If someone wants to live "car-lite" and walk, bike and use public transit more, what is realistic in northeast Ohio?  Would driving less than 3,000 miles a year be considered "car-lite"?  Since this is a car-centered area with reasonably good public transit and some bike lanes, what have others found is a reasonable goal for driving less.

 

I generally use my car about half the time and walk and ride transit the other half but I'd like to use the car even less.  I make about five trips by car to Michigan every year. 

 

How do others do it? I am looking for tips and ideas.

It really depends on where you live. I lived downtown and worked in Independence and drove maybe 1000 miles per year. I put my bike on the bus and biked or walked everywhere and then drove to Beachwood for clothes shopping and such.

If someone wants to live "car-lite" and walk, bike and use public transit more, what is realistic in northeast Ohio?  Would driving less than 3,000 miles a year be considered "car-lite"?  Since this is a car-centered area with reasonably good public transit and some bike lanes, what have others found is a reasonable goal for driving less.

 

I generally use my car about half the time and walk and ride transit the other half but I'd like to use the car even less.  I make about five trips by car to Michigan every year. 

 

How do others do it? I am looking for tips and ideas.

 

Hi Justine. I have all but given up cycling after too many close calls commuting Lakewood to Downtown. So I'm regrettably driving more that usual. If you are an experienced cyclist by all means keep at it. But for me personally, I just don't believe we have the bike infrastructure (yet) for me to recommend it. I've had many good experiences with RTA, though since my new office is no longer near Public Square I don' use it that often anymore. It's just so easy for me to drive to work right now.

 

Best of luck on your car lite life!!

Depends a lot on where you live and work.  I have a crosstown commute that isn't practical via transit, but I live in a dense area so my evenings and weekends are largely car free.  That's the best many of us can do.  Having groceries within walking distance is a big boost.

I agree with 327. If you live within walking distance of a grocery store (whether its 24 hours or note), a 24-hour drug store and a 24-hour restaurant or three, and if you live and work on a transit line, then you can have a good lifestyle without owning a car. I do own a car, but moreso because I have an elderly mother and am often called away to help her. I also drive out of town for work. Still, I rack up only 7,500 miles per year so far since I've owned by current car.

 

Downtown Cleveland is obvious, but it still lacks a 24-hour drug store and 24-hour restaurants. The only one so far is Jakes on Public Square. But if you live around West 117th Clifton/Detroit and work downtown, you can easily live without a car. Same deal in downtown Lakewood. Being car-lite gives you even more options.

I agree with the "depends on location" posters.  I gave up my car, years ago.  I live in Shaker Square and have excellent train and bus service, for my needs.

I agree with the "depends on location" posters.  I gave up my car, years ago.  I live in Shaker Square and have excellent train and bus service, for my needs.

 

But I bet you walk for most of them -- to the grocery store, the drug store, restaurants, etc. When I've gone without a car, I would say that 75% of my trips were intra-neighborhood and thus I walked or biked to them. And I didn't go and buy huge amounts of stuff from the grocery store or drug store either. I bought in smaller amounts like every other day or maybe every three days. I tested by body mass index at the start of going car-free and again at the end of the month. It dropped but not as much as I had expected, perhaps because I was building muscle as much as I was losing fat.

Really depends on where you live like everyone else has said. Living anywhere in-between Cedar-Fairmount and Coventry is probably at the top of the walkability list for Cleveland. Basically have everything you need in both of those neighborhoods. Its also a short walk down to University Circle/Little Italy and to the Red Line to Downtown. Cedar Lee is also an easy bike ride if you want to see a movie or go to the main library (Coventry has a smaller library).

 

Come to think of it, what an awesome area of connected urban areas. University Circle, Little Italy, Cedar Fairmount, Coventry, and Cedar Lee all in a row without any sketchy areas in-between. Shaker Square is also nearby.

I agree with the "depends on location" posters.  I gave up my car, years ago.  I live in Shaker Square and have excellent train and bus service, for my needs.

 

But I bet you walk for most of them -- to the grocery store, the drug store, restaurants, etc. When I've gone without a car, I would say that 75% of my trips were intra-neighborhood and thus I walked or biked to them. And I didn't go and buy huge amounts of stuff from the grocery store or drug store either. I bought in smaller amounts like every other day or maybe every three days. I tested by body mass index at the start of going car-free and again at the end of the month. It dropped but not as much as I had expected, perhaps because I was building muscle as much as I was losing fat.

 

Yes.  I have all the amenities that make a neighborhood a "destination".  I've always been a multiple day grocery shopper.  I tend to have staples in the house, but I pick up meat or veggies to cook that night.

 

The best reason for being car free is I can go from my house in NYC to my house in Cleveland all on public transportation.  M60 to LGA to CLE to the Cleveland Rapid to the Shaker Rapid.  No bags, no car, no parking charges, no highway traffic and no headaches!

I put a little more than 3,000 miles a year on my car and live on the westside of Cleveland in the Jefferson neighborhood. I take public transit whenever I go downtown or to the east side but find that I use my car a lot for trips that are about 2 or 3 miles. The walkscore where I live is 75 which is higher than a lot of areas in Cleveland but I find that certian things like my fitness center would involve two buses so it's easier to drive. Yes, it is  a contradiction to drive to the fitness center for a work out. Walking to the bus and rapid is part of my work out. I haven't found a good way to get to Lakewood by transit since it involves two buses and there is the freeway in the way of walking. It's too bad there aren't more pedestrian bridges over the freeway and over W. 117th.

 

I have a library, a drug store, several middle eastern markets and lots of restaurants within walking distance.  I was without a car for over fifteen years in other states and managed pretty well. Somehow, I end up using my car here more than I would like. Maybe I need a different neighborhood.

^Gordon Sq

I put a little more than 3,000 miles a year on my car and live on the westside of Cleveland in the Jefferson neighborhood. I take public transit whenever I go downtown or to the east side but find that I use my car a lot for trips that are about 2 or 3 miles. The walkscore where I live is 75 which is higher than a lot of areas in Cleveland but I find that certian things like my fitness center would involve two buses so it's easier to drive. Yes, it is  a contradiction to drive to the fitness center for a work out. Walking to the bus and rapid is part of my work out. I haven't found a good way to get to Lakewood by transit since it involves two buses and there is the freeway in the way of walking. It's too bad there aren't more pedestrian bridges over the freeway and over W. 117th.

 

I have a library, a drug store, several middle eastern markets and lots of restaurants within walking distance.  I was without a car for over fifteen years in other states and managed pretty well. Somehow, I end up using my car here more than I would like. Maybe I need a different neighborhood.

 

I know the perfect neighborhood!

or octagon? remember amalienborg sq in copenhagen is the early suburban-minded inspiration for shaker sq: