much you enjoy the car-free lifestyle! Someday we hope to embrace that too!
I often heard from people that having 2 cars is cheaper than 1 and I think…noooooo it isn’t. Just cheaper per car. I don’t think we could ever be a two car family.
Right now my daily commute is about an hour each way, and occasionally there is an accident or something and it turns into 1 1/2 to 2 hours. that’s just part of living in New Jersey. But I try to make the most of my time by listening to educational podcasts and audiobooks instead of the radio. At least I’m taking advantage of that time to learn something new and get some ideas that I can implement when I get home at last.
I don’t have a car (too expensive plus I hate driving) but fiance does. I’m glad it’s available when we go get groceries and the like, but I honestly would be fine doing without. I can’t see ever us being more than a one car family, max.
Now that the child is graduating, I am trying to move to an area where I can do transit and minimize my car use greatly (or allow her to use the car so we don’t need to buy another). But she is resisting in moving! Ha (although I do understand her reasoning). I would love to be done being stuck in traffic and allow the transit to drive me.
I agree with all your points but when it is – 32 F outside, I am so glad I have my car to get to work, buses can be so unreliable. But once I am retired and my kids have moved out, I am seriously considering ditching it
I was once told by a good friend of mine: “There is no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothing.” It is certainly more enjoyable when the weather is warm and comfortable, but it is possible when it is cold and miserable too. Good luck ditching the car!
You forgot the biggest benefit – safety. Every day in America more than 100 people die in car crashes. That’s 100 dead bodies. Every. Day. It’s crazy, scary, and disgusting all at the same time. About 40,000 dead people from 2016 alone, not to mention multiple times that number severely injured.
Being on the road in a car is the most dangerous thing most people do every day, and if you’re under 50 years old it’s one of the leading causes of death. I don’t like to drive nor do I want a car for this main reason alone.
Too true. What I find truly funny is that all those people that drive their death-mobiles to work tell me that I am the one that is unsafe riding my bike. If only they knew…
We are a one car family and it works well for us. Mother with Cents and me work at different times of the day so there isn’t any conflict on who uses the car. I work during the day and she works at night and fortunately enough we both have free parking at our workplaces. We also take trips on the weekends for Baby with Cents to visit the grandparents and go to various places around the Bay Area.. So for us one car is definitely needed. I do take public transit on occasion wherever Mother with Cents needs the car during the day for running any errands. Taking the bike to work is something I’ve considered and doable so maybe down the line I’ll seriously consider doing that. Whenever we travel especially to metropolitan cities, my first option is using their public transit system. Cities like Chicago, NYC and Boston you can get around using their trains and not worry about renting a car or even taking a taxi/ride share!
It really is just personal preference in whether to walk, bike, or take public transit. The bike just ends up the most efficient within a certain range, however in the big cities you have to negotiate mega traffic jams!
Cool article. Walking and biking to work has been one of my favorite parts of the days for the last few months. Jam out to your favorite tunes, learn from your favorite podcast, or call some of your favorite people!!
There are so many benefits to living in a city. I love visiting cities where I do not have to rent a car. Public transportation is truly convenient. I enjoy walking when I can. I would bye a bike if I lived in a city. Unfortunately, I need a car living in a rural area or I would be stuck.
My husband and I have been car-free for almost 2 years now. We recently moved to Missouri from Utah and are LOVING it. We have 3 bikes, 2 of them being electric. One of those is a cargo bike. I have a Thule seat on my bike for our 1-year-old. It really is just excuses. Many of those I still made even after we sold both of our cars haha! But I’m all in now and loving our decision.
These are some great points if you live in a fairly temperate climate and a city with good public transportation. It’s different in the north. Take today, for instance: at least 6 inches of snow and it’s a miracle the buses are running on time. It could very well be the opposite and I have had cab companies refuse service when the roads are bad. I’m staying home from work because my car won’t start but if it did, I would’ve driven the mile commute and saved myself the 45 minutes it would take to take a bus over to the mall and then switch to another bus to backtrack to the office. I’m OK with wasting 10 minutes behind the wheel every day. I spend maybe $45 per month on gas and my total cost per year in relation to having a car is $2,400. It’s a necessity here.
