How to Live, Vacation, & Retire Car-Free
By Steve on Aug 10, 2008 in Steve's CARFREE JOURNEY | 0 Comments
August 2008 Are you excited about the idea of driving less, or perhaps even giving up your car? Then, you get scared and wonder, “Can I survive without my car?” How can I start small and ease into it? Where can I live without needing a car of my own?” In this column, we’ll explore [...]
By Steve on Aug 9, 2008 in Living Car Free | 2 Comments
Binghamton, Broome County New York Greater Binghamton offers all of the amenities of a large city, but with small town charm. The layout of cities and villages dotted throughout the County keep areas small enough to get to know your neighbors. Broome County has a very low crime rate, lots of affordable housing, its own [...]
By Steve on Jun 5, 2008 in Living Car Free, Your CarFree Success Stories | 1 Comment
Paul Cooley of Sante Fe New Mexico, writes in his blog about how his family transitioned to a Car Free family. This past May they celebrated their 4th year of being Car Free!! Congratulations Paul!! Hear about it in his owns words: “It’s our fourth carfree anniversary today. I had hoped to write a long [...]
By Steve on Jun 1, 2008 in Featured City, Living Car Free | 2 Comments
Portland, Maine is an old seacoast town. It is also a funky city filled with galleries, one-of-kind boutiques and shops, and incredible restaurants serving everything from New England clam chowder, lobster rolls and Maine seafood to nouvelle cuisine. Portland is home to major international law firms, import/export companies, and modern high-rise office buildings located in [...]
By Steve on Jun 1, 2008 in Domestic Car Free News | 0 Comments
Now, in communities across the country, a movement is growing to complete the streets. States, cities and towns are asking their planners, engineers and designers to build road networks that welcome all citizens. COMPLETE STREETS are designed and operated to enable safe access for all users. Pedestrians, bicyclists, motorists and bus riders of all ages [...]
Welcome to Car Free America’s Web Site..
Hi. I’m Steve Atlas, founder of CarFreeAmerica.org. I appreciate you visiting our web site. I hope you have viewed some of our city profiles—places with walkable neighborhoods where you can live without needing to depend on a car. If you haven’t already, look at our “gasoline price ticker” on the bottom left side of our home page. As you see the price of gas steadily increase (or temporarily decrease to under $4 a gallon), do you remember when gas cost less than $1 per gallon? Nearly every week, there is at least one newspaper article about how people are coping with the high cost of gasoline. Carpooling, selling large homes in communities far from public transportation, biking or using public transportation instead of driving—these are just a few ways people are changing the way they live. Reducing our dependency on a car doesn’t need to be a grim business—like taking an unpleasant medicine. Driving less can be fun. Walking, cycling, and using public transit can improve our health, and help us appreciate our neighborhood and community in a way that simply isn’t possible when you just drive past a neighborhood. If you take time to read some of the success stories on our web site, you will see how other people are improving their lives by driving less or not at all. Do you want to drive less, but don’t know how to get started? Write to us and we will try to provide some answers and tips? Are you looking for a new community or neighborhood where you won’t need to drive as much as you do now? Check out our city profiles for ideas. Are you planning a vacation where you can have a great time without needing to rent a car or buy gas? CarFreeAmerica.org will be developing a list of vacation ideas where driving isn’t necessary. Have you enjoyed a vacation where you didn’t need to drive? Do you live in a community or neighborhood that you would recommend to other people who don’t want to drive?. Write to me and tell me why you would recommend your neighborhood, community, or vacation location, and if we may use your name—or at least part of your name. Do you have tips or suggestions that could make it easier for others who don’t want to drive—not only where to live, but how to live (getting groceries, social life, getting to work, or anything else that is important to others who don’t want to be car dependent. Are you living now either without a car or with little or no need to drive? Tell us your success story, and what has worked for you. We may be able to include it in our success story section. You can E-mail your letters and comments to myself, Steve or to Doug my webmaster