One Car Family

Sometimes, I must admit, having only one car is a royal pain in the butt.  I fear that my friends are probably sick of me bumming a ride to get to book-club or a party when my husband's got the car with the boys.  I get tired of having to work our weekend schedule around our transportation needs.  I'm sometimes annoyed when I have to ride my bike.  I get crabby when I have to delay or cancel plans because I have no wheels.

We've been a 1 car family for about 3 years now.  My husband works in downtown Minneapolis and he either rides his bike or takes the bus to work every day - he's the real eco-super-hero around here!!  After he started riding his bike we hardly ever used our second car.  Our poor VW Jetta was ignored for so long that it wouldn't start when we finally tried to use it.  That's when we realized that we really didn't NEED two cars, it was just a habit we had fallen into.

At first I was convinced that we would need to use a car sharing program like ZipCar but we decided to hold off on getting a membership until we had seen what living with one car was really like.  Surprisingly, we found that we didn't need a second car very often at all.  Granted, we do have to plunk down money for rental cars when one of us needs to go somewhere for the weekend.  And we even take the occasional cab when we run into a jam.

What happened was that having one car forced us to get creative.   As much as I might complain about having to ask for rides and change my plans, it really isn't that big of a deal most of the time.

Are you a one car family or do you think that you could be?  If not, what's holding you back?

{Ironically, at the time of this post, we are a 2 car family.  We just bought a new (used, but new for us) Toyota Highlander to replace our beat-up old Honda minivan.  Would have loved to have bought a hybrid Highlander but we are just not willing to spend that much money on a car!  We won't have 2 cars for long though. We'll be getting rid of the Honda after a few trips to get mulch and possibly some building supplies (we've got a big project up our sleeves!)...and then we'll be back to the status quo....as a one car family!}

This is my post for the Green Moms Carnival, which is all about transportation this month.  Diane at Big Green Purse is hosting.  Visit her blog starting Monday, May 10th for a great round-up of posts about everything from the oil spill to using mass transit to biking to.....

Comments

[graceonline]

We gave away one of our cars twelve or thirteen years ago when we moved to a small town. We could walk nearly everywhere we needed to go. It was a huge step, and we were happily surprised to discover we never missed the car a moment. Nor did we miss the insurance, fuel and maintenance bills.

We knew that to live without a car, though, we would have to move to a city with excellent public transportation, and a few years later, that's exactly what we did. We sold our second, and then only, car and signed up for City CarShare. We may drive a City CarShare once or twice a month. It's not at all uncommon to go four or five months without renting one.

Our dream is to live, work and shop in a community where motorized vehicles were virtually unnecessary.

Re bumming rides from your friends--are they willing to let you pay for gas on those trips? And are they interested in carpooling to save carbon emissions? I would hope they would be keen on the idea of ride sharing, especially when sharing a destination.

[Kathleen McDade]

We've always been a one-car family, although we haven't always both worked. Now I bike to work, and my husband drives. Occasionally we run into a transportation conflict, but as you said, we just have to get creative. For instance, a week from Saturday my husband is going to a conference and has to drive, and my daughter has a softball game. I'm planning to find her a ride with someone else on the team (not so uncommon a few years ago). And then we may ride a bus to go to a family gathering.

[stephanie]

We are a one car family. We briefly had two cars again last year after about 2 years with one car, and we really could see no reason for it. My husband rides his bike to work, he occasionally needs the car, but it isn't too hard for us right now. Maybe when our kids are older and doing more activities.

[Ashley]

We use to be a three-car family, but I sold my truck when I got a job that is literally blocks from home. That left us with a vehicle for transporting Grandma (has a wheelchair lift) and one for everything else.

In the last month, we realized that we really need a handicap van (and will pick it up in the next week... maybe tomorrow). At the same time, Grandpa's car (the one for "everything else") is on it's last lung. I gave up the "everything" car an opted to bike 6 days a week. Right now, we're realistically using only one vechicle, and since the van will only be used when grams goes somewhere (rare, outside of Doctor's visits...and I love trip-linking on those visits since they do take me into town) I'm expecting that we'll maintain the single-car habits.

We'll see.

[Shanna]

We are a two-car family, because there is no practical way for my husband to get to work (30 mile reverse commute) without driving. I don't drive most days - groceries and most errands are on foot (even when there is a lot to lug around); we can walk to preschool, parks, and friends' houses, and take public transit downtown. However, once in a while I want to go a little farther away, or we want to go someplace that is rather inconvenient by public transit (10 minute drive to the museum vs. 60 minutes on two subways + walking with two three-year-olds?). Yes, ZipCar *could* work for that, but: (1) we already have two cars (from when my husband and I both had long reverse commutes); and (2) getting the kids + car seats to a ZipCar location, installing carseats, and then doing the reverse when we are done? not my idea of a good time.

Maybe when the older car dies we will live with only one car.

[Tina]

We are thinking about becoming a one car family. We've run into the same issues with our parked car (not starting when we finally get around to using it). We know we don't need two vehicles. It's the worry over 'emergency' situations that keeps us in the two vehicle category. Thanks for posting your thoughts on this; it was good to read your perspective.

