Arlington's Car-Free Diet Blog

January 29 Car-Free Diet Expo Features "How To Live Well Without Owning A Car" Author Chris Balish

Co-host of the TV show The CW Now and author of How To Live Well Without Owning A Car, Chris Balish, will be visiting the area from Los Angeles as he attends Arlington's Car-Free Diet Expo on Tuesday morning, January 29. This is your chance to meet the author and get an autographed and free copy of the Special Arlington, Virginia Edition of his book, which can be your practical guide for going on the Car-Free Diet.

Says Google about the book:

"The first practical, accessible, and sensible guide to living in North America without owning a car. It exposes the true costs of car ownership and shows how getting rid of your car can simplify your life and put you on the road to financial freedom. The book is packed with realistic, economical alternatives to owning a car, including chapters on carsharing, carpooling, and even car-free dating. It includes more than 100 real-world tips, strategies, and success stories from people who are happily car-free or "car-lite," from cities to suburbs. According to a 2004 American Automobile Association study, the average American spends $8,410 per year (roughly $700 per month) to own a vehicle."

The Expo, held at the hotel Palomar in Rosslyn, has two sessions. The first from 8:00 - 10:00 am is designed for the business community and property managers to help them help their employees and tenants go car-free or car-lite. The second session from 10:30 until 12:00 noon is designed to give anyone practical tips on going car-free or car-lite. All attendees will receive a free autographed copy of Mr. Balish's book and be eligible for many prizes being given away by the dozen vendors there to provide you with information. RSVP today!  Send us an email or call 703.247.9299.

And here's a fun YouTube video of a report from a L.A. TV station report about Chris' story about the book. Hope to see you at the Expo!

---

Chris Hamilton is the Commuter Services Chief for Arlington County, manager of CommuterPageBlog and a biking/Metro commuter from Rosemont in Alexandria.

Giving Up My Car to Make a Political Statement

In the summer of 2006, my 1996 red Volkswagen Jetta remained idle in the parking lot of my apartment building as I bagan to take the 3A Metrobus to Rosslyn Metro Station for my commute in Georgetown.

(Some people say it's impossible to get into Georgetown via public transportation; even though it is tunnel-less, it is not bus-less. The 38B and the Georgetown Metro Connection take me into and out of Georgetown in very time-friendly manners.)

And then three months later, at the gasping of friends and the wrinkled brows of family, I -- a young, 20-something professional and social butterfly -- gave away my car, and have been car-free ever since.

With the current and on-going environmental concerns, and the ever-so-daunting political arguments over the war, oil and economy, Ifelt it was my duty to contribute the only way I could. By giving up my car, I do my part of cleansing the air (among other things) and making a political statement.

Julie Weber, Arlington

Go Car-Free and Feel Zenned Out, Relaxed and Lighter

Last month we found found inspiration for going car-free in a story from Los Angeles (Inspiration for Going Car-Free from L.A. Yes, That's Los Angeles, December 16, 2007) about Simon Pastucha, city planner and father of two, who went car-free. So now comes another inspirational car-free story from the city everyone associates with the automobile. This time, L.A. Times blogger Seil - who writes the environmental blog Emerald City: Siel Follows The Road To Green Living Los Angeles - shares the story of "L.A. girl Kathryn Pope" (Car-Free in L.A.: Girl Meets Motorboard, January 17) who is going car-free by using a combination of an electric motorboard scooter, public transit and carsharing. Says Kathryn:

"Then once this October, while the car was in the shop, I decided not to let my car interfere with my life anymore, and I took the bus. I read while I traveled. I watched people around me. I looked out the window. And when I got where I was going, I was downright zenned out."

The zen-like experience led Kathryn to make the decision to eventually go car-free. And now she says:

"The thing I'm enjoying most about being car-free is how relaxed I've become. It actually feels like a luxury to let someone else drive me from place to place. I feel more a part of the community, because I'm not isolated from it, and I feel considerably lighter."

Now that's very nicely said, isn't it?

You can follow Kathryn's story in Siel's "De-car-ing" series.

---

Chris Hamilton is the Commuter Services Chief for Arlington County, manager of CommuterPageBlog and a biking/Metro commuter from Rosemont in Alexandria.

