Ask HN: thinking of selling my car and biking full time??

2 points·gamechangr··6 comments

Anyone made the switch??? Did you feel trapped without a car?

I'ld love to hear from those who have made biking a lifestyle?

Yup! I usually try to lump my "need a car" tasks together and get a car for a weekend from Enterprise. Here in Seattle, they have ongoing weekend specials during fall/winter for $30+tax ($36.20 altogether) for Friday-Monday (72 hours). I actually maintain regular auto-insurance, so I'm not stuck paying expensive rental-car company insurance.

It depends on where you live. In Manhattan, I did not feel trapped. In Minnesota, where I am now, I do indeed feel trapped.

I live on an Island in the middle of the South Pacific (called Vanuatu), but I'm heading back the US soon.

Good point though...location would matter a lot.

Get one of the car share services, zipcar/carshare. Then mentally do the jump and stop worrying about the per minute / per hour costs. It really is about the same costs as owning a car or cheaper. Use the zipcar when you need it, and bike the rest of the time.

I like to avoid the either/or option... That would be a great way to redefine the problem. Thxs!

I should add that in the last year, I've started to bike to and from work....maybe only 15-20 miles a day.

I love the quality of life....just not sure I could live without options!

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