It’s the most concrete plan I’ve got for my life!

And it comes with an ebike!

If I had to have children, I would adopt. There are too many homeless children in this world to be pooping out more of them. Also, women with a history of pregnancy is a deal breaker for me.

@@zachz96 vasectomy. That’s the best way to protect yourself.

@@AlignmentCoaching "protect yourself"

That's WILD! "Oh my goodness!!! You don't drive?!" *calls ambulance*

So you're saying that if I say my car don't work due to ....

@@Demopans5990 No, it's not the car that has to be broken, it's you. For example you have epilepsy and could have a seizure while driving. That makes you a "danger" to other drivers and thus disabled by default. The fact that many so called able people could black out from alcohol addiction while driving.... This is why the world is harder than it needs to be for disabled people.

@@jimthain8777 Well, I'm blind asf without my glasses, so might be worth keeping in mind...

​@@Demopans5990I am too but because I had to keep interrupting my own career to take care of other people who are disabled I no longer qualify for disability. This country punishes both disabled and caregivers.

Wild right?! I used to work at a dealership, and some of the payments I saw people sign on for... wow.

Yes, I’m in the USA in the Midwest, and these estimates are still cheap. Most people here in Ohio spend way more than that.

​@@humanecitiesI wish to know what a comparison cost from this car 7 years data, to the new Volvo EX30 (but fueling the car trough a massive amount of solar pannels rolling back the power meter usage to negative in the summer, and using that "negative" of power in the winter), for the next 7 years, but the total calculations need to ve adjusted for inflation (a calculation you didn't do, also inflation went crazy after covid and because of RUSSIA, so prices went way up, past the minimum living wage of the "past few years before covid")

This depends on where one lives, I drive around 38 miles a day on average. I live in a metropolis area in Mississippi, and a good many like to drive these big expensive pick-up trucks, I drive a mid-size sedan, a late model Buick v6 and I hate parking beside one of these trucks, it is like parking next to a wall! The reason I drive a mid-size car is because one does not have a chance if one of these trucks hits a small lightweight vehicle. With this wild mania in the US, a lot of people are not being mindful and using good judgment! And owning and using cars & pick-up trucks is definitely one of these! Not long ago, locally we lost a family of 4 including their small children when their Rev-4 (Toyota ) broke down on the highway and a single older gentleman driving one of these large pick-up trucks just plowed into their car!

Agree. My car costs me way more than that. This is an ad for Toyota 😂

Those etrikes are pretty sweet! I’m glad it’s allowed you to save so much and continue getting around!

Good for you Frank, I have thought about getting an E-Trike, I love biking but right now my balance is off, If I can get everything worked out I am going to make a change in my lifestyle, get away from the car, get a dog and live in peace!😊

I think makes sense! You’ve had other ways of getting around. And, when you needed a car, a rental was available.

So is car-lite. Only ever needed a car once I moved out to college. Now that I moved back, it turned into a garage queen

We can be rich together!

Feels great, right?! I’m kinda feeling rich 😂 I’ll talk about that a bit in my 3 month update video!

That’s fantastic! I’ve been surprised at how comfortable the transition has been. What are your main modes of transport in LA?

Actually, car ownership is only truly expensive if you always purchase new cars or if you make poor choices on you used car purchases. I almost always buy very reliable used cars which years later I will end up selling for about the same amount of money that I originally paid for them. In fact, I recently sold and RX-7 for $35,000 which I bought for $14,000 back in 2000. Also since 90% of the cars I’ve purchased have been extremely reliable, and since I do all my own repairs, my only real expense is gas and insurance. Of course, when I lived in Tokyo, Japan for 5 years I did not own a car at all because its just not worth it to have a car there and the public transportation system is probably the best in the world anyway. In California however having a car is a necessity for most people. By the way, if you want to talk about real wasteful spending just think about that fact that some people will spend over $30,000 in their lifetimes on Starbucks coffee alone. And a person who often eats at restaurants or fast food places rather than cooking inexpensive meals at home can waste at least several thousand dollars a year which could easily add up to over 100,000 dollars in a lifetime in excessive and unnecessary spending. And just little things we don’t think about like daily sodas and snack foods and sweets can add up to a small fortune over a lifetime but nobody ever bothers to keep track of these things and add them up. And personally, I would rather eliminate some of these things than to eliminate the car. After all, driving has always been a very pleasurable experience for me and owning a car goes way beyond the simple need for convenient transportation. Not to mention the fact that I used to date a lot and I imagine it would be kind of embarrassing to tell a potential date that you don’t have a car and so she will have to pick you up rather than the other way around. But to each his own I guess and if a you do not feel a car is a necessity for you then why not save yourself the expense.

