It’s almost inconceivable to most Americans. Owning a house in the suburbs, 2 cars (maybe one of which is a station wagon, SUV, or minivan), and 2 ½ kids has been the American dream since the end of World War II. Most Americans have not lived a significant portion of their lives without a car except for when it was in the shop for repairs. When this happens, they usually tell the mechanic, “I need my car.” As I used to tell my kids all the time, “Need” is a strong word.

One of the reasons why Americans feel they “need” their car is that they actually do. Trying to live in the United States without a car is extremely difficult unless you live in one of very few places like Boston, NYC, or Chicago. Even in those places, you may feel trapped without means of an exit. Walking is only practical for short distances (especially with groceries). Buses and trains have limited reach and destinations. Getting to work using public transportation can double or triple the time needed for most Americans. This reduces time available for other activities to a bare minimum. Of course, in many cases public transportation is not available near people’s homes or workplaces or both.

Most European cities and countries are laid out differently. Since the vast majority of European development occurred well before the advent of the automobile, cities and towns are not spread out as much as you would find in the United States. Superstores like Sam’s Club, Costco, and Walmart with parking lots the size of small towns are not nearly as prevalent, while smaller shops, cafes, and restaurants are. Town squares are often not only pedestrian-friendly, but often pedestrian-exclusive – cars not even permitted. The following pictures are of different cities throughout Europe. What do you notice about cars?

Gibraltar

Windsor, U.K.

Albufeira, the Algarve, Portugal

Prague, Czech

Vienna, Austria

HOA Neighborhoods are rare as well. Growing up in suburban Atlanta, my family lived in a neighborhood with a pool and tennis court and about 200 houses. It took 5 minutes just to drive out of the neighborhood. The nearest grocery store was a supermarket about 5 miles away. To walk anywhere was not practical, and there was no public transportation anywhere close to us. Without a car, we might as well have been living in the woods like Ted Kasinski.

Europe has experienced a little growth and suburbanization, but not nearly as much as the states. The neighborhoods are almost always connected to nearby cities, towns, and villages by rail. The amount of people using rail transportation in Europe is exponentially larger than the U.S. Not only do they use the train daily to get to work, they also use it to visit other nearby cities and towns, and even to visit other countries. Take a look at this comparison:

As you can see, All of Europe, is connected by rail. Not only is it connected, the schedule is brimming with various times of departures and arrivals. The tracks are busy with trains constantly. This means you do not have to take the 7am train to get somewhere at noon because the next train is at 2pm. Naturally, these times vary based on which areas your are travelling. For instance, you would never need to wait more than 15 minutes for the next train when using the tube in London. It’s constant. Even between cities in the U.K., you will have several options in times during the day and week.

There is no stigma!

One of the adjustments many Americans need to make when in Europe is the prejudices they might bring with them concerning public transportation. To many people in the U.S., what car you drive says a lot about you. The car is a status symbol. Newer and more expensive cars are the ultimate in conspicuous wealth. Older and cheaper cars may bring the owner a little shame or envy when meeting with others. Of course, the ultimate humiliation is having no car and needing to take the bus.

Since cars are generally not necessary in Europe, owning one is a matter of personal preference, and not generally seen as a statement on one’s socio-economic status. In fact, since parking can be a challenge in many European cities, those who need to have a car for work are often envious of those who do not need a car. That’s one less thing to worry about, not to mention the expense.

It’s safe

Another reason Americans are hesitant to embrace life without a car is the general unease they have with public transportation in the United States. It’s no secret that subways, commuter trains, and buses in the U.S. are not generally well-kept. In fact, in many cities public transportation is mocked and ridiculed for its graffiti, homeless, violence, and crime. It’s a vicious circle: Public transportation is not good, it’s best to avoid if you can, those who can do, the only ones left are the ones with no options (criminals, homeless, working poor), public transportation gets worse.

In Europe, everyone uses public transportation, all the time. As such, there is incentive among elected officials to keep it efficient, clean, and accessible. Too many voters are watching. In the states, many of the people using public transportation do not vote so what incentives do government officials have to keep it nice? The answer, of course, is none. Therefore, the problem keeps getting worse.

I recently spent two months in Europe in various cities and countries. From the U.K to Portugal to Italy to Austria and a few others in between. Picture this. I had a computer bag and a small suitcase. I made my way through the continent with no car. Well, I rented one car for a couple of days, and it was such a pain in the neck – I wish I hadn’t. Life was so much easier without the car, and that was while I was very busy travelling, seeing sites, and participating in all kinds of activities. A car would be even more unnecessary if I had just been in one place the whole time.

Once you try it, you may not want to go back. Not once did I complain about traffic, other drivers, or experience road rage. Nope, while I was going from place to place, I read my book, listened to music, or just watched the scenic countryside. Life is more peaceful when you aren’t driving.