As a new resident of Arlington County, Virginia, I’m happy to announce that I have officially gone car free! It was a relatively easy decision to make, given that keeping my car with me would have been almost prohibitively expensive. I'm come to realize I simply don't need a car to live and work in Arlington.
I am now one of four Arlington Transportation Partners (ATP) employees who does not have a car, and instead relies on other modes of transportation to get around the DC region. While I know it’s not always going to be easy or the most convenient to live the car free lifestyle, I have to say that so far it has been pretty fantastic.
The most immediate benefit that I’ve noticed since leaving my car behind has been the impact on my wallet. Although I didn’t drive a whole lot before I moved, I still would find myself paying for gas almost weekly. I drove around to run errands, go play soccer on the weekends, or visit friends—none of whom lived near my house in Bethesda, Maryland.
In addition to paying for gas, I would have to pay almost an additional $60 a month to park at my apartment complex, which was a huge factor in deciding to go car free. Knowing that I won’t have to drop $200 to $500 when the car is due for maintenance in a couple months is a pretty good feeling, especially when I have other important monthly costs such as rent and student loans.
So how do I actually get around? My previous hour-plus commute on the Metro is now a short 20-minute bus ride to Rosslyn, the cost of which is covered by my monthly transit benefit through work. I can easily walk to places such as the grocery store and CVS, as well as restaurants, bars, and coffee shops.
While I’m not within walking distance of a Metro station, my apartment complex offers a free shuttle to Pentagon City for residents. I can also hop on one of the many buses that pass by my apartment to get to the Metro or into DC.
Living without a car in Arlington has also made me realize that places are not as far as they seem. I now walk to places I normally would have habitually taken my car. This has helped me get more accustomed to my neighborhood and has been a better way to learn my way around. I'm looking to buy a bicycle, which would make it even easier to go shopping, meet up with people, or even commute to work.
It’s not always going to be easy to live without a car. I imagine there will be a few times that I’ll want a ride to Target with one of my roommates, or get caught in a downpour while walking back from the grocery store. However, the financial, social, and environmental benefits of not having a car far outweigh the disadvantages. I would definitely recommend it to anyone who’s been considering the switch.
For those who don’t want to get rid of their car, you can still go car-lite a couple days a week by trying different modes of transportation while leaving your car at home. Car Free Day is a great opportunity to ditch your car and get around by walking, biking, or public transit. For more resources on how to get around Arlington without a car, request a custom commute plan to see how you can improve your commute to work.
Photo Credit: Sam Kittner/Kittner.com for Arlington Transportation Partners