Going Carless - The Bloom is Off the Road Part 1

I haven’t written in a few weeks about my life without a car. These have been weeks of rumination and observation. And frustration. I didn’t want to report on the down side of going car-less. But our Patch editor pointed out, rightly so, that if I’m going to write about the up side of the experience, then I should write about the down side if there is a down side. And there certainly is a down side.

Correction: There are many downsides.

To wit, a tale:

I went into San Rafael in a friend’s car yesterday. It was a bit of an anniversary for me. It has been two months since I drove my car anywhere. I took the lift to SR for a simple reason. I hadn’t seen my friend alone, without her young offspring in a while, and I figured since she was doing her Saturday morning work commute into SF, we could ride along and talk for fifteen minutes. I could take the bus back to Fairfax shortly after that. I was so wrong.

She left me off around 9:16, so I just missed the 23 (bus) back home. The next bus was in an hour. No matter. I had a coffee and a knish at House of Bagels. I walked to Staples and got some much needed printer’s ink. I noodled around on Fourth Street. Then I stood dutifully at the bus stop on Fourth near Azimendi Bakery. I was there for about 20 minutes, thinking the bus was now late, when I noticed a sign about the size of a business card, high up on the bus stop pole that said since there was a bike race in the afternoon, all bus routes down Fourth Street would start at E Street. Ah! Okay. Things happen. I’ll saunter over to E Steet.

I got to E Street.  I stood with a man who was going to College of Marin for a class and he said the bus was due in ten minutes. We were there for over an hour. With connections and what not, I returned to my home at 1 p.m. My fifteen minute visit with my friends had taken almost four hours.

So, it’s time to tell you the truth of what my last few weeks have taught me of the unpleasantness of going car-less.

1) It’s Physically Rigorous – I am not an athlete. I exercise daily, I hike, I do yoga and now I ride my bike every day. But I am no Marathon Woman. In this weather, which often gets close to 100 degrees, my rides to San Rafael or to Larkspur or wherever for meetings have often been torturous. And no matter where you go in Marin, even if the road looks flat as a cracker, there are hills. I hate hills.

2) The Buses are Not Always on Time — If you have a car, you can always shave your timing a little close. With bus and even bike travel, you never really know. My simple bus routes are pretty much on time. But when I have to take three or four buses, I risk real trouble. I had a meeting with a potential donor in an office out beyond Home Depot. Two buses got me to San Rafael and the line for the 42, which goes ultimately to Richmond. The 42 is always late. I waited and waited with other frustrated souls who were trying  to get to connections in the East Bay and were really upset. I hopped a cab. It cost me $20 to make it to my meeting on time. I didn’t have enough cash. The driver didn’t want a credit card. I arrived at the meeting a little worse for wear.

Last week riding on my bike some distance, I got a flat. It was a day of a special community event. I was wearing a white starched blouse, my best black pants and a decent pair of shoes with a tiny heel. I walked the bike the rest of the way. I looked like I had slept in my clothes by the time I got to my destination.

3) The Noises on the Bus Can be Maddening -- The tinny and buzzing sounds of repetitious drums and hissing cymbals are all over every bus. Many riders are listening to pounding tunes with earbuds that are not doing their job. The bus is full of noise. And cell phones? Do not get me started.

4) Schedules are Made for Commuter Traffic --  You can’t go into SF at night for a party or a play or a special event and then come home. You can go virtually nowhere on a Sunday. On any day, if you try for a movie in San Rafael, make it the four o’clock show. After 7 p.m. you will be stranded. In the end, I found that I ceased going to things. I have been sitting at home a lot. It was pleasant and relaxing at first. Now it’s a drag.