Great article. I’ve been car free for almost a decade. The benefits you list are definitely real. Since ditching my car I lost about 20 pounds and feel much healthier. The financial benefits also accrue after several years – it’s surprising how much money we spend on cars and don’t even realize it.
I always enjoy traveling to cities like Boston and New York where I can get off the plane and not have to bother with a rental. We could definitely cut way back on our car usage but eliminating them would be quite difficult in NC. Very limited public transportation here. We would also need to move somewhere closer to our jobs. Blah blah blah we have all the typical excuses like everyone else.
I am hoping to drop back to one in the future though.
It isn’t always easy Grant and def. not in NC. No blame here.
Realizing that it really all is excuses is the first step to making it happen. I grew up in NC too, just outside of Raleigh. It could be possible, but you would have to be very committed.
I agree that living car-free can have so many benefits (i.e. health, money saving). When Mr. FAF was living in another city, I didn’t have a car in DC and could get around in the city with Metro. Now we are a one-car family. We might get another car in the future when we have more kids, but we’re ok with one car right now. We won’t have to pay too much for gas, insurance, and maintenance.
Great to see you here, Ember! 🙂
Who takes the car? You ride the metro right?
They certainly have their time and place. We lived with one car as well as we prepared to leave for China. Certainly different than 2 cars, but it was very manageable.
Love this!
I’m hoping to land a job 4.6 miles from work so I can start biking. Right now my commute is 27 miles which is way, way too long, so I’m doing anything I can to fix that.
For me the money saved is icing on the cake – it’s my time I am most excited about, combined with being outside and multi-tasking a workout in there, too. It’s one thing to have a 40 minute drive like I do now; it’s another to have a 30 minute bike-ride. Sure it’s only 10 minutes, but I can get my cardio in then too! 🙂
27 miles?!?!?!!!! Oh man that gas money!
dude tell me about it. It suuuuuucks so much. I get paid decently here, but this job I’m trying to get (still haven’t heard back from the recruiter, ugh) pays just about as much and $0 gas money.
Agreed. My commute is also 27 miles right now and I can only do 3 days per week by bike because I get too tired. It’s also pancake flat by the ocean, so it is an easy 27 miles. The close job is the best one.
Our goal for 2018 is to become a one car household. We enjoy having one car to make visiting my in-laws a lot easier. We have spent 2017 reducing our local area car travels and are super close to being willing to sell on of our cars! I’m glad to hear how much you enjoy the car-free lifestyle! Someday we hope to embrace that too!
I often heard from people that having 2 cars is cheaper than 1 and I think…noooooo it isn’t. Just cheaper per car. I don’t think we could ever be a two car family.
Noble goal Mrs. Kiwi. I wish you luck in the pursuit.
Right now my daily commute is about an hour each way, and occasionally there is an accident or something and it turns into 1 1/2 to 2 hours. that’s just part of living in New Jersey. But I try to make the most of my time by listening to educational podcasts and audiobooks instead of the radio. At least I’m taking advantage of that time to learn something new and get some ideas that I can implement when I get home at last.
Multitasking makes the time past faster especially if it’s a financial podcast muahahah 🙂
I don’t have a car (too expensive plus I hate driving) but fiance does. I’m glad it’s available when we go get groceries and the like, but I honestly would be fine doing without. I can’t see ever us being more than a one car family, max.
Haha I said the exact thing above! My in-laws have 3 cars (yes they’re old but still…)
Groceries are so much easier with a car.
Now that the child is graduating, I am trying to move to an area where I can do transit and minimize my car use greatly (or allow her to use the car so we don’t need to buy another). But she is resisting in moving! Ha (although I do understand her reasoning). I would love to be done being stuck in traffic and allow the transit to drive me.
