The car-free lifestyle

[johnridley]

Just random typing here.

I was reading another journal and I got to thinking; there are people who push the car-free lifestyle as the ultimate in environmentalism. I haven't given it much thought, but a few things occurred to me while answering a post today.

The problem with being car-free is that it pretty much guarantees that you're almost strictly a consumer. One of the reasons I need a car because I like to make things and do my own work, and it's hard to get a dozen sheets of drywall, a few hundred 2x4s, a yard of gravel or a few dozen trees, on a bike or a bus. You can get all of that delivered, but that's just paying someone else to do your polluting for you.

I think in some respects there's a collision between trying to be more self-sufficient (less of a consumer) and being car-free.

Short of living in the woods and growing all your own food, zero-impact is IMHO a pipe dream. Even Amish and rainforest natives make an impact. Reducing car use and driving the smallest practical car for you makes sense and does good, but eliminating a car altogether, for those living in the US, has its own social and environmental downsides.

Comments

[backrubbear.livejournal.com]

A lot of it comes down to people density. Owning a truck in New York City is crazy. Owning one when there's no such thing as public transportation and stores scoff at the idea of delivery is necessary.