"In California however having a car is a necessity for most people." Depends on which part. When I lived in San Francisco I didn't have a car, and didn't even consider it. There was too much traffic, and all the people I passed that were stuck in it didn't seem like they were having a pleasurable time. It didn't occur to me to be embarrassed at not having a car, and even if my date had a car I would ask them to either meet me at the date location or walk, bike, or take public transit together.

I was car-free for a few years in LA. LA is actually nice if you don't drive.

@@humanecities I mainly bike and walk. We've gotten several new bike lanes installed in West LA that make it easier to travel to work, get groceries, and go to the beach. I was lucky to live next to metro stops and bus routes I could utilize for a while, but not as much now that I'm further away from both.

I visited the Netherlands a few months ago and got to partake in your bike infrastructure… Wow. I’m very jealous 🤣

@@humanecities I thought so, seeing an old Dutch police Porsche and public bus in your video. And yes, we are spoiled with good transport opportunities 😉

Absolutely! It’ll be nice to enjoy some financial freedom now that I’m not shackled 😂

Just this week I saved 40 dollars not having to fill a gas tank! I’m rich!

Too bad Germany is still pretty car-centric, at least for European standards.

Thank you 🙏 I am “the guy in Canada” 🇨🇦 🤣

If only there were a way to contact Jason and refresh his memory on where this video came from. Hoping he'll circle around to it and give a proper shout out!

It definitely depends on where you need to be. I’ll talk about it more in my 3 month update video, but I’ve definitely got a pretty good spot as far as getting where I need to go goes.

It 100% counts as transportation 🤣

Definitely planning on studded tires! And taking the bus if there’s a snow storm 😂

Wow! It really adds up! I bet that Toyota will last a long time with you working from home!

also depreciation, after 7 years a car is zero dollars

You guys have great e-bikes! It’s nice to have a variety of options, depending on the trip you’re making.

horses are great! you drive them until they literally die. and the best part isn't that their fuel is grass, it's that you can drive drunk or sleeping.

Cities aren’t really set up like this anymore. It used to be each community would have places to work, schools, and restaurants typically within walking distance. Unless you live close to downtown now that doesn’t really happen anymore

@@brianfarley926 it’s really disappointing. I do think we are heading back in that direction. And it depends on your city. I’d actually like to do a video mapping grocery stores in my city (Calgary, Canada) and see how accessible they are to people.

“Haul my ego around” 💀 🤣 You’re exactly right! Cars/trucks/etc. are great tools. Living in the city, as a single guy, I’ve realised it’s not the best tool for me. Though, when I was living in a small town in the US, and going on regular road trips, I definitely got my use out of it. It’s nice to have options as to how to get around. My bit about getting an ebike and a cargo bike was pretty accurate to my plans 😂

an $80k truck is how many people haul their tools around to build everything you appreciate. the people are mostly called men. they are the reason people don't freeze to death in the winter. I hear tools are made of metal and last I checked metal is heavy.

@@stuart6478 I am not talking about 3/4 and 1 ton trucks that guys use for work. I am taking about 1/2 ton soccer mom trucks that never see cargo or a trailer a day in their lives.

​@@stuart6478Weird, everyone I know who works in the trades has a commercial work van. Half the price and way more practical for hauling tools around. I'll tell them some guy on the internet named Stuart says they're doing it wrong and see what they say though.

Right?! I used to work at a dealership… the size of some of those monthly payments 😬

I concur!

Nice, right?!

Yeah, me too.

