One Less Car!

My brother - the middle one - went to a very unique, liberal college in the Pacific Northwest.  (I have a tendency to call it "Hippie College" - which could come across as derogatory or dismissive, but actually I have a hell of a lot of  respect for the school - AND for my brother, in his choice to go there).  

There are many things I could describe to you about this college to impress upon you how unique a place it really is - such as the fact that some students camp out in the wilderness instead of living in the dorms - but that would be a whole 'nother writing topic entirely.  

(And worth doing, at some point, I suppose... If I get enough feedback about it, I'll write it - so hit me up).  

The friends my brother made in college can be described in any better way than individuals.  Passionate, intense, bohemian-types that challenge societal norms early and often.  Very warm, loving people - too, I might add.  One of my favorite stories he told me is that he had a couple of friends who were anti-cars, for a variety of reasons - so much so, that whenever they saw someone on a bicycle, they would raise a fist triumphantly in the air, and exclaim "One less car!"  - in solidarity/support - you get the idea.  

At the time, I mostly thought it was funny - though also cool.  Our mother bikes to work most days of the year - and may I remind you, our hometown and her residence is in the CHICAGO area.  (i.e. my mother bikes in winter)  We grew up learning about environmentalism, and fossil fuels, and the depletion of the ozone - so I have always had a respect for alterna-car transportation.  But to yell out triumphantly to strangers?  That we were never taught - nor do you see it much in everyday life.  It seemed silly... yet awesome to me.  And as that was at least five years ago, has stayed with me.

Since those days, I have matured a lot in my sense of eco-responsibility and green-living, especially over the last couple years.  I can credit a lot of that to the influence of that same brother in my life - and truth be told, my hat is off to him - in many respects of his life.  Though like I said, we do come by it naturally, too :)

We did have quite the "green" upbringing.  I was trained in the ways of recycling and compost by the time most other kids knew who the Simpsons were.  When I went off to college, it was the first time in my life that I lived in a building with air-conditioning.  And Chicago's summers ain't cool...  (I'll stop here with upbringing backstories, though, as that topic FOR SURE is a whole tale in and of itself).

Despite the green upbringing, though, I've always had a car.  Older cars, beat-up cars, dying cars - and yes, the rumors are true - once, a Cow Car - but type aside, consistent car-access, nonetheless.    I've lived now, though, in the city for over 3 years, and my car usage needs have plummeted.  Finally this past Spring, as my latest car needed the 56th set of expensive repairs, I was done.  Why??  Why spend all the money - the insurance, the city stickers, the parking stickers, the tune ups, the repairs - why spend all that money when I could be using it for other things?  When I live in a city with great public transportation and when I've got a pair of healthy, working legs?

So, with my fist in the air, and a fire in my belly, I yelled out, "ONE. LESS. CAR!"  (Or at least thought it in my head) - and I sold my damn car.  Felt pretty frickin great.

It's amazing how much you take for granted, though, the ease that car ownership brings to one's life.  Groceries are harder to do - especially when you need heavy things like kitty litter or a box of Coronas... Late night excursions become less safe... You become way more intimate with the elements and the proper attire to wear in them.  And you get creative as hell.

I started bicycling often - and, once you get used to the perils of city street biking, it's pretty great.  Especially when you can zoom by lanes of cars backed up in traffic.  ("See ya suckers!!"  vrooooooom)  Especially when it's a gorgeous day.  Especially when you realize you're not spending a dime, getting exercise, and getting from Point A to Point B.  

I started biking to meet friends - even to go to parties sometimes.  ("Hey, can I lock my bike to your fence - is that cool? Yeah, I biked here.")  I started getting really excited about figuring out how to both dress cute and in bike friendly clothes.  And may I note - skirts are not as problematic to bike in as you might think!  I mean, SOME are... but a lot aren't!  And that, that is the kind of badass feeling you don't often experience - biking in a skirt.  Daring and hot and awesome.  Makes me feel like Angelina Jolie or something.  (Do NOT burst my bubble and point out that she actually would be on a motorcycle.  I know.  I'm still awesome on my bike).

Beyond my bike, I started utilizing the CTA even more - the Metra, too - great for suburbian destinations.  And I also signed up for ZipCar.  How cool to be part of a car sharing program!  How to cool to think, "You know what, I'm gonna reserve a Beemer for my Target run tonight."  Yesssir.  

So really, there are OPTIONS.  I love living somewhere where that's a truth.  And I made it 6 months - until it was Christmas and my mom bullied me into caretaking a family car with a death rattle.  (Bullied is unfair... because although she did launch quite the campaign, I have to admit Christmas is a HELLUVA a lot easier with a vehicle.  Those last minute shopping runs and the gift transportation - those, too, a whole lot easier.)  And I've recently taken up yoga, and the car's been helping me access a lot more class options, especially with all this horrible, cold, white stuff on the streets...  But part of her campaign was that I'd be doing her a favor by driving the car around and that if it helped, I could just view her as an extension of ZipCar... So maybe, just maybe - I'm still "carless"?  :)  Take that, THE MAN.