Roadguy: When you're a Roadguy, going carless isn't easy

A whole day without driving? Having your own personal No-Car Day can be a challenge.

By Jim Foti, Star Tribune

Last update: October 27, 2007 - 6:15 PM

Roadguy loves his car and enjoys driving, especially on any highway that's free-flowing. But he also knows that driving has costs, both personal and global, so sometimes he challenges himself to have a No-Car Day.

This is something of a luxurious game -- plenty of people around the world observe No-Car Day every day, whether they want to or not. But if the state of Minnesota is successful in its recently announced effort to reduce driving, even more people will be leaving their cars at home.

I can tell you that it's not always easy.

Back when I had only a part-time job, I aimed to have one No-Car Day per week. Under my (completely made-up) rules, I'm allowed to ride in other people's cars on No-Car Day, which helps keep one's social life afloat and allows one to run errands with friends.

Sometimes, though, I'd realize that if I wanted to meet my once-a-week goal, I was going to have to buck up and bike or walk through whatever weather was being dished out. You'd think Mother Nature wouldn't drop sleet on someone whose carbon-friendly behavior might save part of a glacier, but sometimes she does.

My most memorable No-Car Day moments have occurred while trying to do grocery shopping via bicycle. I'll plan to buy just enough food to hang a bag from the handlebars, but invariably some item will be on sale, and I'll end up with the top of a pineapple poking out of my backpack or a poorly placed bag of groceries swinging painfully into me.

(Cycling devotees have assured me that there are devices that one can attach to one's bicycle to carry just about anything, but I'm not sure the cost-benefit analysis would work in my favor.)

Since my return to full-time employment, No-Car Day hasn't happened nearly as often. My job sometimes requires me to drive during my workday, and all kinds of errands are crammed into much-busier weekends. Sometimes I miss the slower, healthier pace -- just the other day, I came out of the gym and looked over at the bike rack, expecting to have a pleasant spin home. Wrong! I'd driven my car.

Still, every now and then, a leisurely Sunday comes along, and I realize there's enough food in the fridge and plenty to do around the house, and the car gets to stay indoors all day, just like old times.

Your turn

If you're a vehicle owner who has had some success in reducing your driving (or a driver who plans no such efforts), send an e-mail to roadguy@startribune.com and I'll publish some comments next week.

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