This past weekend, while I was off wandering around Oregon with my pal Fred, the Seattle paper ran a front-page story about about how my lovely wife and I raised our kids in a car-free household. You never know how a story is going to turn out until you see it in print, but I think the reporter, Sonia Krishnan, did a pretty good job telling our story. The text and pictures are online here:http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2003023972_carless28e.html
Keep 'em rolling,
Kent
18 comments:
Hi Kent,
That is really great and I totally admire your family!
I have a couple questions though (and these really are questions, not criticisms):
-What do you do if someone gets sick and needs to get to the doctor ASAP? (But not so sick they need an ambulance.) Do you just call a cab?
-Don't you ever have the desire to get outta town without buying a plane ticket? Go for a long weekend on the OR coast or something?
-What if you need to move furniture or something? I'm guessing you rent or use Flexcar?
Thanks for answering my questions, and congrats on your 15 minutes of fame! :)
-Jessi
Kent [& Family]...
Amy & me just read the article on your family, wow... so inspiring.
I really mean that Kent.
You guys [and I know you probably aren't too interested in hearing this or such things] are perhaps the vision of the future... getting it done without conventional means, thinking outside the box, and finally-
Just living simply & honestly.
Leading by example.
I'm proud to know ya Kent, and double proud that my family contributed [in some small part] to your quest last Summer as well as getting you back to your family as quick as possible at race end.
Keep rocking!
Best-
-Scott
Hi Jessi,
I'll try to answer your questions here.
As for the doctor, we picked where we live so the our doctor is local and close. Depending on the particular circumstance we might walk, take the bus, take a cab or get a ride from a friend or neighbor.
About travel, we go by bus, train, plane, sometimes go places with friends and sometimes bike. I just got back from a weekend trip with my friend Fred. We drove down in Fred's truck and then Fred and I rode our bikes for three days. When Christine and I get-away it's often a bus-trip to Seattle and then a train or ferry ride to where we are going.
We both let our licences lapse years ago. We DON'T drive. Moving furniture is super rare. If it's a new purchase, it's delivered. The last time we moved, we used a local moving company and had friends help out.
When we get rides with friends or have them help out in some transit way, we pay for gas or buy them dinner or something like that. One thing we've drilled into the kids is "don't mooch!" Pay your way in some way.
- Kent
Thanks Scott,
Give Amy and Chloe a hug from me. I still owe you guys big time for all the good vibes and hard cash that kept (and keeps) me rolling. Someday we'll have to swap some good stories over a good meal.
Kent
This really doesn't have anything to do with your car-free lifestyle, but it appears from the article that you and your wife have chosen to rent, rather than own, your housing (the article refers to your "apartment", which I assume means a rental). Since I get the impression that you make thoughtful choices, I'm curious if there's a philosophy behind that, or just financial necessity.
kent,
congratulations. that was a really good story. i was impressed at how the writer managed to resist debunking your efforts. plus I loved the photo of you sitting in traffic!
all best
patrick
Hi Kent,
Thanks for answering all my questions. I read in the article that you'd let your license lapse - sorry I didn't remember that when grilling you! :)
Very admirable lifestyle!
Thanks again,
Jessi
Hi Paul,
The lack of home "ownership" is not out of financial necessity. I won't go into everything here but you can probably tell that Christine and I aren't into having a lot of stuff. And we've decided that we really don't like doing yard work or spending weekends at Home Depot.
-- Kent
I'm loving your adventure. The thing I found odd in the US is that people refused to sell me booze because I didn't have a drivers licence. I explained that I was on my bike and they simply could not understand the concept of shopping on a bicycle!
Howdy from NC Kent,
In some ways your lifestyle since 87 (the ways of the suburban turtle, if i might) are far more impressive than rigid, singlespeeding the great divide race last summer. i wish i could have spent a bit more time hanging out and/or riding with you out there. We'll miss you this year. Sorry you can't make the Canadian prologue. Have a great summer whatever you have up your sleeve.
just curious, have you ever tried to go thru drive thrus by bike? i found that most discriminated against me on bike during the divide race last year, refusing to serve unless one is in a car.
Matthew Lee
Great story, Kent. I think the reporter did quite a fine job. What impresses me most is that you guys just do as you choose and not as you’re “supposed to”. The frugality and simplicity you practice are quite admirable. I’m sure some people might think of you as some kind of freaks. I’d ask them to look again. Congratulations.
Hey there, I saw the link from my blog buddy Tammy. I have 4 kids so was curious on the how tos but you answered that for Jessi.
I grew up in Seattle and it is doable. Never had a car til I moved to NC.
Good job!
Nice story, Kent.
Great story. That must take serious discipline. I commend you.
Benny
Awsome!
It's so refreshing to hear this again and again. I've never had a DL because of some medical issuies I have but even without those I'd still rather be on the bicycle.
If your on the fence try it if you can!
very, very interesting life you and your family are leading. i applaud you. we all could learn a lesson or two. my hubby and i just recently bought a scooter to drive to and from work on... it costs about $3.50 to fill up and gets about 85 miles to the gallon. is this something you and your wife have ever considered?
Kent, I was at work today (June 7th) here in Duluth and a co-worker asked me if I'd seen that article in the paper about the guy who used to live in Duluth and is car-free. She asked me because I sold my car four years ago and bike year-round (my wife does have a car though). I don't get the paper so I didn't see it. Anyhow, it's the same article and it was run in the local paper. I don't know if you knew that or not. I've been reading your blog for about half a year and didn't know you had lived here until this article came out. Small world.
very cool...
but
I do not think our family could do it
actually
I do not think we could exist on one car
but
that is us...
I commute to work via bicycle
and use the bike to get around and even walk a fair amount
but camping trips and bike races
well
I need a car
and if I am going to head to a race
it would be tough to leave the wife with two kids and no car
did you have a car when your kids were small?
I think that is the difference
your kids are old enough to be independent
glad they picked up your two wheeled ways
good going!
glad to hear that your story is being told
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