GRIDLOCK 2020: Living car-free, not carefree
WATCH: In the final segment of our GRIDLOCK 2020 traffic series, we look at ways to cut congestion, pollution and parking by getting more people into fewer cars. Ceilidh Millar reports.
At the Berkhout family's home in James Bay, it's the typical morning rush like any household with kids.
Tom Berkhout and Claire Lewis help their two children dress for the winter weather before heading to work and school.
What's not typical about this scenario is the family's daily commute, opting to travel on foot or by bike, as they are car-free.
"Neither of us needed a car to commute to work," explained Lewis. "We decided just to try it for a year to see how it goes."
Ten years and two kids later, the family can't imagine their life with a car.
"What that means is, how do we do all the things we do in a regular a day without depending on a car" said Berkhout.
"I think it's easier than people realize," said Lewis. "A lot more of our life is centred within two kilometres of our house."
The car-free trend appears to be catching on across the Capital Region.
"In the last two years, I converted to cycling instead of driving," explained one man. "It saves me time, energy and money."
Costs of owning a vehicle
Can ditching your personal vehicle really save you money?
According to the B.C. Auto Association, owning a car can cost upwards of $10,000 a year when factoring in fuel, maintenance and insurance.
A single vehicle emits nearly 6,000 kilograms of carbon dioxide per year.
"You start to realize you don't need to go super far for the cheap grocery store because you're saving money on not owning a car" explained Lewis.
If the Berkhout's need a vehicle for out-of-town travel, they book a vehicle with a car-sharing service called Modo.
"We provide access to a fleet of vehicles to provide affordable, reliable and convenient transportation for people who are questioning the need to own a vehicle or questioning the need to own a second vehicle," explained Nicole Huk from Modo Co-operative.
Car-sharing services can help ease the transition to a car-free lifestyle.
"We find that people can save a lot of money," said Huk.
Car-free, not carefree
The Berkhout family admits being car-free isn't entirely carefree.
"It's definitely a lifestyle decision," said Berkhout. "Our place is smaller because we live in James Bay and not out in Sooke. We could only afford something a little smaller, but it works for us."
They recommend other families give it a try.
"Just give it a try," said Berkhout. "If you have two cars and you're thinking of getting rid of one car, do it and try it out."
