| Read more about: air quality  car  exercise  greenhouse gas emissions 

So the car was picked up by the Kidney Foundation and we haven’t owned once since. As with many decisions we all make, there were many reasons for it. Of course a big one was environmental – we wanted to do our small part in improving air quality and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. There was also the financial aspect of the decision as it is (of course) very expensive to buy and run a vehicle (and without one, there are more resources to support a child!).

How do we get around? We travel mostly by bus and walking (the only one in our household with a good bike is our daughter). Both ways of getting around are also great exercise.   For example, our daughter takes figure skating lessons at an arena in North Kildonan. This involves taking two buses from our home in Wolseley. At the arena end of the trip, there is a short walk from the bus to the rink (and back later in the evening). All of these walks to and from bus stops add up to some good exercise. 

We are lucky that our area has grocery stores. Our major grocery shopping trip entails a 10 minute walk up to Portage Avenue (and back). Often our daughter accompanies one of us on this trip. Half of the year we use a wagon to haul groceries; in the winter, we use a sled. This particular store on Portage Avenue also offers a delivery service (for a small fee). This does come in handy, especially in the winter months. We have two different sizes of sleds for this winter shopping; a staffperson at one of the stores in our area calls the larger one the “limo” model.

Seeing us shopping with the wagon or sled is often a subject of conversation (and interest) in the neighbourhood. Often people then realize that there are other options for their weekly shop (other than driving to a large grocery store).

Our daughter has been a bus user since she was a baby.  We still had the car back then, but it was actually easier to get from our home to downtown (for example) using the bus.  We enjoyed the freedom of jumping off the bus and going ahead and doing what we wanted to do (rather than spend time trying to find a parking spot).

In more recent years, we have come to learn that Elizabeth’s friends are very willing to take the bus with us. For some, it is a something different. Hopefully this experience will encourage them to use a bus rather than a private vehicle later in their lives.

It is important to mention that we do rent a vehicle a few times a year for trips out of Winnipeg. We also benefit from the willingness of others to take us along (car pool!) on their shopping trips.  Of course this sharing of trips also benefits the environment for everyone.

For larger families it may be more difficult to go vehicle free. It may be possible, however, to reduce the use of a private vehicle. It would also be great if there was a “family plan” (reduced fare) for larger families who want to take the bus.

It is hard to know whether we will remain vehicle free as the years go by. When our daughter turns sixteen, I’m sure she’ll want to learn to drive. Maybe the vehicle free example that she has grown up with will reduce her desire to drive everywhere!

| Read more about: air quality  car  exercise  greenhouse gas emissions