Love this! I live in Hollywood with no car… I get lots of questions every day about it! I’m much happier using my own two legs to get around. Drivers in Los Angeles are miserable. They spending years of their lives in their car. They are late wherever they go. Public transit is the future for North America!
North Hollywood is very walkable, so is central Hollywood and East Hollywood thru downtown… There’s great public transit around Hollywood and downtown LA as well. Great public park land too in Griffith Park as well within walking distance. Can’t say the same for the rest of LA, but its very livable and walkable for me.
I love this so much—I also think driving isn't for me and hope to live car-free too! And as you've listed, the benefits are just manifold; from sustainability to mental and physical health, it just feels better all around.
I didn't know much a out Taoism, but to "observe and flow with the natural course of life" seems like a really good tenet, and I suppose also partly why going car-free feels go good!
Thank you for this! Towards the end of your post, I found myself in an an exquisitely relaxed flow, imagining the freedom of giving up that huge hunk of metal. I live in the country in northern New Mexico, and I rarely venture into the city, so driving is becoming less frequent. Again, love your Taoist approach to life.
We are down to one car as an empty-nester family, and I spent two years taking the bus to work, until the city decided to re-route the bus I took to work. Don't know how I'm going to handle that in the fall.
Totally with you on the benefits of car-free living. I've never owned a car, although I occasionally rent an electric car. We mostly walk or cycle, sometimes take buses, trains or planes. My children grew up without a car and never had any problem getting anywhere. They also arrived at school ready to work after a 7km ride.
We are currently in Ljubljana, Slovenia. Previously in Belgrade, Serbia and before that Phnom Penh, Cambodia. So my children have grown up with bicycles, tuk-tuks, and cyclos! I just wrote an article about it in Medium.
I imagine being car free in the States is more unusual and regarded as even stranger than in Europe. In the UK it’s fairly common in London, but not elsewhere.
With children who are at that age when they need to be transported to activities, this isn’t doable for us now. But I dream of the time when I can go carless forever.
I just went the other direction and got a vehicle. I'm going to post about it soon, but I find that Nebraska is pretty hard to navigate without a car. When I lived in places with better public transport I used that. I find that further away from people vehicles give you freedom but as you move toward people and into cities that freedom becomes curtailed right quick.
When I lived in China for a few years I loved not having a car or any bills to care for in general. Part of my wages involved housing and utilities. The simplicity of life was a blessing. Very peaceful. However with MS walking distances is harder now. Enjoyed hearing your experiences.
I love how you related going car-free to the harmony of the Tao. I would love to do the same but I live in a semi-rural area so it's not possible at this point in my life.
💯I’m American but I worked in 13 countries. Singapore, Malaysia, Denmark, Switzerland….I never had a car. I took public transport or rode my bicycle. As soon as I finish my cancer treatments in May 2025, I’m returning overseas and finding my public transport happy place. keep riding, Tao!
Love this! I live in Hollywood with no car… I get lots of questions every day about it! I’m much happier using my own two legs to get around. Drivers in Los Angeles are miserable. They spending years of their lives in their car. They are late wherever they go. Public transit is the future for North America!
A friend of mine lived in North Hollywood. I loved walking in that area when I’d come to visit her.
North Hollywood is very walkable, so is central Hollywood and East Hollywood thru downtown… There’s great public transit around Hollywood and downtown LA as well. Great public park land too in Griffith Park as well within walking distance. Can’t say the same for the rest of LA, but its very livable and walkable for me.
I love this so much—I also think driving isn't for me and hope to live car-free too! And as you've listed, the benefits are just manifold; from sustainability to mental and physical health, it just feels better all around.
I didn't know much a out Taoism, but to "observe and flow with the natural course of life" seems like a really good tenet, and I suppose also partly why going car-free feels go good!
Great to hear that you are equally immersed in a car-free lifestyle. Stay in the flow my friend.
Thank you for this! Towards the end of your post, I found myself in an an exquisitely relaxed flow, imagining the freedom of giving up that huge hunk of metal. I live in the country in northern New Mexico, and I rarely venture into the city, so driving is becoming less frequent. Again, love your Taoist approach to life.
Glad it resonated with you
Thank you Anne.
Lived in Abiquiu and Santa Fe in the 90's. It's a beautiful part of the world. Glad that you don't have to drive too much!
Ahh yes, New Mexico, the “Land of Enchantment.”
We are down to one car as an empty-nester family, and I spent two years taking the bus to work, until the city decided to re-route the bus I took to work. Don't know how I'm going to handle that in the fall.
Totally with you on the benefits of car-free living. I've never owned a car, although I occasionally rent an electric car. We mostly walk or cycle, sometimes take buses, trains or planes. My children grew up without a car and never had any problem getting anywhere. They also arrived at school ready to work after a 7km ride.
Very cool, Lisa. So where are you geographically located?
We are currently in Ljubljana, Slovenia. Previously in Belgrade, Serbia and before that Phnom Penh, Cambodia. So my children have grown up with bicycles, tuk-tuks, and cyclos! I just wrote an article about it in Medium.
I imagine being car free in the States is more unusual and regarded as even stranger than in Europe. In the UK it’s fairly common in London, but not elsewhere.
Yup, I am often seen as a bit of a one eyed cyclops here in the states, akin to walking barefoot through life. 😂
Me and you both💯❤️
With children who are at that age when they need to be transported to activities, this isn’t doable for us now. But I dream of the time when I can go carless forever.
I’ve enjoyed every minute of it.
As much as possible when I only have myself to transport, I walk. I prefer it so much.
I just went the other direction and got a vehicle. I'm going to post about it soon, but I find that Nebraska is pretty hard to navigate without a car. When I lived in places with better public transport I used that. I find that further away from people vehicles give you freedom but as you move toward people and into cities that freedom becomes curtailed right quick.
Makes sense for sure
When I lived in China for a few years I loved not having a car or any bills to care for in general. Part of my wages involved housing and utilities. The simplicity of life was a blessing. Very peaceful. However with MS walking distances is harder now. Enjoyed hearing your experiences.
I love how you related going car-free to the harmony of the Tao. I would love to do the same but I live in a semi-rural area so it's not possible at this point in my life.
💯I’m American but I worked in 13 countries. Singapore, Malaysia, Denmark, Switzerland….I never had a car. I took public transport or rode my bicycle. As soon as I finish my cancer treatments in May 2025, I’m returning overseas and finding my public transport happy place. keep riding, Tao!
Nicely said my friend. Nicely said