How the Car Keeps Americans Apart
Anecdotally, I always loved having a car and the sense of independence and freedom that came with it. Then at the age of 25, I moved out of the country to a small, walkable town in Latin America where I either walked, drove my scooter, or took motorcycle taxis everywhere. After two years of living there, I moved back to the US, bought a Jeep, and was super excited to have the autonomy and ability to travel between cities easily in a day. I didn't have a commute at the time, so I never really had to drive in traffic. A year later, I ditched my car again and spent a whole year traveling around the world. I got around by walking and taking trains and taxis. By the time I got back to the US, I hated driving. It felt so isolating and boring. Then I got a job where I had to commute for an hour and a half a day in heavy traffic. It was one of the most miserable periods of my life. I started resenting having to drive anywhere. I started resenting places that weren't walkable. I started resenting how roads designed for cars break up and eliminate public space. Finally, two months ago I sold my car and committed to a car-free lifestyle, probably for life. It's completely changed how I do things; I spend more time out of the house, I spend more time socializing, and of course, I walk more. I went from walking less than a mile a day to walking an average of five miles a day. I'm much happier with this lifestyle, and I hope I'm never forced to go back.