January 2011
5 posts
5 tags
The How
Yes, I stuck with the 5 W’s as an intro to my site, and even threw in an H.
For those wondering how my carlessness came about, the idea was conceived in January 2008 — the car itself decided — and the plan solidified after two trips overseas. That February, I worked at the Berlin International Film Festival, my first trip to the city. I was struck by how bike-friendly it was,...
3 tags
The When
I’ve tried to write this post a couple of times, but I haven’t been able to do it without sounding like a major complainer. Which I am, but the Internet doesn’t have to know that.
I know I am far from the only person living without a car. I actually know a handful of people in L.A. who have also gone carless. It takes a lot of effort. The main reason it sucks in Los Angeles is...
7 tags
The Why
When I was adjusting to life without a car, I thought about how as a person in my 30s, owning a car was just expected. It’s what adults do. It took a while to get used to the concept of going without that major indicator of being a grownup, which is silly because the other people I know who don’t have cars by choice never seem less mature to me. They also make good cases for giving up...
1 tag
The Who
My name is Karen. I’m a journalist and an Oklahoma native. Before moving to Los Angeles in 2004, I lived in the Bay Area, where my main identity was Scrabble-loving copy editor. On the side, I take photos, do artsy crap, listen to lots of music and turn people’s jokes into funny little drawings. You know, hobbies. Biking isn’t my hobby. Biking is my life.
2 tags
The What
Three years ago, I made a decision that would seem unthinkable to many fellow L.A. residents: I gave up my car. I live by bike and bus, and on callused foot. It started as a fun experiment, but over the years it became, as some have pointed out, my thing, so it would seem wrong to throw in the towel now. L.A. has a reputation as a car-dependent, pedestrian-free smog zone, and I guess I take pride...
