“A little more than six months ago I sold my car! I live and work in the beautiful city of Cape Town, South Africa, where cars are considered a non-negotiable necessity by almost everyone I know. For us our cars are synonymous with independence, flexibility and security. On the down side they lead to a more sedentary lifestyle, traffic jams, and a lot of cursing. So I decided to get a bicycle instead.
With the start of the city-wide bus routes last year, public transport in Cape Town is finally becoming a reality for everyone. Cycle lanes in the city are in development and bicycles are allowed on the bus. These changes enabled me to sell my five year old Tata Indica for a handful of cash, which I used to pay off some debt that I had, and I was left with enough to buy a brand new folding bicycle.
I’d never really cycled a lot before, so I was a little afraid of cycling in the city. To my suprise I found navigating the city streets a lot less intimidating than I previously imagined. People have been really kind and friendly along the way, greeting, smiling and sometimes even laughing out loud when I pass them. I feel welcome outdoors!
Going carfree not only saves me a bunch of money, but it also saves time. I can tell you this makes me pretty happy with my new lifestyle. My daily experience over these carfree months have been very positive, and I feel so far that the slight inconveniences can’t compete with the wind in my (sometimes slightly damp) hair.
I look forward to getting on my bike everyday.
To share my positive experience I created a little website www.carfee.co.za or twitter.com/carfreecapetown
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Meet Mariska, the maker behind the cool, new bike-bag brand, Pieta Designs.
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Win two tickets to this year’s Bicycle Film Festival – Cape Town!
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Win an Enjoy ProXision kit (bib shorts and jersey) in our latest Gear Giveaway. Find out how to enter here…
