Can you get by with just one car?
MSN Money mentions Seattle in an article about reducing cars per household. An interesting read. Here is the relevant portion:
Local governments around the country are encouraging residents to ditch their unneeded vehicles. Arlington, Va., Denver and Dayton, Ohio, are all starting programs designed to take cars off their roads. Under Seattle’s “One Less Car Challenge,” residents who successfully go on a monthlong car diet get discounted memberships to bicycle clubs and — for those who actually get rid of a vehicle — up to $600 in credit to a car-sharing program.
Metblogs author Patricia posted about the “One Less Car Challenge“. If you’re interested in saving an average $8,580 per year (or $715 (average) for the month), check it out. It’s not too late.
Zipcar
Metro
Sound Transit
Rideshare
Related posts:
My husband and I subsist on a single car pretty easily in Seattle. We both bus to and from work (or I walk, if I’m feeling extra-energetic), and really only use the car for groceries and weekend excursions. And picking up our CSA. Hmm… but anyway, I’m pretty happy about the money we’re saving in gas, and have considered going completely carless… though I think that would be a bit too difficult. Maybe someday, though :)
You know, we did one car for a long time. It caused a lot of conflict for us. On a Saturday, when husband worked and I did not, I’d be stuck at home all day with two small toddlers and no car (the entire summer of 2006 for example). Unless I woke up the kids at 5am to drive him to work, and then skipped their nap so I could pick him up.
It was causing so much conflict for us, schedule and marriage-wise, that we got a second car. We live in Mountlake Terrace. Seattle, with closer shopping and better bus systems, would be a little easier. Carting around little kids changes the game a bit, too.
So if you haven’t figured it out by now, we’ll be keeping our second car. :)
Seriously, Seattle will pay you to get rid of your car? Do I get a cookie for never having one to begin with?
I wish!