Carless and Loving It - Reflections on the First Six Months

Hello dear readers! I realized this morning that we've been writing this blog for a little over six months already! I realize that this is the most cliche thing I could possibly say, but it really seems like just yesterday that we were sitting in McNellie's Pub, googling "hobbies for couples", and deciding to start a blog together. Yes, that's really how all of this started - the blog part, anyway. We've been without a car in OKC for about nine months now, and while this started as a great experiment, living without a car is now a seamless and inextricable part of our lives. I wanted to take a moment to reflect on some of the things we've done and learned in the first six(-ish) months of writing this blog.

Hanging out at our beloved Elemental Coffee.

1. Haters gonna hate. - "Hate" might be a strong word for it, but I can assure you that some people will never be convinced that living without a car isn't crazy. It doesn't matter how much you explain the health benefits, the environmental benefits, or the financial benefits, there are many people for whom the idea of living without a car seems truly impossible. It's incredible how many people will straight-up tell us that living without a car simply can't be done here in Oklahoma City, despite the fact that we're living proof that you can not only live, but thrive, car-free in OKC. That said...

John + bike at the Skydance Bridge.

2. OKC is an incredibly supportive community. - Since we've started Carless In OKC, we've received so much positive feedback regarding what we're doing here. From our radio interview on KOSU to our appearance on the Fox 25 local news, to our win for Best Green Blog in Green Oklahoma's Best of 2014 Reader's Choice Awards (which YOU won for us with your votes!), there's been no shortage of interest from OKC citizens. We discovered Timecar, which has become a valuable resource for us, because Benny Jacobs, their founder, heard about our blog and reached out to us. We've also met quite a few friends as a direct result of the blog, which is definitely helpful for us socially, considering that we moved here in September and didn't know anyone.

Enjoying The Loaded Bowl during H&8th the first weekend that we lived here.

3. Where there's a will, there's a way. - 99% of the time, we can get where we need to go and do the things we need to do with no problem whatsoever. There are other times when circumstances call for us to get a little more creative. In those instances, we implement the "patchwork" method of transportation, in which we'll utilize a combination of walking, cycling, riding the bus, taking a taxi or Uber, and/or renting a Timecar to achieve a certain errand. It takes some finesse, but it gives us a chance to flex our creative problem-solving muscles, and it transforms a typical weekend errand into an adventure that we can undertake together. 

John during one of our "patchwork" trips.

4. Being carless brings us closer together. - Not to get all sappy on you, but I firmly believe that living without a car has made us a stronger couple. The fact that we spend time on foot and biking together gives us a lot of extra time to talk and enjoy our surroundings as well as each other's company. Our experiences walking and cycling together stand in stark contrast against the times we've spent in the car, which are usually stressful because of traffic and navigating directions; additionally, whomever is driving must concentrate on the road, which creates a disconnect and is not conducive to quality time together. And like I said in #3, our otherwise-mundane travels sometimes turn into interesting journeys that we must figure out - facing that low-level adversity as a team strengthens our bond.

Ready for a carless Valentine's Day date at Packard's.

5. OKC is a city on the verge. - We knew there was something special about Oklahoma City from the first night we spent here when we visited for John's job interview. After an evening spent checking out the city and eating dinner at Redpin by the canal in Bricktown, we were hooked, and knew that we wanted to live here. Once John got the job and we made the move, our already-high expectations were met and exceeded again and again as we settled into our life here. Up-and-coming retail and entertainment districts? Check. Friendly people? Check. Top-tier NBA team? Check. Booming local economy? Check. Delicious food? Big-time check. Even the areas where we could hope for improvement are, for the most part, already being dealt with. Our biggest concern, the necessity for better public transportation and alternative transportation options, is an item that the city government has taken an interest in. The downtown streetcar, the MAPS 3 trails project, and the newly-passed extension of two bus routes (11 and 23) to offer evening service are all steps in the right direction toward a greater array of transportation options. One of our favorite things about OKC is the desire to improve, not just on the part of the citizens but also on the part of the city government. We moved here from a place where the city government seemed to actively try to implode the city at every turn, so it's refreshing to see a new, more positive attitude here. If Oklahoma City continues on its current trajectory, it will truly be a world-class city in the very near future, and we are so excited to be here to be a part of that.

OKC from our window.

Our first dinner & evening out in OKC at Redpin while we were here for John's job interview.

The first six months writing for Carless In OKC, and our first nine months of being carless in OKC, have been more rewarding than I could ever have imagined. What started as an interesting experiment has turned into a way of life for us, and we have no intention of going back to the car lifestyle. We can't thank you, our readers, enough for taking us in as part of your community. Here's to the next six months!

With that, we are off to a week-long vacation in one of the country's foremost walkable cities: Portland, Oregon! (Well, we're spending half the week in Portland and then the weekend in Bend for a friend's wedding.) We will report back soon with our experience of being Carless In Portland! Follow us on Twitter at @CarlessInOKC for pics and updates while we're there!