When Ellen first moved from New York to Los Angeles, she decided not to own a car as a “test”, she says. “I grew up without car culture in Vancouver, and I wanted to try it out for a year.”
Five years on, she still has no plans to buy one. “It’s certainly a stereotype that you can’t not drive [in LA], but a lot of people do get around without them. I sometimes dream of getting one for road trips, but I think I’ll just rent for now.”
Cargo bikes, bike trailers, panniers, messenger bags, backpacks, rental vans, delivery, et cetera. There are so many ways to bring all your shit with you without a car.
Heck, my university’s marching band members all get to their practice field without cars. Even the sousaphone players. There’s a CSA delivery guy who rides his cargo bike past my house daily. And nobody, but nobody, around here brings appliances and mattresses home in their cars. All of the stores offer home delivery.