Benefits of a car-free life and how to make it happen

Photo by Fraser Cottrell on Unsplash

I’ve lived about five years without a car, and I’ve discovered that the benefits go beyond the reduced carbon footprint, and extend into my social, mental, and spiritual well-being.

Here are some of the benefits I’ve found in my experience

Traveling by public transportation instead of by car reduces my carbon footprint

This is one of the more obvious reasons why a person might opt to take the train rather than drive to their destination, and it’s a good one. As many of us are aware, ground transportation is a major contributor to harmful carbon emissions. While buses, trains, and other vehicles still emit carbon, it’s a much lower rate per person, and therefore a much more sustainable option.

There are many conveniences associated with public transportation

I never have to search for parking, for example. Driving a car is obviously a great convenience in many ways, which is why so many people own cars. But there are certain conveniences associated with taking the bus everywhere that I’ve really come to appreciate and enjoy. Another great example: you can read on your commute!