Going Car-Light
Automobiles convey freedom and status. They’re also a symbol of modern convenience: why walk when you can drive? Why take public transit if you can ride in the comfort of what’s decidedly yours?
But a car’s convenience comes with a host of environmental problems that extend beyond the obvious guzzling of gas (which indeed comprises approximately 80-percent of a car’s impact). An automobile’s beforelife requires excessive energy expenditure in the creation of the steel, rubber, glass, and other parts that comprise it; its afterlife is important, too, as plastics and toxic battery acids remain well after the recyclable parts are recycled.
Today I’m speaking with Lifestyle Optimization Coach Meredith Keith-Chirch about her car-free lifestyle. Meredith’s family once had two automobiles but they very gradually reduced their reliance over the years by moving to just one car, then zero. Meredith argues that car-light living isn’t just for those of us living in cities; instead, each of us can take practical steps to reduce car use for our health and the planet’s.
Here’s a preview:
[10:00] 4 personal benefits to using your car less
[18:00] How to handle extra logistics and increased mental load when transitioning to car-light living
[22:30] Essential bike gear for daily errands
[24:30] Practical first steps for listeners interested in using their car *slightly* less
Resources mentioned:
- The Environmental Impacts of Cars, Explained (via National Geographic)
- Meredith on Facebook
* Want more episodes like this one? Check out Meredith’s first appearance on the show: #201: Fewer But Better Adult Friendships.
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* Watch the full version of this interview on Youtube here.
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