Why no car?

We made the decision to go without a car for a number of reasons.

• First, the car we were using wasn't officially ours. It belonged to my dad. When we returned to the USA in February 2009, we had lived in Spain for the better part of 12 years.My father loaned us the car until we were established in the States.
• The second reason is our location. We now live in Toronto, Ontario, Canada near the downtown corridor, close to the subway line. Grocery stores are within walking distance. Many of our job-related visits are close to public transportation stops.
• A third reason is cost. Insurance rates in Canada are outrageous for "new" drivers. Although I have been driving since I was 17 and have a near perfect driving record, I am considered a new driver, and high-risk, to Canadian auto insurance companies. More about that in a later post.
• Fourth, I have access to a car when I need it. My job requires visits to some remote places outside the city. My employer has a two "mission vehicles" that are at my disposal when we need it. Plus, for personal trips, there are a number of rental companies with reasonable weekend rental rates.

There are some other reasons, but those four are the primary ones. 

Our decision to go without a car is not so altruistic, like saving the earth or reducing our carbon footprint. Nor is it for scandalous reasons like drunk driving violations or capital offenses. No, it is just because events entered our life and we are trying to make the right choice. But that choice is bringing some interesting changes into our lives and it is documenting those changes that is the subject of this blog.  We would love to hear your comments. Have you faced a similar choice? What did you decide?