Couldn't agree more! In the US public transportation is often something to be endured. In Paris (in particular) it is a constant source of pleasure, at least for me. Every ride on a bus or in the metro is a story, every station an adventure. And then, on the rare occasions I need a car, sharing or renting affords the advantages of driving without the headaches of ownership. I'm pretty sure that when the French Revolution added "liberté" to the national motto, they were talking about freedom from owning, insuring, and maintaining an automobile.
I've lived in Europe for 6 and 1/2 years without a car. And I've lived in France for 4 and 1/2 years without even a driver's license! So, no rentals.
I loved driving. I always drove a stick shift from my very first car, which was a 1964 Simca, a French car! Who knew? When the car broke down, which was every other week, I would just put my foot outside the door and push. 😂😂 For the rest of my driving life of 55 years, I almost always drove stick shifts by choice.
But for the last 4 and 1/2 years no car, 😊 no problem!
I had dreams of giving up my car when I retired and using Zip or Freee-2-Move or one of the other share-car services we have in DC. I had multiple professions /jobs, but for my last one, a college professor, I commuted to outside of Philadelphia from Washington, DC. I had not owned a car in DC before taking this job (1982 through 2001--love public transit here), and initially I had planned to buy a monthly Amtrak pass to commute daily. That plan was dashed when I discovered that the local train from 30th Street had been discontinued and it would make daily commuting impossible logistically. So I got a car and rented a room and went up Monday nights and returned Thursday afternoon.
My late husband, Eddie, owned a car, but he always bought high ends (Porsche, Mercedes) with stick, which I could not drive. When in DC, I rarely drove but hopped around by foot, bus, and Metro. (And when we first met he did not have a car, and we rented when need be.) After his death though, I realized his illness and my heavy workload (grading, grading, grading, tons of service, reading) had left me without a social circle or friends. (One couple I have been friends with for years have health issues and do not go out really, and another friend travels all the time and is rarely here.) The fall semester after Eddie's death I would return to DC Thursday and then was at home alone until I left for the university on Monday. I saw no one except an occasional neighbor.
To cut to the chase, I realized I had to reinvent myself and pushed myself to get out and meet new people. I succeeded (easier to do in the DC area than elsewhere) and now have a wide circle of friends from music lovers to hikers and kayakers, to public transit enthusiasts. Twenty or so have become very close friends, and we even travel together now. Yet, the downside is that they live all over the area and most locations and activities (save for my daytime adventures with the public transit enthusiasts group) require a car drive 30 to 75 minutes one way. Public transit would either be much longer with transfers and/or not doable to travel at midnight or so to DC alone (if in the city I take the Metro by myself at midnight and feel safe). And I am now out 5 nights or so every week. So I kept my car. Uber, Zip and the like (only 1 spot/location within a mile of me, and I live in a very populated area of the city--it is always gone), and so forth would not be feasible under these circumstances.
Frankly, I am still surprised at these turn of events. I am someone who found Silver Spring, Maryland, to be outer the suburbs and so, so far away... but now it seems as if it is my back yard. And rather than feeling hampered by not owning a car, I felt free.
I was thinking of the irony of your post and my misfortune last night with the auto...having the battery replaced today but also testing to see if it is the alternator!
Takes me back to my first- a 67 Doge Dart with a slant 6... my stepdad traded a pool table for it... We are keeping our 20 year-old Volvo going until we decide what we're doing; going back and forth to France for now, but I refuse to buy another car here. Those are interesting options. I think we're sold...
We retired to France after living in the US for 70 years. The last 10 years I drove an hour each way to work everyday. I was hit from behind at a red stop light 3 times in the last couple of years because drivers were looking at their cell phone and not paying attention to the road in Florida. In France I have two more free hours in each day and live where everything is a 10 walk away from our apartment. Life is better without a car!
OMG Thank you for this post. This system will be life-changing for us in France. Still gotta make sure we have a license, so that’s not nothing, but what a great convenience compared to car ownership.
What’s the “landscape” (sorry, can’t think of another word) around liability insurance? If you have an accident and someone is hurt?