Cars really are a money pit! I got really lucky having access to such a good vehicle for such a low price... I'm glad to have used it - lots of adventures! If I ever needed to own a car again, I'd want to have it back hahaha! But yeah... Even my cheap car wasn't cheap...

It's not additional, the depreciation is about half of that $1,300 monthly cost.

Lifting that cap really hurt. And you’re right! The health benefits are nice!

That’s really impressive! Despite being an “evil”, car-oriented city, I feel like I could make that sort of thing work in Calgary. I’ve been shocked at how comfortably I’ve managed to get around without a car.

Wow! I wonder what the threshold would be in Calgary. If you live in a windy, suburban road, there’s usually a quick way out for walkers/wheelers.

montreal center is same, even faster in bike

That totally makes sense! We’ve got different tools for different situations.

traffic is always the worst thing no matter how nice driving a car is.

I can appreciate that! The thing I miss most is long road trips and singing loudly.

a car is just like a female they both cost too much

@scruf153 a car just like a female will never let you down once you find the one. She may be so pretty, or too flashy, she is a Toyota Camry 😊

mentally deranged carbrain

Thank you 🙏 Studded tires are on the shopping list!

Agreed. I’ve rarely been cold anywhere but hands and feet. Studded tires were great the last few winters (NW Ontario west of Thunder Bay) BUT I just gave them to my son in Winnipeg as I think he’ll benefit more with those in the city while a fat bike works better here when biking on unplowed or incompletely plowed roads. My commute is 22k round trip and mainly rural highway though.

I am an expert on riding in extreme cold. You need extra protection from the wind on your hands, feet, face, and your crotch. Trust me on the crotch. It won't feel like you need it until it's too late. A frozen penis is a very bad time. Put it in a Heatholder's sock and wear waterproof pants over your pants. Hands and feet are obvious, but head and crotch protection will make you invincible to cold.

Honestly, I’ve thought about cutting out more stuff 😂

You’re so right! Over the past few weeks, I’ve paused to enjoy the sunset over the reservoir on my commute, I’ve chatted with people walking their dogs, stopped at a market where my sisters were working, and gotten a slower view of the area in which I live. It’s been wonderful!

Wow! That kit lasted a long while! I’m optimistic about us moving away from sharrows… but it’s a process. I’m just glad I feel *okay* on the streets where I have to ride on the road.

Wild isn’t it? Every time someone complains to me about gas prices, I think, “Oh? 🤷‍♂️”

Hence why my car is parked 24/7 and I just take the bus everywhere. NYC drivers are idiots, and I don't need that stress in my life, much less the above

Potential Affordable Rate Keeps It’s Need Going

We always find something to spend our money on! For me, it’s looking like e-bikes and long flights!

It’s definitely something we can work on! Regional transit is sorely lacking in North America.

I got lucky with such a good car! Doing my own maintenance would have saved me a pretty penny!

Paying for a rental car every now and then is so much cheaper than holding on to the car for that one time you need it. And I will! I’ll definitely be getting Winter tires. Did some slipping on my bike in January 😂

Are there no trains for that route?

@@elisfsharri There's basically no passenger trains in Western Canada (The Canadian runs only 2 days a week...more of a public subsidized tourist train than any form of useful transit). I think the Via Rail service between Calgary and Vancouver ended in the 80s. Plus, even if they brought it back, it would stop in Kamloops, not Kelowna, and it would probably cost more than flying. There is one bus company, Rider Express, but it's nearly $140 each way, and their schedule wouldn't work with my schedule.

@@AustinSersen that's a disgrace. In my country, Albania, the trains have degraded for the last 30 years. However, we do have cheap coaches, which have enough space for bikes inside. That said, we don't really have any lines that go 600 km on a single coach, but it's kinda ironic that Canada doesn't even have that.

​@@elisfsharriWe used to have good train service in Canada. Hell, trains are what made this country possible to be one big country in the first place. Somewhere along the line though we lost our way.

It’s a tough decision, and one everyone has to figure out for themselves. My social life will definitely be changing! The change will surely have some other impacts I’m not predicting. So stay tuned 😬

Merci! This is great advice!

Yep! If I were rich, I'd probably have kept it! It was fun while it lasted!

