Of the families I talked to recently who have chosen to be in a one-car relationship or have given up on owning a car entirely, the main insight I walked away with is this: They feel liberated by their lifestyle, even though some sacrifices are in order.
They recognize that going car-lite is not for everyone or even a choice. But at a time when gas prices are soaring and more people are concerned about their carbon footprint, these devotees believe they’ve found the right path.
Just ask Mark Bishop, a Logan Square resident who gave up his car about 10 years ago when he and his then-girlfriend, now his wife, decided to move in together. He said their goal was to simplify their lives, save money and be more environmentally responsible. They’re thrilled with their choice.
Bishop’s wife, Jill Bishop, owns a translation agency and language school, and he works for the nonprofit Healthy Schools Campaign.
“There are lots of times when Jill’s job pulls her in one direction and she needs the car,” said Bishop, “or I may have a meeting on the South Side, and one of us either has to get a cab for a day, or we ask a friend to help us with carpooling, or we come up with other arrangements, such as public transportation. Nothing is insurmountable.
“I could take cabs far more often and still come out ahead financially.”
He estimated that his family saves about $8,500 a year and is closer to their neighbors, many of whom are in a similar situation and don’t mind carpooling. The Bishops have a 2009 clean-diesel Volkswagen TDI, big enough to cart around their 5-year-old son and two neighbor kids.
“We’re all concerned about not contributing to urban sprawl,” he said. “But we also don’t want to be sitting in the car all the time.”
Moyra and Mark Jones, who have children ages 11, 5 and 2, have lived in south suburban Blue Island for nine years. The couple have been a one-car family for much of their 18-year marriage.
The couple are accustomed to juggling schedules — sometimes one kid’s band practice overlaps with another’s parent-teacher meeting — and enlisting the aid of family members when the family’s 2010 Toyota Sienna minivan isn’t enough.
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Moyra Jones said they have one vehicle because it makes sound financial sense. But they’re fortunate to live within walking distance of the grocery, library, park, Metra station — and hairdresser.
“I’ve found that you tend to drive more when you have two vehicles,” said Jones, a stay-at-home mom. Her husband is a college professor. “I have the car three days (during the workweek), and I tend to plan my days more carefully, rather than make a bunch of short trips.”
Jones said she grew up in Scotland, where her family either walked or used public transportation.
“For me, having a car still is more of a luxury,” she said. “Maybe for people who grew up in America, it’s a harder mental leap to have just one.”
Not for Gin Kilgore. She and her husband, Michael Burton, are among the founders of Bike Winter, a campaign on behalf of year-round cycling. Kilgore has never owned a car, and Burton got rid of his “beater” shortly after they met. Both are avid cyclists and advocates of active transportation, which promotes walking, riding a bike or using public transportation to get from place to place.
Kilgore said she and her husband recently decided to pull their 4 1/2-year-old son out of a much-beloved school because it’s too far from their Logan Square home.
“It’s an amazing school, but it’s 3 1/2 miles away by bike or two bus rides,” said Kilgore. “Our son isn’t physically active while he’s riding with us. I want him (eventually) to be able to walk or bike to school.”
She said she’s not anti-car, but she loves the exercise cycling offers, and her family has become skilled at living without a car. The couple once hitched a trailer to their bikes and moved a washing machine and dryer.
Kilgore said that families considering changing their car habits should understand it may take time to get used to the new terrain. It helps to have a support system of family and friends. She also recommends the Chicago-based Active Transportation Alliance and keeping the number of a nearby cab or car-sharing company.
Steven and Kim Matthews and their two children, ages 6 and 3 1/2, live in the Bronzeville neighborhood. They became a one-car family early this year when they decided not to use their second car.
The Matthewses bought a 2011 Volvo, and one of the perks is that their maintenance costs are covered for five years. They also don’t have a car note.
“My wife will pick up the kids and take our son to (his magnet) school (on the North Side), and if I have a downtown meeting, I opt for public transportation,” said Steven Matthews, who owns a technology support business.
“I can get downtown, from door to door, in about 15 minutes and don’t have to pay for parking or gas or worry about parking tickets. We live where we don’t feel stranded if the other person has the car and is running errands.”
Matthews said the family has become more conscious of coordinating schedules.
“We stay in contact,” he said. “We say, ‘Don’t forget to pick up this, or that.’ It makes you plan ahead and work smarter, not harder.”