I have noticed something interesting since returning to a car-free lifestyle. I don’t enjoy being on highways as much as I once did. They make me nervous, and I wonder how all those speeding missiles manage to avoid each other as they maneuver (sometimes erratically) between the narrow lanes. My mother doesn’t like highways either.…
I live in a two-story building that contains 19 studio apartments ranging from 200-400 square feet. The majority of the tenants are very young, lured by the inexpensive rent and proximity to downtown. They all seem like nice kids, and they spend a lot of time on the front porch. I don’t spend time on…
I was chatting with an older associate yesterday who spoke of his upcoming retirement adventures. He said he was excited at the opportunity, which was provided to him, in part, by his good fortune to have invested in Apple when it was a young company. This was the second person I had recently heard about…
A video was recently making the rounds on Facebook of a young man who stood on the street blindfolded with a sign that said, “I trust you. Do you trust me? Hug me.” It was overlaid with heartwarming music and was, as a whole, a very touching video. It showed that human beings are, in…
You might ask yourself what type of urban mayhem I create. This is a valid question, and I’d like to explain to you what kind of a mischievous dork I am. But first, let me tell you why I do it. It’s pretty simple actually: it makes me feel good. And it makes other people…
One of my absolute favorite parts of living in a city without a car is that I don’t have to worry about parking. Parking is the bane of my existence. While I understand the concept of parallel parking, I’ve never actually done it successfully. In fact, I failed my first driving test because I scraped…
When I got my Brompton, I told myself that I would only be riding in good weather. That’s basically what I did when I lived in Sarasota. If it was raining, I donned my rain coat or umbrella and walked down to the bus stop. Of course, my previous bike (a K2) did not have…
One of the things I love most about not owning a car is sharing rides with people. How often does a large group of people attend an event, each in their own private wheeled shuttle? Often many of those people live or work near each other and could easily ride together. What’s great about needing…
Most people who live in today’s idea of a “normal” sized house have an average of 2500 square feet within which to accumulate all manner of stuff. With companies today paying big bucks to convince you that your life is lacking without the latest gizmo, you’ve got plenty of space to store it while you’re…
I am making a concerted effort to dress “normally” when riding my bike. Thus far, I’ve biked in a skirt, business attire and while wearing knee-high boots. I want to help people see bicycling as a feasible alternative to driving a car, even for going to work or networking events. Thus, biking in style shows…
The one thing people might not assume is taking up “space” in their life is technology. You know that thing that is supposed to save us tons of time and effort yet inevitably ends up as a time suck? Yeah, that thing. My job is built around technology. I build websites and am constantly online.…
When I lived in Sarasota, it was easy to get wrapped up in the luxury of it all. I went to expensive restaurants, owned a Mercedes, and generally reveled in the glamorous lifestyle. Despite the fact that I sampled the “good life”, I was by no means as excessive as many people. For instance, some friends tried…
If you’re wondering how you can tell if bicycling is becoming part of the culture of your city, here’s how. Because there are not many roads with bona fide bike lanes, I ride on the sidewalk a lot here in St. Petersburg, Florida. Riding on the sidewalk in the city requires your undivided attention because…
As the holidays approach, I find myself single. In many ways, that feels freeing. However, I am a lover of life, and I enjoy companionship, so I’m getting back up on that dating horse to look for a partner in crime. This is the first time I’ve experienced being single without a car. It’s interesting to…
You’ve probably heard by now that I’m moving away from Rutland back to St. Petersburg, Florida. I’m sure this caused you to make all sorts of assumptions and jump to all sorts of conclusions. I’m writing this post to set the record straight. No, I do not hate Rutland. In fact, Rutland has little to do…
