Most of us grew up believing that cars are an unavoidable part of life. But did you know 26% of New Haven residents are already living car-free?
Time to start thinking outside the car! A car free life is easy and possible, and here are some reasons why:
5 Reasons a Car-Free Life is Right for You
1) You want to take better care of the environment!
The US has 5% of the world's population, yet emits 50% of the world's automotive CO2. These emissions warm the atmosphere, negatively affecting ecosystems, causing extinctions of species, and extreme weather situations like floods and droughts.
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If your goal is to help us cut back on CO2 emissions...
CO2
You can travel 13x farther on a bike than in a car, with the same carbon footprint!
CO2
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Walking decreases chances of:
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Obesity
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Diabetes
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Arthritis
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Depression
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Anxiety
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Dementia
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Heart Disease
2) You value a healthy lifestyle
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How many times have you promised yourself you'd actually go to the gym? Instead of letting that gym membership waste away, make exercise a part of your daily life by walking and biking!
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While driving increases chances of:
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Obesity
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Depression
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Anxiety
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High cholesterol
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High blood pressure
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Sleep loss
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Back pain
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Did you know that it is 60 times safer to take a bus than to drive a car?
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For parents, since safety is your main priority, you should know that
children are 70 times more likely to arrive at school safely on a school bus than in a car!
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Learn more about the safety benefits of car-free living
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If you could save on average $8,000 a year, what would you spend it on?
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That's how much you would save by switching from driving a car to taking the bus.
As crazy as it sounds, the average cost of a car per month is equal to the cost of a bus pass for a year!
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Read more about the money you and your family will be able to save
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Good news, you're already in the perfect city for a car-free life! With access to public transit like buses, trains, and shuttles, making the transition will be easy! Some people may also qualify for free rides to the doctors or delivered meals, all of which can make your car-free life easier!
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Check out our resources page to find more information.
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You can also go to CT ride's Custom Commute Plan to get personalized help.
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So, are YOU ready to be a car-free citizen?
Take the pledge!
Still not sure if a Car-Free life is right for you?
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We want to hear why! Email us at info@gonhgo.org to voice your concerns, hesitations, and suggestions and let us help you create a plan that works for you.
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Check out our FAQs page for more information.
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Read about the Rise in Car-Free Living nationwide.
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