If You Could Save $900/Month*, Would You Adopt a Car-Free Lifestyle?
We asked several in the Stanford community who’ve made a personal choice to live without a car, how in the world do you survive? Turns out the answer is ‘pretty easy’ with a dollop of joy.
Director of Equity & Inclusion
How long have you been car-free?
6 years. Donated my car and made a conscious decision to live near public transit.
What’s your commute/how do you get to SWRC?
Walk, Caltrain using my Go Pass (free to eligible employees), Marguerite Shuttle.
What’s the best thing about not owning a car?
Lots of joy. It’s great for the environment and I feel free without the financial burden. No parking hassles, or getting up early to move my car for street sweepers.
Biggest challenge?
Nothing!
What’s a memorable trip and how did you pull it off?
Our family rented an Airbnb in Sacramento for my parents’ 46th wedding anniversary. I caught a lift up with Mom and Dad who stayed on to celebrate. So, I negotiated a return ride home from my sister in exchange for free childcare. Her kids got to spend the weekend with their #1 Auntie.
Zero Waste Communications Specialist
How long have you been car-free?
4-5 years
What’s your commute/how do you get to work?
I take Caltrain everyday from San Mateo, then ride my bike to SRWC or main campus.
What’s the best thing about not owning a car?
Cutting down on carbon emissions, feeling connected to the community/planet while biking and walking (as opposed to zoning out from inside a car.)
Biggest challenge?
Getting to the ocean. It’s expensive to take a Lyft and the bus takes two hours.
What’s a memorable trip and how did you pull it off?
Golden Gate Park is a favorite destination but getting there consists of lots of transfers (Caltrain -> BART -> Muni).
The upside is that after I arrive, I tend to stay for 5-6 hours, and having a bike helps me skip some of the last stops.
Assistant Director of Active Mobility
How long have you been car-free?
25+ years! I was inspired while backpacking in the car-free
city of Zermatt, Switzerland where folks get around on foot, mountain bike, and horse-drawn carriage.
What’s your commute/how do you get to work?
By bike of course!
What’s the best thing about not owning a car?
The pace of life slows down, you have to make time to ride to work and “smell the roses,” witness nature, move by your own power, and inspire others to just “try it.”
Biggest challenge?
Rain and distracted drivers.
What’s a memorable trip and how did you pull it off?
When I worked for Specialized Bicycles in Morgan Hill, I rode a few times the entire way from my home in Palo Alto at the time– 43+ miles. I rode along Santa Teresa. The farmers, who were harvesting lettuce in the fields at dawn, waved and cheered. I felt like a superhero.
