By Jacob Stevens Corvidae
Car: an incredibly convenient and useful machine that also creates a lot of pollution while burning more fossil fuels to move the car itself than the people inside; made up of materials that will spend much more of their existence in disuse than in use, causing storage and waste problems.
This seems like a reasonable starting definition for our purposes here. So how can folks get around without getting caught up in the problems of the car? It's no news that walking, biking, and public transportation are potential alternatives. And hopefully everyone's familiar with the fact that Dancing Rabbit has a vehicle co-op to meet its car needs. Knowing about these ideas is one thing, but enacting them in your life is quite another leap to be made. So here are some thoughts on the whole topic for the car-owners out there.
I think there are really two key factors that make car-free or car-diminished living easiest to achieve: location and social support. I've certainly seen people live happily without cars without helpful conditions in either factor, but not all of us are Grizzly Adams and every bit helps, right?
Location
Where you live and work can make or break attempts to go car-free, depending on what methods you're interested in. Many places don't have easy access to public transportation. Find out what's the possibilities are close to you. Fortunately, even those places that don't have regular bus or train lines often have a more flexible bus service, designed for the elderly or people with disabilities, but open to anyone.
Even if you're not near public transportation, you may be able to make a big change by biking or walking to more businesses in your neighborhood. If this doesn't feel like an option, try to take these factors into consideration next time you move (a longer term vision, but worth it).
Social Support
I've said it before and I'll say it again: making changes in your life to become more eco-friendly is easier if you know other people who'll support those changes. Talk with your friends about your ideas and see what they say. I've often been surprised at how much enthusiasm I've gotten from friends to whom I was hesitant to mention my "wacky" ideas. You can also seek out local clubs of relevant interests. There are lots of resources on the web or from other community groups--like churches, walkable communities activists, and biking and public transportation supporters.
Games for making the switch
With or without those two factors in place, I personally find it easier to make such transitions when you can create some structure around the transition or turn it into a game. Here are some ideas for games you can play to inspire yourself. Use whatever will work for you, or make up your own!
List the enjoyables: It's not all about avoiding personal cars--many great things make other options more enjoyable, from the social contact you get on the train or bus; being outdoors more; saving money on repairs, gas, and insurance; feeling good about helping public transit and about fume-reduced transportation; and the health benefits of exercising more. Try to list as many items as you can. For the truly inspired, try to turn your favorites into a song or chant that you can use to boost your resolve when you're tired in the morning or when it's cold outside.
Choose concrete goals: Make a goal. Make it whatever you want, but it should be specific and achievable. Then, stick to it. For example, you could limit yourself to only using one tank of gas a week, to help push yourself to use other modes of transportation. The great thing about this game is that it also gives you a nice reportable amount that you can tell people about, "Hey, I've managed to cut down my gasoline use to only a tank a week--sometimes less!" It also can give you a way to chart your own improvement over time. For example, you might work hard to cut down to one tank a week. That's great! Then, when you're ready you can try to work toward one tank every two weeks, then three and maybe you'd be able to eventually get to just one tank a month. Talk about impressing your friends...
Also remember it doesn't have to be all or nothing. Don't berate yourself if you don't make a goal the first time --any changes you can make are a great success. And remember that it's a slippery slope sometimes, which is why concrete goals can be a really helpful measure, even if just to tell you that you're setting your goals too high at the beginning.
Get the right gear: Envision yourself as an exciting adventurer, using your alternate transportation of choice. Are there certain fashions or accoutrements that this dashing figure has? If so, get them! Make that beautiful scarf or funky hat or rugged boots or radio headset a present to yourself for taking this step--then use it as a reminder and treat to yourself every time you decide to take the bus, or bike, or whatever. This can be a case of feeling good about yourself, which is always helpful. And as long as you're being good to yourself, make sure you have the right equipment for the job. A small investment in the right equipment, like headlights and comfortable biking clothing, can repay itself many times over.
Buy a pass: If you're considering public transportation, buy a monthly pass and then use it as much as possible. I find that when I buy a pass, it totally changes my mental attitude toward riding the bus or train. The money's already spent, right? So use it all the time and you're getting a good deal. It feels fun and easy to just hop on and hop off whenever you want, without having to think about transfers and exact change.
Play Doubles: Find a walking/biking/public transit buddy. Better than the haphazard approach of just finding someone to go with you whenever you can (which is still good), I think of getting a Buddy as actually having a commitment with someone to travel together. This is a great way to expand a friendship and make your commute more enjoyable. Highly recommended.
I wish you good luck in your quest. If you have other ideas for games let me know (jacob@ic.org or c/o Dancing Rabbit). Have fun gettin' around!
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