Amy and me sat down last night to discuss some further plans on our relocation to PDX... and one of the things we're aiming for is a furthering of our baby-stepping-toward CarFreeness.
We tallied up our car usage since the beginning of 2008. Came out to 16 car errands. And out of those 16, we deemed 3 absolutely essential...
13, non-essential.
Furthermore, the 3 essential uses could have been easily avoided with better planning on our end of things.
We are shooting for a Surly Big Dummy with the hopes that it will help make those 'Essential Car Uses' essentially non-essential.
To quote Amy though, "Do you think Chloe will hate us, later in life, when she realizes what off-the-radar freaks she has for parents?"
To which I responded, "Better question... will you and Chloe ever begin to forgive me for dragging you both down into all this?"
Hopefully, if the Moon-n-Stars align just so, we can get an 18" Big Dummy. Our plan is to equip it with a Quick Release seatclamp so it's easily converted to a "He/She" kinda proposition. At 18 inches, it'll be a touch big for Amy, a touch smallish for me: but... it's a practical way to turn it into the "Family Truckster". Chloe is thrilled to get some Nitto Custom Flats and a set of Brooks leather grips mounted onto the seatpost for her to ride along on the XtraCycle SnapDeck. Me, I'm excited to get an XtraCycle SoulBlender for some nice Flaxseed w/Elder Bark & Dandelion Weed smoothies when we're out-n-about.
It's an exciting time to consider cutting the cord to the almighty Automobile.
Keep Ridin'... Always
Good for you! You are making a great decision- I ditched my car 3 months ago, and everytime I pass the gas station I want to celebrate! Do you know how cheap you can rent a car when you absolutely need it? Enterprise rents compacts in my area 4 days/$83 total. How can you beat that? Get a copy of this book for other neat info on living car free: http://www.amazon.com/How-Live-Well-Without-Owning/dp/1580087574
Posted by: Shanyn | June 09, 2008 at 01:20 PM
Pereira make a mixte-framed Xtracycle- that might be a solution for both you and your wife needing different sized frames: http://www.pereiracycles.com/gallery
/AllanF/index.php
Posted by: Shanyn | June 09, 2008 at 01:23 PM
Hey Scott,
Check this out: http://carbondreams.wordpress.com/2008/05/17/big-dummy-playing-a-piccolo/
I made the piccolo work and had an extra frame that I could pop on my wife's ride so wither of us can pull the peanut.
Posted by: fatguy1966 | June 09, 2008 at 02:52 PM
Good for you all. We ahven't made the leap yet in our family, but are moving closer everyday - and with 3 kids, none in public school, it's been the main stumbling block. But if it can be done anywhere, Portland is the place - you'll have plenty of company. We're looking at an extracycle ourselves right now - I'm looking for a good cheap steel mtb on craigslist - something like a classic Stumpjumper should do for the conversion. Need to go in to Citybikes and talk to Beth about her conversion experience.
I did ride one of these http://bikeportland.org/2008/06/02/putting-the-yuba-mundo-to-work/the other day with my 7-year old on the back - we both agreed it was smooooth.
Posted by: MtMann | June 09, 2008 at 03:42 PM
One of the cool things about Portland is there is FlexCar/Zipcar (whatever they are now). Don't need to own a car, but one is there for the few times you need it. In a variety of sizes, too.
Posted by: Lynne F | June 09, 2008 at 06:02 PM
Hate you for being freaks?
Heh. I think she'll see everyone else around you driven to tears trying to figure out how to continue feeding and caring for their cars as the costs continues to climb, and wonder what's taking everyone else so long to open their eyes.
Congratulations, can't wait to see pics of the new rig!
Posted by: chiggins | June 09, 2008 at 07:51 PM
I love my Jitensha Nitto Flat Bars. I might be trading in for some more "North Road" styled bars soon but the Jitensha's have been top quality and a damned good time. Give Chloe her own bell on those things.
Posted by: Justin | June 10, 2008 at 07:20 AM
We are slowing getting there also. We are donating our second car that has gotten maybe 500 miles this year to NRP! We are homeschooling next year, so maybe in the next year, we can go car-free.
