Car-Free Mobility 2020!

Some of us have dreams of early retirement, home ownership, or starting a successful business. My dream for the last three years has been to not own a vehicle. The average person spends about $9,000 annually to own a car between payments, insurance, registration, maintenance...the list goes on. In some cases, the financial burden of financing a vehicle has plunged owners back below the poverty line shortly after transcending it. The ironic celebration of the milestone has sometimes been to purchase a new car.

An increasing number of millennials are opting out of vehicle ownership by moving to cities where such a lifestyle is feasible. Between thriving public transit, ride sharing, and the proliferation of apps like Lime and Bird - living car free is attainable depending on where one lives.

Imagine my joy when right here in St. Augustine, an initiative took shape with the help of bike rental company Drifters. Seemingly overnight, at least three outposts sprung up near the beach and uptown. The company partnered with the app Movatic to make unlocking and returning bikes super simple.

Recently, during my monthly “self-care Saturday,” I played tourist after going to the gym. The adventure began at Juniper Market for a chocolate latte. I was overdue for immersion in the shop’s bright, clean ambiance. I swooned over the Drifers outpost stationed near the entrance. Seeing the set up made me wax nostalgic for summers spent in Lyon, France and Calgary, Alberta. My recent summer traditions have consistently involved ditching my car in favor long walks, cycling and pensive train rides. 

Our quaint city is progressively moving in a direction that would ideally reduce dependency on cars. The trend’s benefits are obvious - lower carbon emissions, reduced traffic congestion, more opportunity for incidental exercise and a slower pace that would open our eyes to the overlooked gems of our community. 

The outposts are equipped with maps outlining other locations. Knowing I was headed to Cafe Eleven for brunch, I made note of an outpost a short walk away on 16th Street off of A1A. 

“Perfect!” I thought. I could park a few blocks away and ditch my car for at least a couple of hours in exchange for some beachside exploring that would also help me undo a bit of serious caloric damage. For me, brunch means French toast, bacon, eggs, ripe plantains and scrambled eggs (spring mix gets thrown in because food groups).

The outpost across from the OG Kookaburra Beachside shop boasts a blue and pink floral mural done by none other than Jenna Alexander. I love when some of my favorite cross-disciplinary minds meet in the name of bettering our little city. I grabbed a beautifully designed white bike and for an hour, I explored streets on which I’ve never stepped foot. Eventually, I toured a model home to catch my breath and get a little aesthetic inspo. The broker hosting the event happened to be a fellow GoHQ athlete. 

I’m proud of this mobility initiative. Hopefully it continues full speed ahead with additional support from local  business owners. We’re off to a great start!