I’ve had a few friends contemplate van-lifing it to save money, but owning a vehicle is so expensive on its own…

why not just buy a house?

It’s brutal! Guess I’m still paying for cars 😭

Thank you for your thoughtful comment! You make some great points! And yes! I think ebikes are a surprisingly good replacement for the car!

I think I’d agree with you generally on that. I’d be interested to see where that works out to be the case. As for getting to work on time, I’ve just had to change how I manage my time. I’ll talk more about that in the 3 month update video in a few weeks.

Once you add those in, we may as well double the number 😬 (Maybe more…)

🫡 Just doin’ my part!

Amen 🙌 There’re some good things happening, but yeah, also some stuff I’m not as big on.

We’re in this together!

That is a GREAT idea! I’ve, admittedly, been spending my extra money mostly on travel 😂 Which you’re right, is nice to think about when I’m cold and irritated!

Bikes vs. retirement is always a tough decision!

Being able to go car free depends a lot on lifestyle. And I’ll definitely be seeing a lifestyle change. My best friend is now an hour and a half away, rather than 30 mins - so that sucks 😂 It’ll be a shift, and it’s not feasible for many people - especially given how we’ve built our cities in Canada, not to mention the gorgeous nature we’ve got to enjoy. Not being able to go to the mountains on a whim is probably my biggest bummer.

@@humanecities Maybe they will build that Calgary-Banff passenger rail service.

That is true for a lot of stuff. Building your own computer is either cheaper for the same compute power compared to a Walmart laptop, or for the same price, is either faster, smaller, quieter, or all of the above

I do a lot of my own maintenance and minor repairs myself and you can save some easy money for sure, but the rest still adds up. I'd say I knock off maybe half the cost of maintenance and a third of repair costs doing things myself in my driveway. I can't do shit about the price of gas and insurance though.

Always gotta do what works for us!

I feel that! I do miss driving - and miss my car in particular… It’d be great if we had better public transit (and more walkability)!

@humanecities I'd honestly love that cause owning a truck isn't cheap you got insurance to pay and car payments to make and if any issue arises with the truck you have to replace some part that's gonna cost you 1000's of dollars so yea I wish canada focuses on this aspect on making cities more walkable instead of you know drivable look at Toronto man that city is a mess and it's crowded with many cars and it's always noisy and your right I think they should implement the same Transit system as Japan does but unfortunately the oil companies don't like that nethier does the automotive industry or else sales would tank and the industry would suffer as a whole and people even live in rural areas where there's no access to the transit system so that's one point to consider.

Everyday, I wake up disappointed in my 12 year old self for not investing in Amazon 😉 😂 But seriously, you’re right! I’ve been tracking how much I’m spending on transportation. I’ll have 3 month update in a few weeks here. The one year update video will have some interesting data…

What is a transit operator? I’ll take Public Services for 300, Alex.

This is a great idea! Part of that will be wrapped up in my 3 months update, but I may do a full video on in the future!

Wow!! Those are some AWESOME cycles! Money well invested!

@@humanecities THANKS! This new breakthrough will inspire a whole new generation of micro mobility developers. It doesn't make sense to have all those big bloated gas guzzling vehicles on the road taking up all the landscape. I love my micro vehicles and can't wait to see upcoming innovations!! 😁😁😁

You’re doing cars right! An old Accord for getting around and a shared pickup. And the rest is for fun!

Thank you for your thoughtful comment! A car is definitely a nice convenience. In conversation with some family last night, I was discussing this. I think that if I were more financially well-off, I’d probably keep my car. It’s a great car, and if I could afford it without a strict budget, I’d keep it - just for those odd times where I really NEED it. At this point in my life, I’m okay to forego the comfort and convenience of the car, for the financial savings. The exercise being built into my life is also quite nice, seeing as I’m not the gym going type! As for the cost of power, this is something I’d like to look into. I’ll be making more videos about the car free journey (the good and the bad) - energy costs and such will be included. Right now, electricity is included in my rent, so I’ll be doing some estimating for that. Should be interesting to see 🤔

When you get old you probably won't be able to drive anymore or you at least shouldn't drive so you don't endanger others. In cities with good public transportation you will see a lot of older people using it for that reason.