4 words: we need flying cars.
Being stuck in traffic drives me crazy! Anyway to get rid of it is worth it. Good luck.
I agree with all your points but when it is – 32 F outside, I am so glad I have my car to get to work, buses can be so unreliable. But once I am retired and my kids have moved out, I am seriously considering ditching it
Haha oh that’s right, you are in Canada?!
I was once told by a good friend of mine:
“There is no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothing.”
It is certainly more enjoyable when the weather is warm and comfortable, but it is possible when it is cold and miserable too. Good luck ditching the car!
You forgot the biggest benefit – safety. Every day in America more than 100 people die in car crashes. That’s 100 dead bodies. Every. Day. It’s crazy, scary, and disgusting all at the same time. About 40,000 dead people from 2016 alone, not to mention multiple times that number severely injured.
Being on the road in a car is the most dangerous thing most people do every day, and if you’re under 50 years old it’s one of the leading causes of death. I don’t like to drive nor do I want a car for this main reason alone.
Great post!
Ooh shoot yes, that’s a great point. I know because no one should trust me behind the wheel. I’m saving lives by going car free ?
Too true. What I find truly funny is that all those people that drive their death-mobiles to work tell me that I am the one that is unsafe riding my bike. If only they knew…
We are a one car family and it works well for us. Mother with Cents and me work at different times of the day so there isn’t any conflict on who uses the car. I work during the day and she works at night and fortunately enough we both have free parking at our workplaces. We also take trips on the weekends for Baby with Cents to visit the grandparents and go to various places around the Bay Area.. So for us one car is definitely needed.
I do take public transit on occasion wherever Mother with Cents needs the car during the day for running any errands. Taking the bike to work is something I’ve considered and doable so maybe down the line I’ll seriously consider doing that.
Whenever we travel especially to metropolitan cities, my first option is using their public transit system. Cities like Chicago, NYC and Boston you can get around using their trains and not worry about renting a car or even taking a taxi/ride share!
It really is just personal preference in whether to walk, bike, or take public transit. The bike just ends up the most efficient within a certain range, however in the big cities you have to negotiate mega traffic jams!
Cool article. Walking and biking to work has been one of my favorite parts of the days for the last few months. Jam out to your favorite tunes, learn from your favorite podcast, or call some of your favorite people!!
It’s the best when the weather is good, but when it starts to become colder and even snowy, that is when we get to see the truly committed…
There are so many benefits to living in a city. I love visiting cities where I do not have to rent a car. Public transportation is truly convenient. I enjoy walking when I can. I would bye a bike if I lived in a city. Unfortunately, I need a car living in a rural area or I would be stuck.
Where are you right now Dave?
Haha I literally just posted about this and then saw this article. Great minds think alike 🙂
My husband and I have been car-free for almost 2 years now. We recently moved to Missouri from Utah and are LOVING it. We have 3 bikes, 2 of them being electric. One of those is a cargo bike. I have a Thule seat on my bike for our 1-year-old. It really is just excuses. Many of those I still made even after we sold both of our cars haha! But I’m all in now and loving our decision.
These are some great points if you live in a fairly temperate climate and a city with good public transportation. It’s different in the north. Take today, for instance: at least 6 inches of snow and it’s a miracle the buses are running on time. It could very well be the opposite and I have had cab companies refuse service when the roads are bad. I’m staying home from work because my car won’t start but if it did, I would’ve driven the mile commute and saved myself the 45 minutes it would take to take a bus over to the mall and then switch to another bus to backtrack to the office. I’m OK with wasting 10 minutes behind the wheel every day. I spend maybe $45 per month on gas and my total cost per year in relation to having a car is $2,400. It’s a necessity here.
Great article. I’ve been car free for almost a decade. The benefits you list are definitely real. Since ditching my car I lost about 20 pounds and feel much healthier. The financial benefits also accrue after several years – it’s surprising how much money we spend on cars and don’t even realize it.