Do you think that you need to own a car if you live in Winnipeg? Is a car-free life possible? Tell us what you think, why or why not?
How about other communities in Manitoba?
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Checkout our busting of this myth here: https://greenactioncentre.ca/2011/myth-busted-you-can-live-car-free-in-winnipeg/
Like Tyler said, its possible, but its definitely not fun. I own a car but decided to go this summer without. Its been very stressful. I moved apartments and that was impossible without a vehicle, and I didn’t enjoy relying on other people for their time and vehicles. When you are a control freak like I am.. its tough. I haven’t been able to go camping or leave the city, go to Birds Hill, or go to any past-the-perimeter parties. The good thing about not having a car is that its forced me to slow down. Where I would’ve spent a morning going to 8 different places in 3 hours before, I can only navigate to two or three without a car. The change of pace is nice, but it also causes just as much stress when being busy gets out of control. If we had a subway system, I think I could handle it. But we don’t. And I am getting my car back.
Hi Vivian! You might want to checkout our busting of this myth to see if some of the car-free suggestions might work to help keep you car-free. In your case, I am thinking that joining a carshare might help you have access to a vehicle sometimes, where it looks like you need to do a lot of errands! Check it it out: https://greenactioncentre.ca/2011/myth-busted-you-can-live-car-free-in-winnipeg/
Thanks for your comments Morgan! I like how you bring up the fact that proper infrastructure and services are a key factor in making the choice (and making it enjoyable) to live car-free. It seems you have incorporated your exercise into getting around, which probably decreases your need for a gym altogether!
Living car-free is possible and wonderful! But what it requires is a shift in how we view our lives. It can be harder if you live in the suburbs. Well, find a central location to live an downsize. We don’t need to live in ginormous houses with huge yards. Be happy with less stuff, fewer commitments etc. I love playing team sports and the like, but I choose those it will be easy for me to get to. I run outside instead of going to the gym.
Now, yes, I agree, with children it can most definitely get complicated. And this is an area I don’t have any expertise in. We all need to be advocates for better public transportation and more accessible and better constructed active transportation infrastructure to help those with children achieve the car-free lifestyle.
I strive to never own a car again in my life. Selling it was one of the most freeing and healthy decision I’ve ever made.
I live car-free in Winnipeg, with one child. I strategically bought a house close to shopping, downtown and close to my workplace so I could easily walk or cycle to and from work as well as some amenities like grocery stores, library etc. I estimate I save at least $400/m by not having a vehicle, even more if I were to live out in the suburbs where I had to drive more to get to and from work. Considering thats $400 a month of after tax money, that is a HUGE savings! This allows me to save money towards my daughters education, and put aside a bit of cash in case of emergencies. Car free is very liberating!
Interesting! I had a professor once that said she drew a 5km circle around her work on a map and chose where to live from there…great way to minimize your distance and build a life where you live.
I got to work and school without a car when I lived in Transcona. If that’s possible, anything is. 🙂 Now I live in St. Boniface, so it’s super easy. I walk or bike to work downtown. I walk for groceries. Sure it’s harder to transport groceries without a big trunk, but I just go shopping a bit more often. My boyfriend has a car, which we take to the beach and whatnot (though it’s getting easier and easier to bike to Birds Hill!), but anything I do on my own in carfree.
I sometimes wonder what I’ll do when I have a kid. I’m hoping that all his or her activities will be close enough that I can use a bike trailer. I’ll find a way, somehow!
I have lived in Winnipeg on and off for over ten years and have never owned a car. I have lived in several different neighbourhoods, and some worked better than others. The things I appreciate most about living car free are the fact that I can enjoy winter (leaving the worry of driving on bad roads to the bus driver), I get free exercise walking and biking to get wherever I’m going, I’m much more attuned to the weather and my neighbourhood than I would be if I was going from garage to car to garage, and I hardly notice when gas prices go up. Having to carpool and borrow cars often becomes a community-building exercise, which I also appreciate. The biggest challenge for me is finding ways of getting out of the city, however, I also don’t have to worry about carting children around.
I can totally relate to not even watching the gas prices go up!
Joanne – what would you say were your top neighbourhoods for living car-free?
I lived car-free for the first decade of living in Winnipeg, and found that renting cars for getting out of the city was a great option. Like the occasional taxi, it was much cheaper than owning a vehicle. Rental agencies will either pick you up, or are normally a short bike ride away. Once I did buy a car, I was quick to realize both the convenience and major hassle they can be.
