If you could have a car at your disposal, whenever you really needed it, would you give up owning your own? I have thought so much about what type of community I would choose to live in upon leaving the greater Los Angeles megatropolis. One of the key ingredients for me is walkability. In my ideal world I could take Toddler L to school, go to my local farmers market for fresh produce, and if I’m really lucky make it to Trader Joe’s without anything other than my two feet.
Although how I would get everything I invariably buy home again is another matter.
But I’d like to think that between my own steam and some decent public transportation I could make it around my community for most of my needs. I think it’s unrealistic to imagine that a family with one (almost two) small children could do without any vehicles but if we could downsize to one I would be thrilled. (Hey all you Portlanders. You’re smart. You’re savvy. You’re often environmentally conscious. Would it work in your city? I’d love to know.)
I don’t know if my husband realized how seriously I consider this option when he sent me this article from the New York Times*. If I could live in a community with Zipcars or a similar car-share alternative I’d like to think I would become a member and gratefully, eagerly even, unload a few thousand pounds of steel from our lives.
After having read this article I can also say that my motives would be financial-relief, stress-relief and a sense of community in addition to any environmental benefit there may be. Sometimes being green is the side-effect and not the medication.
I’ll keep this post short because the article is long. But totally worth it. Please don’t be dismayed, it’s interesting stuff. I want you to read it.
Really, I do.
And I want to know what you think about the issue.
Have you ever used a car-share program? Can you let go of what we have been raised to believe is a symbol of our freedom to grasp what some say is the financial and responsibility freedom of non-ownership? Can you share your toys?
*You will need to register with NYTimes.com to read the entire article. I wish there was another way. I do. But I still say it’s totally worth it. C’mon it’s the New York Times.
