At present, we are all solicited by many calls for a greener life, less polluting and more respectful of the environment. And this desire for transition that many people feel is achieved in particular through a reduction in its carbon footprint. The carbon footprint is the trace that our life leaves in terms of greenhouse gas emissions. So how to reduce it? Without a car. Moreover, living without a car has other advantages. For example, saving money, playing sports, etc. Overview of everything you gain from living without a car.
The car is one of the biggest expenses for a family, after rent and food. The overall budget of a car is quite huge, especially when you put together all the costs you have for it.
First of all, you have to consider the purchase . A car, even a modest one, is rarely below the 12,000 – 15,000 € mark. And even if tempting ads advertise exceptional prices or significant discounts, this is often hiding something. For example, the vehicle does not have any options and these are chargeable. And by dint of adding to it, you end up being at the same price level as a brand that did not give a discount.
But that’s not all, once the vehicle is in your hands, you will have to take out insurance , pay road taxes , refuel, but also pay to park, and even to drive on certain sections of motorway.
Of all these costs, fuel is the most expensive and accounts for nearly half of the annual car budget. And it is also he who represents all of the emissions in the use of a vehicle.
All the studies agree that the price of a car, for daily use, is very high. Some studies report an amount of €450-500 per month, once all costs are taken into account. Including the discount, maintenance and repair costs. Other studies speak of an average annual budget of 5,000 to 6,000 euros per household , according to the ACA.
In addition, by doing without a car, it is possible to benefit from assistance from your employer. Via an intervention in transport costs. Many companies financially incentivize their employees to switch to other modes of transport by offering full payment for train tickets or by giving a bonus for the use of bicycles. Some official sites explain how to obtain this bonus from your employer.
There are dozens of alternatives to the car to live without a vehicle. It’s all about picking one and sticking to it. The best known are cycling and public transport. There is also walking, the oldest means of transport, the one that is the most ecological and the best for your health, although much slower than the others. And then there are the more eccentric means of transport like the segway or the skateboard.
When looking at his car journeys, it is striking to see how many journeys could be avoided or even which are not necessary at all. Indeed, in town, journeys are rarely longer than two kilometres. And even in the suburbs, there are plenty of alternatives within a two kilometer radius.
But for a city dweller, with mobility problems and the limited number of parking spaces, it is better to opt for walking. Moreover, studies have shown that more than 50% of journeys in town were less than a distance of 3 kilometres !
At a normal walking pace of 5 kilometers per hour, it will take no more than 6 minutes to cover 500 meters. A cruising speed faster than that of a motorist who will be stuck in traffic jams and then have to turn to find a place.
In addition, walking is good for your health !
For city dwellers and people who live in peri-urban areas, public transport is the best alternative. The one that costs the least, is the fastest and has enough supply to take you all over town. And by extension in France, even in Europe.
In large cities, such as Paris or Lyon, the public transport offer is significant . It allows many people not to live with a car. And the savings associated with this choice are very real since there is no longer a budget for the car.
In addition, the speed offered by public transport is unparalleled… Crossing Paris by metro can never be faster by car.
That said, it is not a flawless means of transport and it must be noted that this can be a handicap . For 3 main reasons:
The bicycle is a good alternative to the car. It is light, mobile, fast , allows you to move quickly around town. It is, admittedly, a little less secure, but has no other disadvantages! In addition, there are electric bikes that make traveling easier, especially uphill.
In addition, it is possible to add a trailer or a child seat for transporting goods or driving children to school.
Admittedly, we are not abandoning the car altogether, but we are reducing our ecological footprint and optimizing journeys. At present, it is rare to see more than one passenger per car. And studies have shown that reducing the number of cars by 10% would solve a good part of the question of mobility in the city.
In addition, no need to know the people who carpool, they can be easily found via applications and websites.
There are many other means of transport, but these are the most commonly used.
In the provinces, the offer in terms of alternative transport is less important, but there is always the train and the buses (example: Ouibus) to move you quickly from one place to another. Unless you are really isolated, in which case the car remains the best means of transport.
Going without a car and living without a car has other advantages. We have, of course, already talked about the beneficial effect that such a budget no longer has on a person’s finances. But there are many other things to say about the benefits that a household can derive from abandoning the car…
But it is true that the economic aspect is very important. Especially when you realize that the average budget is €6,000 per year! That’s several months of “lost” wages, while the employer can cover 50% of the cost of travel between home and work as long as you opt for public transport! Which leaves you with only a few tens of euros per month. And still, many employers pay the full amount to their employees.
Plus, unlike a car, the bike can earn you money for every mile you ride; it is possible for your company to set up a bicycle mileage allowance (optional) of €0.25 / kilometer!
If you opt for alternative transport to the car, it is likely that these will have a positive impact on your health. Most often, when we talk about getting around by bicycle as an alternative to the car and when we talk about health gains, we are referred to air quality .
An argument at the very least fallacious, since the air breathed between the cars is the same as that breathed inside via the air conditioning. Above all, breathing in the fresh air will always be healthier than breathing in air-conditioned air.
However, there are other benefits and this last argument is a bit like the tree that hides the forest. Whether you travel on foot, by bike, on a scooter or otherwise, you will get physical exercise . You activate your body by walking, cycling, etc. And the body needs this to stay healthy.
According to this study, in English, walking or cycling makes you less stressed . And it also helps to maintain your cardiovascular system, your arteries, your immune system, etc. Finally, you meet and meet people, sometimes chat with them. There is a social aspect much more present than in the car. An aspect that we find in particular among bikers who often consider themselves as a big family.
Ecology is also a factor of change and a positive aspect to abandoning the car. The ecological impact of a car is not negligible and going without it makes a real difference, on the scale of the person.
If we are to believe the figures from COP23 :
To be able to live without a car, you have to use alternative means of transport, but also reduce your trips!
Home delivery allows you to have it delivered directly to your home rather than having to travel. Unlike you, the delivery person has a route that allows him to reduce travel. And above all, he delivers several people at the same time. The gain is as much in time (for you), as at the economic level (employment of a delivery person) and ecological (fewer emissions). How do I find available offers? Just look on the internet for signs that offer this service, preferably free of charge.
Why always travel to work when it is possible to work from home ? Not all jobs allow this, of course. But many companies active in the service allow you to benefit from one day per week of teleworking, and therefore reduce your journeys by 20% at the same time.
Even if it means abandoning the car, why not decide to approach life differently ? You can find everything you need in town. There are schools nearby, many open shops, internet services. All this allows you to change your pace and take time as it comes, more at ease.