Car-free by choice

Testing the limits of my Jeep Cherokee.

No, I am not immune to charismatic cars. I have had some really cool cars myself: a Chevrolet Blazer S10 was the first one, then a Jeep Cherokee and finally a Jaguar XJ with a 222 HP engine. I loved the cars and I enjoyed them!

But 2 years ago, I decided to become car-free by choice. It has improved the quality of my life.

-For the money that I save on gas, insurance, repairs, taxes, and parking and speeding tickets, I could buy a yearly ticket for the rail and bus system. I always found a car a terrible investment: Not only does it lose in value dramatically the minute you put the key in the ignition for the first time, but you also pay insurance and taxes for 24 hours and 365 days a year although you only use your car maybe 2 hours a day.

Caught speeding (a bit) with my Jaguar XJ.

-Although some journeys take longer, I lose less time because I can read newspapers, books or do some work during the journey. Or just sleep, which is still more productive than being stressed out in a traffic jam.

-I plan my trips better now. I don’t just drive to the supermarket for a pizza, but I plan what I need to purchase for the next few days. I don’t drive to the library to pick up a book, but I make a list and go once a week to pick up 5 or 10. Being without a car has made me much more time-efficient and organised.

-I walk more, so I am of course also much fitter. Also, you’d be surprised how many new things you discover in the area that you have been living in once you start walking.

-And finally, it’s a good excuse if somebody whom you don’t necessarily want to see (family, in-laws etc.) invites you for dinner: “Sorry, I don’t have a car, I can’t really make it.”

Just give it a try!