Living car free is somewhat a matter of where you live (as Tyler indicated) but it is also a matter of circumstance. With children come circumstances that make owning a car almost impossible to avoid. If you have had children in soccer, hockey, music, dance, or any of the many activities that they can be involved in, it is hard to imagine being able “mooch a ride” for everything. And the more kids you have the more difficult it becomes.
As a coach for many years, I encouraged parents to car pool and more often than not had several extras with me when I went to games/practices etc. Its a great way to reduce your impact and build team spirit/camaraderie at the same time.
All that said, when circumstances change (children do grow up) car free living becomes possible.
I am over 60 years old have lived in Winnipeg most of my life including the last 30 years and have not driven a car that entire time, although we had a small car that my wife drove.
Based on my experience, the following are notable factors to reducing individual car dependency in Winnipeg:
get a job that does not require car usage: This is not as preclusive as some might think. My job has required travel to every part of Canada including its most remote communities.
choose a location to live that is in walking distance of services that are important to you and your family such as a shopping area with a good grocery store, elementary school, community club, children’s parks, good bus service to where you work. You would be surprised how many of these locations exist once you start looking for them.
be willing to ask for and share car rides with people to go to places not easily accessed by bus or bike. Find ways of minimizing the inconvenience of doing this for the person supplying the ride.
enjoy taking the bus and viewing your surroundings as you travel
use Navigo whenever you are taking an unfamiliar bus ride
use a bicycle as much as possible; to get groceries, go to work, get to places you want to visit
teach your children to walk and bike and share rides and have them realize this creates independence and avoid dependency.
realize that selective use of taxis is much cheaper than car ownership
appreciate the enormous cost savings and health and stress reduction benefits of not having to use a car.
In a big picture sense, I realize that much higher oil and gasoline prices, higher urban densities and rewiring our suburban lifestyle are key to changing individual car use.
Wow, thanks for the great list of tips on living car-free Denis! I like that you bring up the point of health benefits into the conversation – interesting how not owning something can change your lifestyle, and your health!
But, yes, I do sometimes mooch rides.
I am a working single Mom with a 4 and 1 year old and am living proudly car free in Winnipeg. I do sometimes I feel like I would rather have a daily kick in the teeth than have to rely on the number 15 bus. I would also estimate that not having a car probably contributes to me have 10-15 extra hours of work to do in my week (multiple trips by bike to get groceries, slogging strollers through snowdrifts, arriving at my destination half an hour early to avoid being 5 minutes late…). I happen to still think that it is worth it for the financial savings, and I am proud to model a green lifestyle. The truth is that tens of thousands of people do live car free in Winnipeg, and for many of them having a car is not an option. Those who have a disability, are poor, or are interested in green transportation could definitely be better served in Winnipeg.
Wow, Kristen! Kudos to you on your efforts to be a green role model and for all the effort you put in to live car-free. At least those extra hours also contain some exercise – I imagine slogging a stroller is good for your calf muscles!
You raise a good point though, that so many people are already living car-free in Winnipeg by necessity or by choice.
Thanks for sharing, great to read your comments!
It’s possible. But it’s not fun.
It’s definitely possible. But it’s not easy. When I lived in Wolseley it was easy as pie, but now that I’m stuck in the suburbs it’s darn near impossible. There is not a single retail shop of any description within walking distance of where I presently live (not by choice). I could ride my bike to the grocery store (about a 10 minute amble), but I only have the two panniers and together they only fit about two days worth of food. Transit service up here is also horrific. There’s an express that stops at the end of the street, but only once an hour in the morning and afternoon. Otherwise you have to take the long and circuitous route that drops you off a good 12 minute walk away. So, I guess the answer is: Yes, absolutely, depending on where you live.
Wow, thanks for sharing Tyler. Really highlights the importance of good neighbourhood design! Also, maybe you are in need of a bike trailer!!
YES, you can live car-free in Winnipeg. When I lived in Winnipeg, I didn’t own a car (I don’t even know how to drive!) and I managed a pretty full life relying primarily on transit. This includes grocery shopping, across the city for school, nights out and to my various employments over the years. I think that daily life is very doable without a personal vehicle, even more so if you’re not going to or from the suburbs. Winnipeg Transit’s website is very user friendly and I think the bus service is pretty good (I’d almost say “great” but sometimes connections are long and routes meander).
Getting out of town is the challenge, though. Like going camping or getting to that past-the-perimetre social. For me, this is when car-pooling always came in (or, if you will, mooching rides off others)!
BUSTED!
Thanks Francine! I love the Manitoban-ness of the past the perimeter social! We have all been there!
I agree, for myself it is all easy and doable as I live centrally and use a carshare service when I need to. It is the leaving the city that gets tricky!