Archive for September, 2007
The Unexpected Joys of Car-free Living
This piece originally ran in the 2007 Sustainable Ballard Festival “Fishwrapper” - one of the “local hero” stories about Ballard residents taking steps to live more sustainably.
Ask Todd Gentry what inspired him to be an Undriver and he’ll reply, “It really wasn’t inspiration, it was survival!”
In 1998, Todd was living in Kirkland and had just leased a brand new Pontiac Grand Prix with an awesome stereo. He was feeling very cool until he had to pay the $300 monthly car payments, $150 monthly insurance, and gas. After a year, he realized he could not afford these fancy new wheels. Lucky for him, his parents were willing to take the new Grand Prix and the lease in exchange for their old 1990 Acura sedan.
In 2005, Todd moved to Ballard, and a year later, his old Acura broke down. Todd went to a mechanic to find out how much it would cost to fix it, and when the mechanic said $2,000, Todd realized he simply didn’t have the money to fix his beater or enough to invest in a new car. He donated the car and got a $500 tax write-off.
Todd was initially apprehensive at the thought of not having the freedom of his own wheels. But since moving to Ballard he had been riding his bike a lot for exercise and to visit friends, so he was comfortable with biking around the neighborhood. It was the downtown work commute that was intimidating: the traffic, the weather…no stereo!
Todd learned a lot about the tricks and tips of urban commuting from his Sustainable Ballard friends and neighbors. Friends gave him biking gear. He joined the Ballard in Motion program last year and received all sorts of goodies, including free bus tickets.
Today Todd has realized a whole new world of the joys and benefits of not owning a car. He has a minimal carbon footprint, is nearly out of debt, has less driving stress, has gained 10 lbs of muscle, bonded with his neighbors, gotten free stuff—and has lots of funny stories to tell!
—ANN SCHEERER is Vice-President of Sustainable Ballard and an Undriver herself.
RESOURCES:
Transportation Choices
Bicycle Alliance
Ballard In Motion
Feet First