It's my understanding that third-party liability insurance is included with ALL car rentals in France. (That is, it's covered by the rental agency, and does not require additional insurance paid by the driver.) There are deductibles for damage, but €3 of my monthly Citiz membership of €15 goes toward reducing the deductible, if needed.
Oh, this post went straight to my heart! I didn’t get my driver’s license until I was 28. Yep! Because of my year spent in Switzerland while in college, I loved walking everywhere (or taking the bus or train), and tried to NOT drive as a young professional in Providence, RI. I lived where I could walk to work. I. Hate. Driving.
And that was always in mind as we considered a move abroad, so I applaud you both for giving up the incredible expense of owning a car. All of your points are positive (smaller travel cups!). I think it’s wonderful. I wish I could do it.
Living in a small village in Normandie we had to get a car-we rent from LeClerc monthly and it includes insurance, maintenance, etc. but I buy gas (they do have elec cars, but it's not for us yet). I truly love driving highways. living at 30+ addresses from PA to FL (I know 95 exits like they were a street grid :) ) and usually living 30-45 minutes from my jobs (not gridlock, but distance) I thoroughly enjoyed my radio alone time with left arm out the window (it is still darker than my right arm). But when we move to a slightly large village in a few months we will be blocks from everything--including our doctor, pharmacie, grocery, Mairie, "downtown" and there is an Intermarche at the other end of the main street where they rent cars, so... we may end up more like you but in rural Normandie! More likely we will end up with a tiny car as mom's walking is limited. But I will be able to walk places instead of going to outside to talk to my cow neighbors (who I will miss dearly). I do love driving the highways and will love taking long road trips... it is so wonderful how people know how to drive here and actually follow the rules of the road! I love it!
Couldn't agree more! In the US public transportation is often something to be endured. In Paris (in particular) it is a constant source of pleasure, at least for me. Every ride on a bus or in the metro is a story, every station an adventure. And then, on the rare occasions I need a car, sharing or renting affords the advantages of driving without the headaches of ownership. I'm pretty sure that when the French Revolution added "liberté" to the national motto, they were talking about freedom from owning, insuring, and maintaining an automobile.
I've lived in Europe for 6 and 1/2 years without a car. And I've lived in France for 4 and 1/2 years without even a driver's license! So, no rentals.
I loved driving. I always drove a stick shift from my very first car, which was a 1964 Simca, a French car! Who knew? When the car broke down, which was every other week, I would just put my foot outside the door and push. 😂😂 For the rest of my driving life of 55 years, I almost always drove stick shifts by choice.
But for the last 4 and 1/2 years no car, 😊 no problem!
I had dreams of giving up my car when I retired and using Zip or Freee-2-Move or one of the other share-car services we have in DC. I had multiple professions /jobs, but for my last one, a college professor, I commuted to outside of Philadelphia from Washington, DC. I had not owned a car in DC before taking this job (1982 through 2001--love public transit here), and initially I had planned to buy a monthly Amtrak pass to commute daily. That plan was dashed when I discovered that the local train from 30th Street had been discontinued and it would make daily commuting impossible logistically. So I got a car and rented a room and went up Monday nights and returned Thursday afternoon.
My late husband, Eddie, owned a car, but he always bought high ends (Porsche, Mercedes) with stick, which I could not drive. When in DC, I rarely drove but hopped around by foot, bus, and Metro. (And when we first met he did not have a car, and we rented when need be.) After his death though, I realized his illness and my heavy workload (grading, grading, grading, tons of service, reading) had left me without a social circle or friends. (One couple I have been friends with for years have health issues and do not go out really, and another friend travels all the time and is rarely here.) The fall semester after Eddie's death I would return to DC Thursday and then was at home alone until I left for the university on Monday. I saw no one except an occasional neighbor.
To cut to the chase, I realized I had to reinvent myself and pushed myself to get out and meet new people. I succeeded (easier to do in the DC area than elsewhere) and now have a wide circle of friends from music lovers to hikers and kayakers, to public transit enthusiasts. Twenty or so have become very close friends, and we even travel together now. Yet, the downside is that they live all over the area and most locations and activities (save for my daytime adventures with the public transit enthusiasts group) require a car drive 30 to 75 minutes one way. Public transit would either be much longer with transfers and/or not doable to travel at midnight or so to DC alone (if in the city I take the Metro by myself at midnight and feel safe). And I am now out 5 nights or so every week. So I kept my car. Uber, Zip and the like (only 1 spot/location within a mile of me, and I live in a very populated area of the city--it is always gone), and so forth would not be feasible under these circumstances.
