Only gone and got rid of the car!

[roscoh]

Having reached the year milestone of commuting on my trusty Rapid I have now gone and sold the car, a little bit scary. As a way of reward I have used some of that money and invested it in an electric bike for those days when I have a cold / it's windy / I can't be bothered with any effort!

we'll see how the next year pans out.

 

[MrHappyCyclist]

Wow, that's a big step. We've dropped down to one car from two now because I cycle to work, but going to zero is, as you say, scary.

 

[roscoh]

In fairness I've got rid of the car, the other half hasn't so in a complete emergency i could have access to the car. How do you find commuting every day by bike. I have managed most days this past year, probably 4 out of 5 but there are days when I just took the car as I felt pretty crap, but well enough to work. Hence the ebike as a sort of back - up.

 

[cloggsy]

Well done you! Very well done for getting another cage off your drive!

 

[Col5632]

Well done

Its a step i hope i can make one day, i love having my car but if/when i move in with the other half i will pretty much have no need for a car

 

[MrHappyCyclist]

In fairness I've got rid of the car, the other half hasn't so in a complete emergency i could have access to the car. How do you find commuting every day by bike. I have managed most days this past year, probably 4 out of 5 but there are days when I just took the car as I felt pretty crap, but well enough to work. Hence the ebike as a sort of back - up.

Not a problem most of the time. It's only 25 miles round trip, though. Headwinds can be a bit of a pain, but it just takes a bit longer, and it can be a bit unpleasant if my clothes haven't dried properly for the return journey. I find cycling to work seems to stave off colds, etc. The only time I've had a problem in the last year was just before Christmas when we had rain over frozen ground and I decided to take the train. I've cancelled my parking permit at work now, as well.

 

[billy1561]

I sold my car last Easter and its been a great decision. You have to want to cycle to make it work though. Still have the wifes car I confess but hardly get to use it.

 

[cyberknight]

We have always been a 1 car family , if i needed the car that badly the wife can always win the mother in law.
Although i applaud your choice i always look at electric bikes and think that for the extra weight are they worth it as the motor is limited to 15 mph then cuts out afaik.

 

[biking_fox]

Well done. Enjoy the savings and the health and most of all the fun!

How do you find commuting every day by bike

Having never owned a car, and always lived within biking/public transport distance to work, it's just somethign you get used to, like being stuck in traffic jams. There are very few days when choosing the bus is seen as more pleasurable than going for a ride, but it is occasionally the better option. It does remind me why I prefer to ride!

OtherHalf has an electric, but I'd never use it, way way way too heavy and unresponsive. Horses for courses though, and more recent electrics are getting better.

 

[clarion]

I've been without a car since January last year. Great decision. I'd have done it sooner, but I needed to pay off the finance.

But I did get to 30 without feeling the need to have a driving licence, so I know a bit about alternatives. Shame that I barely rode a bike for the ten years following getting my first car. Still shedding the excess from that time...

 

[MickL]

Car free family, have been now for over 3 years. Wife doesn't drive so when my last car got written of decided no point spending cash on car as we were due to move into a new house and get married, plus we live close to the family and town centre and bus stop out side the house and another 2 min walk away. I used to commute via bike and train to last job (18miles away) and my new job is only 10miles away I use the bus for my none cycling days as Im getting used to the hills between Dudley and Brum .

 

[Sara_H]

I've been carless since December, though like others have said OH still has a car that I can use occasionally.

I love the freedom of not running a car, and I did scoff a bit at all those in the petrol queues recently!

 

[Glow worm]

The MOT has just run out on mine and I've decided get rid of it as well. I've had it for 13 years and done less mileage each year- down to just 600 miles last year- so just not worth the effort really. I haven't even bothered to lock it for 5 years. I had it valued - it's worth the grand sum of £105! So when it's full of deisel- it almost doubles its price!

 

[TonyEnjoyD]

if i needed the car that badly the wife can always win the mother in law

Surely there's better competitions to enter

 

[MattHB]

Well done! I did the same, although a motorbike in January and haven't missed it at all