[Kat]

We would really like to be a one-car family, but it is hard when you live in the suburbs and both work. My husband and I work virtually opposite shifts (I work during the week, he works weekends), but still for the person at home it is hard to run errands or do anything else without having access to a car. We really want to move to the city so that we can bike, walk, and ride public transportation more. If we move to the city I think we could be a one-car family. Hopefully someday we will be able to be. Thanks for sharing your experience with us.

[Micaela]

Thanks everyone for sharing your thoughts on living with one car. It's different for everyone and I totally understand how some people just can't do it. If my husband didn't work downtown, we couldn't do it either.

Kathleen - I think it's great that you go places on the bus. I used to use the bus A LOT before I had a family but now I hardly ever do...I often forget that's its an option. We have light rail here too - only it's not very convenient from our house.

Graceonline - yes my friends totally believe in carpooling - it's just my own hangup about asking for favors. :)

[Beate]

We are a 2/3 car household since I share my care with another mom. I am working from home and can walk or bike to daycare, do most of my grocery and errands by foot or bike and can take public transportation to go to the city. So it's relatively easy.

It bothered me immensely that my car was sitting in the parking lot for so many days and not being used. And I was very happy when I found a friend who didn't have a car and wanted to share one.

Having said that, I still hesitate for a second when my friend asks to have the car for the weekend. It's strange, but I still associate freedom and spontaneity with having a car and feel a little "stuck" without it.

[Lynn from OrganicMania]

I loved this post! I remember when I was growing up, it seemed EVERYONE was a one car family.

In the cities, I think it is still fairly common to have one car or no car, but once you hit the burbs everything changes.

Reading through the comments here and on some other posts, I think it's important to remember that when we talk about the choices each of us makes, we're just sharing what works for us. I love reading these posts, they inspire me and give me new ideas, even if it's something I can't implement. (We're a two car family).

I think if ALL of us just picked up ONE or TWO new habits a year it would collectively have a huge impact on the planet. We don't need to do everything, but it is fun to learn about others' tips and to cheer them on.

Go Micaela, go!

And tell your DH I said he was a Green Super Eco Hero All Around Good Guy!

[Micaela]

Lynn - We were a one-car family growing up and to this day my parents have always only had one car!! My Dad biked/bused down to the University where he was a professor. He had a reputation as the nutty professor on the gold Schwinn bike! I think it was more of a money-saving thing than an environmental one but it sure set a good example.

[Jana @ The Summer House]

I would love to be a one car family but we have 4 drivers now so I have a few more years before we can make this work.
Jana

[graceonline]

I understand that hangup--asking for favors. Our culture programs us to live independently, in separate houses--a car for every driver in the household, a lawnmower used once a week for a few months, other tools used infrequently, yet every household must have their own set.

It is easy to feel we are not taking care of ourselves and our family properly if we make choices that necessitate relying on others in any fashion at all.

I can't help wondering how important to the future might it be to change this paradigm? To our children's future. How can we--the current subculture of individuals making conscious choices to live more sustainably--work together to promote a more interdependent culture? (Considering how centralized our food manufacture and distribution are, one might argue we are extremely interdependent, but that's another issue.)

What would it take to get started? Discussion among our like-minded peers? Setting up some kind of carpooling schedule, the way we used to set up child-care co-ops, perhaps? (Does anyone do that today?) How can we develop more trusting, mutually beneficial relationship that help us all live better with less and overcome our feelings of insecurity about reliance on community?

[Automobile Transport]

It sounds nice to be able to have a single car but it just isn't prudent in the area where I live. The public transportation just isn't very good.

[Reese]

I'm considering bringing up the idea of being a one car family to my husband. He is about to sell his car to a friend and buy another, but I know my car is on its last leg so maybe we should sell it too while we can.

Being a one car family wouldn't be much of a change for us, seeing as I'm not working right now and stay home most of the time he's at work anyway. If there were a day when I knew I needed the car I could always drive him to work or he could bike.

[Jen]

We too have one car, and I agree with everything that you said. Yes, it is a nuisance, but in all honesty, it really isn't so bad.
It had a trickle effect, and has forced me to look at all aspects of my life differently.

[mg@michellegold.com]

WOW! Thank you so much. REading this and all the comments was so helpful.

We share one car and live in TN- in the backroads- no buses or trains for miles and no sidewalks either. Forget the bike and dont even think of walking. LOL!

Since I work at home and am a full time Mom, for now this works for us. My husband brings the car home at lunch, I drive him back, take the car and pick him up by 4. (He starts work at 7am) It's a short time span and we miss nap time but it's only 2 days.
It's perfect.

The thing I HATE that I must kvetch about is this. I cannot attend any playgroups with other Moms and kids unless I give up my 2 days at the Gym. And I am just too dedicated to my health to do that. It breaks my heart but I recently decided that the friends I make have to be willing to come to my house.

Sad thing is, a lot of my friends have complained about coming over even though I am only 25 min. away and will make them lunch. Some People can be so cold. what are you gonna do. Maybe they were never real friends in the first place.

michelle

[Micaela]

Hi Michelle - Wow I'm really impressed with how you make the one-car thing work for your family. And I know what you mean about not giving up your days at the gym. Exercise is a big priority for me too. Could you meet up with a friend at the gym or right afterwards?

[Patrick Gauer]

Most families love being a one-car family. Having just one car helps you save money while being eco-friendly. It also makes you closer as a family. Me and my wife recently decided to have one car after so many years of having two cars. And I can say that it's really fun!