Frankly, I am still surprised at these turn of events. I am someone who found Silver Spring, Maryland, to be outer the suburbs and so, so far away... but now it seems as if it is my back yard. And rather than feeling hampered by not owning a car, I felt free.
Nancy, given last night's events, I think the automobile universe is conspiring against you.
I was thinking of the irony of your post and my misfortune last night with the auto...having the battery replaced today but also testing to see if it is the alternator!
Oh you have nailed it again! I'm enroute with getting my permis and debating about the car thing.
For context, I'm on vaycay in California and every day I am nuts with happiness driving around on my own in my rental car! Nuts!
I have been counting the days when I can finally do the same in France.
Not that I haven't had my doubts for the reasons you mention.
I am moving to the Morbihan so may need one depending on how rural.
But for now, while covoiturage is unlikely,
I'm seriously considering other options like renting periodically.
A cart and pony?
In any case, thank you for such a thought provoking piece.
Takes me back to my first- a 67 Doge Dart with a slant 6... my stepdad traded a pool table for it... We are keeping our 20 year-old Volvo going until we decide what we're doing; going back and forth to France for now, but I refuse to buy another car here. Those are interesting options. I think we're sold...
I learned to drive with a Plymouth Scamp, which was modeled after the Dart. It was like a shoebox on wheels.
We retired to France after living in the US for 70 years. The last 10 years I drove an hour each way to work everyday. I was hit from behind at a red stop light 3 times in the last couple of years because drivers were looking at their cell phone and not paying attention to the road in Florida. In France I have two more free hours in each day and live where everything is a 10 walk away from our apartment. Life is better without a car!
OMG Thank you for this post. This system will be life-changing for us in France. Still gotta make sure we have a license, so that’s not nothing, but what a great convenience compared to car ownership.
What’s the “landscape” (sorry, can’t think of another word) around liability insurance? If you have an accident and someone is hurt?
It's my understanding that third-party liability insurance is included with ALL car rentals in France. (That is, it's covered by the rental agency, and does not require additional insurance paid by the driver.) There are deductibles for damage, but €3 of my monthly Citiz membership of €15 goes toward reducing the deductible, if needed.
Oh, this post went straight to my heart! I didn’t get my driver’s license until I was 28. Yep! Because of my year spent in Switzerland while in college, I loved walking everywhere (or taking the bus or train), and tried to NOT drive as a young professional in Providence, RI. I lived where I could walk to work. I. Hate. Driving.
And that was always in mind as we considered a move abroad, so I applaud you both for giving up the incredible expense of owning a car. All of your points are positive (smaller travel cups!). I think it’s wonderful. I wish I could do it.
I wish we had a car share service in Antibes!
Living in a small village in Normandie we had to get a car-we rent from LeClerc monthly and it includes insurance, maintenance, etc. but I buy gas (they do have elec cars, but it's not for us yet). I truly love driving highways. living at 30+ addresses from PA to FL (I know 95 exits like they were a street grid :) ) and usually living 30-45 minutes from my jobs (not gridlock, but distance) I thoroughly enjoyed my radio alone time with left arm out the window (it is still darker than my right arm). But when we move to a slightly large village in a few months we will be blocks from everything--including our doctor, pharmacie, grocery, Mairie, "downtown" and there is an Intermarche at the other end of the main street where they rent cars, so... we may end up more like you but in rural Normandie! More likely we will end up with a tiny car as mom's walking is limited. But I will be able to walk places instead of going to outside to talk to my cow neighbors (who I will miss dearly). I do love driving the highways and will love taking long road trips... it is so wonderful how people know how to drive here and actually follow the rules of the road! I love it!
Just a quick question. Is there an upper age limit to using Citiz? I see that non-residents can access, but couldn’t see if they restrict to <75.
I know some car rental agencies cap your eligible age at 75, but I don't think that's the case with Citiz. You just need a valid license.