It Can Be Done!
Thoughts on Being Carless
in Southern California

Before I moved to San Diego for grad school in September 2006, I had many discussions with friends about whether or not I could continue being carless in SoCal. I did not want to buy a car, but most people said I would have to give in. Only one friend was adamant about staying true to my cyclist spirit and convinced me that, even if I had to ride on the highway, I should not buy a car because they're "just gross." I agreed, and thought of my time hitting the books as an experiment in reliance on pedaling and public transport.

After nine months in what to me is one of the most poorly planned, unnecessarily sprawled out cities in the United States, I'm happy to say that I survived without a car. And I've got the calf muscles to show for it.

What did I have to give up by not owning a car?

I gave up realizing the expansiveness of San Diego, which I was convinced was "too small" when what I meant was "too spread out." I also gave up aimless driving. I gave a car stereo. I gave up going to Asian restaurants on Convoy Street. I gave up being able to stay on campus past 9pm when the last shuttle leaves for the Hillcrest Medical Center 25 minutes south of UCSD.

What did I gain by giving up owning a car?

I gained friends from the shuttle. I got muscular biker's legs. I learned that cops will sometimes pull over cyclists when they jump the gun on a red light. I gained happiness confined to a 20 square mile area in a medium-density city. I saved enough money to fly as often as I needed, and erased some of the guilt of creating so much carbon to do so.

Labels: bicycle, bike, carless, cycling, san diego