Comments on: Nine month update on Minneapolis car-free lifestyle

By: Rachel

Rachel — Sat, 14 Aug 2010 06:57:45 +0000

This, in combination with the Skyway video, has helped me to make up my mind as to whether or not to pick Minneapolis for my graduate work.

Reasons for this? A, I’m a pansy when it comes to cold weather, so having a convenient escape route by which to avoid the elements is just frigging awesome, and B, any car I have ever had the misfortune to own either causes me evil anxiety attacks or refuses to work up so much as a sputter for my poor, frazzled nerves when I have someplace important to be. I’m well acquainted with the bus system as it is–an assurance that I’ll be able to continue this love/hate relationship is actually comforting.

So thanks. This is the most entertaining blog I’ve stumbled across in my quest for reasons to pry my ass out of my comfortable apartment in Washington and move somewhere new. One more year–yay!

By: ashlie

ashlie — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 22:53:39 +0000

i really need to know more about your bitchin condo … as in where do i sign up?

By: leif

leif — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 19:47:41 +0000

Joanna � Working on the hip. It’s almost certainly sciatica. Using the tennis ball on the floor, deep massage technique. Hurts.

Leigha � Thanks for the lead to HourCar. And for the record, you don’t come off sounding like a lying whore at all, unlike that lying whore Alexis.

Alexis � Judging by your vivid descriptions, I’d paddle across the river on an anvil to see you bike a few blocks. It sounds better than TV. Please video ASAP.

Martin � Strangely, scenes disturbingly close to that video of yours happen every time I go to the roof for some sun. On an unrelated note, my neighbors are still diving into their condos and slamming the doors when I come down the hall. Weird.

Amanda � Take a giant backpack with you to the market. That way you *can* walk there and back, you get an insane back/shoulders/glut workout and if you work up enough of a stink people will give you spare change.

Kirk � I lost my taste for road trips right about the time that I realized that I hate driving. Everything is too far away from everything else in the country. Duluth won’t be seeing much of me anymore.

Shishi � I have the cycling expertise services of my father, who has been an amateur racer for about 30 years (he’s currently the oldest licensed racer in the state). But yes, I think I need to get my seat adjusted anyway. And the whole bike tuned. As often as I fix his computer, he owes me.

Staus � Yeah! Fight the power! But I know full well the pain of coping with limited public transport options. Never mind buying bread and wine, it kills your social life. If you have a social life, which I didn’t for about three years in Europe. Good to be home.

Jennifer � I never got to talk to you last weekend. You and like 15 other people. They should have made it a whole reunion weekend. Five drunken hours isn’t enough to catch up with 130 people.

By: jennifer griffin-wiesner

jennifer griffin-wiesner — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 14:08:05 +0000

Love your blog…found it after seeing you on the “SHS reunion” site. URfunny. Good for you for writing and traveling and all that.

By: Staus

Staus — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 17:25:18 +0000

Congrats on going car-less. It really doesn’t make very much sense for a fine urban specimen with two working(ish) legs to have one. I gave mine up about 6 months ago and live in a city with even less logically-deployed public transit opportunities than you do. When I do need a car a few times a month for getting to and from teaching evening classes 15 or so miles outside of the city I have used Zipcar, the larger, national-sized version of Hour Car. Look for Zipcar to swallow Hour Car before too long just like they did FlexCar here a few months ago.

By: shishi

shishi — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 13:44:53 +0000

This is great and keep up the carfree life. When your hip is better and you think you are ready to start riding again you should hit up a bike shop for a professional fitting and talk about past injuries. This should reduce the risk of re-injuring yourself in the future b/c of bike riding.

By: Leigha

Leigha — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 13:36:33 +0000

re: Kirk’s “The only thing is I like road trips too much � Duluth on hot Saturdays; River Road south almost anytime. Maybe the hour car could be my ticket.”

Alas, that’s the one thing HourCar isn’t good for… on weekend road trips, it’s actually cheaper to rent a car (they have a special agreement with a rental company). I’ve always been able to snag a car for a weekend for about $45 total.

re: Alexis’ “Don�t listen to Leigha, she�s a lying whore.”

HAHAHAHA…nice one! Hey, girl.

By: Kirk

Kirk — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 02:49:39 +0000

Cool to hear about your carless odyssey. Mine (’95 Saturn SL) is starting to feel like it might be on its last legs and I’d love to go car free. I’ve been bike commuting to work in the bike friendly seasons and ride the bus the other. Living downtown St. Paul makes it easy to catch a bus pretty much anywhere. The only thing is I like road trips too much — Duluth on hot Saturdays; River Road south almost anytime. Maybe the hour car could be my ticket.

By: Amanda

Amanda — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 22:30:00 +0000

Oh, how I miss Cub Foods. The last one shut down in Denver about 7 years ago.

After two years living in Indiana without a car, I’m happy to have one now if only for grocery shopping. I never could get into carrying my groceries on a mile-long walk. I love only having to go to the grocery store once every two weeks now, instead of every other day.

By: sleeper78

sleeper78 — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 20:32:44 +0000

That poor hippy you keep in your pants, stop abusing him/her.

It appears that you have already graced the skyway with your slovenly unshaven presence. Really, I found the video
http://youtube.com/watch?v=Hj2BVb0xilc