Learn How To Go Car-Free or Car-Lite at Arlington's Car-Free Expo January 29

The first must-attend "green" event of the 2008 season is Arlington's Car-Free Diet Expo. The event, to be held at the brand spanking new and gleaming Hotel Palomar in Rosslyn (2 blocks from the Metro) on the morning of January 29, has something for everyone. Breakfast will be provided. Attendees can register to win many door prizes and everyone will get a chance to meet Chris Balish and receive a free autographed copy of the "Special Arlington Virginia" edition of his book "How To Live Well Without Owning A Car."

Employers and property managers will get to learn about the services of Arlington Transportation Partners. Everyone will get to attend speed learning sessions with national experts covering information on transportation services and programs as well as other green services available in Arlington. Fresh AIRE and Arlington Recycles staff will also be on hand to teach you what your business or property can do to be environmentally friendly.

Exhibitors include Zipcar, TeleworkVA!, GoLoco, Whole Foods, Arlingtonians for a Clean Environment, Fresh AIRE, Bike and Walk Arlington, Arlington Recycles and many more (for a full list visit the Expo web page). Each of these vendors will be providing great prizes including free energy audits and more. These will be listed on the web site shortly.

Visit Arlington's Car-Free Diet Expo web page for more information and don't forget to RSVP. Send us an email or call 703.247.9299. See you on the 29th!

---

Chris Hamilton is the Commuter Services Chief for Arlington County, manager of CommuterPageBlog and a biking/Metro commuter from Rosemont in Alexandria.

Car-Free in Milwaukee!?

A couple of weeks ago I was riding the Metro and overheard an interesting interaction.  A newbie rider got on, and a conversation ensued between her and a couple of other riders, who seemed to be regulars.  She mentioned that she was from Milwaukee, and one of her interlocutors mentioned that he had gone to college there a decade or so ago.  So, as people will, they chatted about various places they knew in common and were having quite a pleasant little talk.  Then out of nowhere the gentleman who had gone to college there said, ". . .and it's easy to live there without a car."
What a surprise!--for a couple of reasons.

First, the whole idea of relating to a stranger that living without a car is an advantage in our car-culture society was quite unusual.  And second, Milwaukee is not a city that immediately comes to mind when one thinks of places to live without owning cars.

So if they can do it in Milwaukee, then the Car-Free diet in Arlington should be even easier.  Those of you who read Chris Balish's How to Live Well Without a Car may recall that the author started out in St. Louis, which is probably not that dissimilar from Milwaukee for living car-free.
=============================
Steve Offutt is an Arlington resident who lives car-lite, but yearns for the day he can be car-free again.

A couple of weeks ago I was riding the Metro and overheard an interesting interaction.  A newbie rider got on, and a conversation ensued between her and a couple of other riders, who seemed to be regulars.  She mentioned that she was from Milwaukee, and one of her interlocutors mentioned that he had gone to college there a decade or so ago.  So, as people will, they chatted about various places they knew in common and were having quite a pleasant little talk.  Then out of nowhere the gentleman who had gone to college there said, ". . .and it's easy to live there without a car."
What a surprise!--for a couple of reasons.

First, the whole idea of relating to a stranger that living without a car is an advantage in our car-culture society was quite unusual.  And second, Milwaukee is not a city that immediately comes to mind when one thinks of places to live without owning cars.

So if they can do it in Milwaukee, then the Car-Free diet in Arlington should be even easier.  Those of you who read Chris Balish's How to Live Well Without a Car may recall that the author started out in St. Louis, which is probably not that dissimilar from Milwaukee for living car-free.
=============================
Steve Offutt is an Arlington resident who lives car-lite, but yearns for the day he can be car-free again.

New Car that I Don't Drive

I own a fairly new car. I have not driven this car since the day I bought it because I rely exclusively on the Metrobus and Metrorail for commuting. I live in a small, expensive apartment where I tolerate large rent increases every year just so I can walk to the excellent public transportation nearby.

Marie Kessler, Arlington

Nothing New to Me

All this is nothing new to me. I have been without a car for over 7 years. I live near Metro and use Zipcars if I need to. I also walk to many places in Arlington and Washington, DC. By doing so I save money and burn calories not gas...

David Franciosi, Arlington

Car-Free Diet Success Story

I gave up my car in July  and it has been the healthiest decision I have ever made. I have since lost 10 pounds and a couple of dress sizes. I saw the poster on the Metro about the Car-Free Diet and I realized that the diet was working for me.

Kathleen Mackin, Alexandria