Congrats and Namaste,
The Quinces
Posted by: Devin Quince | June 10, 2008 at 07:42 AM
Oh, sure, car-free living is popular and trendy now, but things will change as they always do. Don't be one of those dirty hippies! Be ahead of the curve; be progressive. Buy a fleet of pickup trucks and SUVs for the family. Prices are better now than they've been in years.
Posted by: Jim | June 10, 2008 at 08:16 AM
I ride right by Jitensha on my way home every day. I like their shop because it's old school. I doubt you'll find any carbon fiber or ti anything anywhere.
I think I'll be picking up a set of Honjo fenders from them since I'm switching to a set of larger tires this year.
Posted by: Smudgemo | June 10, 2008 at 09:13 AM
Get rid of your car before you move and rent a big U Haul. From personal experience I can tell you that hauling stuff from NYC to MN is way easier then hauling stuff from here to the west coast. Going west, the passes are bigger, the empty stretches of road are longer, and finding Volvo parts in Montana is not easy.
Posted by: paz | June 10, 2008 at 01:50 PM
Dude...make it happen. My Big Dummy, aka The Goat, is the best bicycle I've ever owned: fun AND functional in one unique setup.
Posted by: Dylster | June 10, 2008 at 03:24 PM
My son is 14 and we are also a little bit freaky; non-schooling, garden-growing, self-employed, and moving toward at least car-lite. I don't think he hates us. He seems to think for himself and does what he wants whether his friends do it or not. Last week he put on a suit and went to a dance - on his unicycle - two miles each way, carrying an umbrella and a big grin. He's confident, self-aware, clear-headed, and funny.
I predict Chloe will continue to be greatly happy.
Posted by: don | June 10, 2008 at 07:28 PM
Great site!
That said, I can't help noticing that for a vegan who cares about the earth, you get awfully excited about leather goods.
Posted by: JB | June 10, 2008 at 09:27 PM
chek out this guy's slution for a two-user xtracycle set up
http://longleafbicycles.blogspot.com/2008/01/tired-of-looking-at-beautiful-bicycles.html
looks like it could work
Posted by: pat | June 10, 2008 at 09:36 PM
Resent you for being freaks? No. I predict that instead she'll grow up in a world of predictably dull conformists and see that the exquisite taste and sense of adventure you've raised her with could make her odd gal out. Any child who selects Brooks leather grips for her Xtracycle perch at age nine is well on her way.
Posted by: beth h | June 11, 2008 at 08:42 AM
"I can't help noticing that for a vegan who cares about the earth, you get awfully excited about leather goods."
In the grand scheme of things, a few square inches of leather, turned into a useful product that can be used for decades, is not exactly the worst sin an environmentalist could commit. I'd think a more plausible reason to abstain from leather is because of animal-rights beliefs. I should mention also that the Brooks leather grips are likely made from the tiny scraps of leather that were previously discarded in the process of making saddles and other items that required larger, thicker pieces of leather.
Posted by: Jim | June 11, 2008 at 08:49 AM
"Smudgemo"
I ride the other way, from 42nd and San Pablo back to Lake Merritt.
Posted by: Justin | June 11, 2008 at 05:49 PM
We were car-free from April 2007 until last week. :(
We needed to buy something bacause my wife is unexpectedly pregnant and in need of non-cyclish transportation.
At first my kids whined and complained at having to walk or bike everywhere...now they are pissed that we had to buy a van.
Take the plunge!
Posted by: Colin | June 11, 2008 at 08:47 PM
dude, don't sweat it, you're still freaks even with a car, so really ditching the car doesn't add much to Chloe's freakdom of youth!
I coulda swore I've heard you claim you were going car-free on some other prior move halfway across the country...
hey, someone has to give you some crap or you life would just be all peaches & cream.
-me
Posted by: bbbb | June 12, 2008 at 08:43 AM
BBBB:
That was before I realized your house was all up hill to get there... both ways no less.
Cya tomorrow at the Crit.
-Me
Posted by: Me | June 12, 2008 at 11:20 AM