Many old people can't drive, or drive safely. And keeping an active lifestyle through daily walking or biking tends to help us age better. Lots of old people biking in Japan and the Netherlands. There are also alternatives other than cars or conventional bikes. Handcycles (for those who can't use their legs), tricycles (for those with balance issues), mobility scoots (a tiny slow car that you can use on Dutch bike paths.)

You gotta do what works for you. What you’re describing is basically why I prefer cycling to the bus. I leave/arrive when I feel like. No waiting around or checking schedules.

@@humanecities I also have bad legs from falling off a building... Not everyone is as privilaged as you

Wow! Thank you for sharing you story! I'm glad Boston has worked well for you!

Sounds like you've got a great system figured out for yourself! (With plenty of cost savings built in!)

😂 Fear not! I won’t ACTUALLY be spending all my money on e-bikes.

We do have pretty solid weekend transit to between Calgary and Banff with service running Thursdays through holiday Mondays from May to October with Onit Regional Transit for only $20 round trip. I'm taking it Thanksgiving Monday with my bicycle and can't wait to ride around the town among some snow capped mountains!

I love having a few options! And I'm definitely not opposed to getting a motorcycle! I'd be interested in doing a full cost (and use case) comparison of a car, motorcycle, bike, ebike, escooter, etc.

😂 It’s tough here! We shall see how I manage!

That’s fantastic!! You really made it work and took advantage of the savings!

RIGHT?! I was expecting a high number... but wow...

100%! I’m in a situation that works without a car. 3 years ago, it was worth it, though!

This was all over the course of about 8 years!

I love that you just casually picked your friend up from the train 😂 Cargo bikes are FANTASTIC! And once you’ve ridden as a passenger, there’s no going back!

Glad I could help!! And thank you!

Hopefully someday the option is open to more people!

@humanecities Even if it was. It wouldn't use public transportation. Not interested in riding around with bumbs and dirtbags

Yeah, I can see why you’d need a car 😂 I had a roommate who did a DJing gig and hauled his equipment there on the bus… he smartly got a taxi home. It’s all about life situation. Given their impacts (economically, socially, physically), I’d love to see cars become less necessary so that it really is just a want (and sometimes need).

At least a Civic is reasonably fuel efficient. Anything not Japanese or Korean are guaranteed to be fuel hogs, especially pickups

Civic’s are great cars! It’s nice you can set it aside, though, for cycling and transit! Variety is the spice of life!

@@humanecities Exactly! Real freedom is the ability to choose how you get around, and not forced to use a car for everything. Once winter comes I plan on getting a studded bike tire and braving the elements. Biking in the cold is nice after you put enough layers on.

@@Demopans5990 Sadly there are way too many massive trucks and SUVs in the USA that just guzzle fuel. I used to have an 07 Hyuindai Santa Fe and I got decent gas mileage out of that, I think around 20-25 mpg.

I think a lot of people are starting to realise exactly what you’re saying! I’m optimistic, but we gotta work hard!

Definitely not an option for all. I’m happy to have made it work!

Vespa's are super cute! I'd be curious to hear how well you were able to get around in Memphis. From what I understand, Portland has far better transit and such than Memphis.

@@humanecities In Memphis, I had to rely on a scooter to get around as public transit is basically non-existent. It is so spread out and the local government has made so many cuts that MATA might as well not be there at all. Public transit in Portland is much better and while I still rely on a scooter for mainly work, hopping on the Max to go downtown and being able to walk in the city is pretty amazing. Not as good as like NYC but it is up there.

I’ve considered it! And it might be something I get in the future. Right now, a bicycle works fine for me. I would be curious to do a broad comparison of different modes!

It sure will be interesting! Fortunately, I took the bus to and from work during the coldest week last year, so I know it’s possible for myself - let alone the thousands of others who’ve always done that. But I’m curious how often I’ll bike/bus/etc. through the Winter. I’m tracking it, so stay tuned!

The freedom is nice! And the winter will definitely be interesting...

Sadly we have super high insurance costs - and Alberta is among the worst.