You may be familiar with our Car Lite blog series profiling Rochesterarians who live with little dependence (but not NO dependence) on a car. But every so often we come across someone living entirely car free. Read about Libby’s life without a car below. We hope these stories inspire you to try out a car-lite lifestyle!
I’ve Never Had a Driver’s License And I Don’t Want One
By Libby Linn:
I have been car free my entire life. Growing up downstate I never felt any urgency to get a driver’s license. When my classmates turned sixteen, they couldn’t wait to learn to drive. I felt the opposite. My family car had a manual transmission, and without someone available to teach me, learning felt like a hurdle I wasn’t interested in clearing. I planned to stay in cities where public transportation already existed. A car simply wasn’t part of the future I imagined.
Cars always made me anxious. Then, in 2007, my brother was killed in a car crash that wasn’t his fault. That was the last straw. It’s been almost twenty years and I still have no desire to own a car.
Living near NYC and then abroad in Europe, I saw how transit can easily work for residents. When you have frequent service you don’t need to plan your trip ahead of time and you can still get around without much trouble. Transit wasn’t viewed as something people used only because they couldn’t afford a car, it was simply how people got around. I wish we thought about transit that way here.
People assume being car-free means giving something up. In some ways, it does. I sacrifice some convenience but I save so much money. I don’t buy gas. I don’t pay for insurance. I don’t pay for maintenance, repairs, parking tickets, registration, inspections, or car payments. To me, owning a car sounds expensive and exhausting. People don’t seem to understand the economic toll this takes, it blows my mind.
When I moved to Rochester in September 2020 for a job I found that RTS is not the quality I’m used to but it mostly works for me and what I need. I’ve intentionally centralized almost all of my healthcare near Alexander Park so I can ride the Park Avenue bus and walk the final few blocks to my appointments. My therapist meets with me online. Walmart delivers my groceries.
Despite its shortcomings, I believe RTS deserves more investment. How else can it get better?
When I look for work, I first ask whether it’s within walking distance or accessible by a single bus (usually bus 10 or 41). I’ve had two previous jobs in College Town because the 41 made them practical. I’m starting a hospitality course at the Rochester Educational Opportunity Center, something made possible because the Route 10 gets me there. I’d love to work in a hotel, which means I apply only to hotels I can reasonably reach by transit or on foot. The Strathallan became one of those opportunities simply because I can walk there.
To get to my church on South Winton, I ride the 10 as far as East Avenue Wegmans, then walk the rest of the way over the hill. I love Route 41 because it travels across the city without requiring a trip downtown, connecting neighborhoods directly. Recently I covered an event at Artisan Church near Highland Park. I walked from my apartment on Park Avenue to Goodman Street, caught the Route 41 Crosstown bus, got off near Clinton, and walked the rest of the way. I’m a big walker. I like that it keeps me healthy. Walking to catch a bus doesn’t bother me; it’s just part of my routine.
My biggest frustration isn’t riding the bus. It’s where the bus doesn’t go. Rochester’s buses often require riders to funnel through downtown before reaching another destination. Some places depend on RTS On Demand, but I don’t find that system convenient enough to rely on. I could easily work in retail, I just can’t realistically get to Eastview Mall. Despite its shortcomings, I believe RTS deserves more investment. How else can it get better?
I only use Uber as an absolute last resort. For special events, I’m happy to carpool if that’s an option but if I can’t make it then I just won’t go. This is a lifestyle choice that I’m comfortable with because I don’t feel safe driving. Honestly, I have trouble feeling safe in Rochester as a pedestrian too. I walk around a lot and see people flying through red lights. Drivers seem careless. I don’t love walking through it but you’ll never find me driving.
There are other people in my building like me. People may be surprised to hear how many of us are car free in Rochester. I’m not waiting until I can afford a car. I’m choosing not to own one. And despite the challenges, I wouldn’t have it any other way.
At Reconnect, we’re inspired by the stories of people in our community, like Lorie Reilly, Charles Rubin, and Josie McClary, who are passionate about living a car lite or car free lifestyle. If you want to support our work and make it easier for others to go car lite please donate and sign up for Mobility Action Alerts to stay in the loop with opportunities of how to advocate for safer streets and transportation options.
Let us know if you want to share your mobility story! What’s in it for you? The intrinsic reward of knowing you’ve inspired others, and a free t-shirt from our online shop! Contact Chaz to submit your story.