Peak Oil is You
Donate Bitcoins ;-) or Paypal :-)
Page added on July 7, 2013
What’s Life Like in an Entirely Car-Free Town?
Every morning, along with brushing our teeth, we fight traffic—rush hour has us eating smog, texting at red lights and honking that hallowed horn. We drive because we have to. But do we?
Meet Mackinac, Michigan. This town, located in the center of its namesake islet in Lake Huron, has existed motorcar-free for 115 years and doesn’t plan on conforming any time soon.
Original village council legislation banned the use of “horseless carriages.” While the terminology is a bit outdated by today’s standards, the principle stands: Horse-drawn carriages, bikes and your own two feet are the only modes of transportation in this little getaway.
While Mackinac mostly serves as a quaint vacation spot for roughly 15,000 tourists every summer, the town is home to about 500 permanent residents, according to the 2010 Census.
“The air is cleaner and the injuries are fewer,” declared Bicycle Times. “Island residents are healthier due to the exercise…They also save a tremendous amount of money that would normally go to commuting by cars.”
Cruising down the M-185, Mackinacians are able to enjoy a carless, nine-mile highway free of ten-car pileups and gaudy sports cars to cut them off.
If only life were like this. Until then: Pollute, text and honk your hearts out.
5 Comments on "What’s Life Like in an Entirely Car-Free Town?"
BillT on Sun, 7th Jul 2013 2:38 pm
Be patient, it’s coming back.
DC on Sun, 7th Jul 2013 4:41 pm
I hope so BillT!
Kenz300 on Sun, 7th Jul 2013 5:05 pm
Every city should make more of an effort to diversify its transportation options to include more mass transit and bicycles and less automobiles.
Bicycle friendly cities are people friendly cities.
dave thompson on Sun, 7th Jul 2013 5:11 pm
IT can be done.
Plantagenet on Sun, 7th Jul 2013 5:38 pm
Disneyland is car-free too. People wander happily from amusement park ride to ride, without cars.
The reality is that both Mackinac Michigan and DIsneyland are TOURIST attractions. The only reason they exist is that many people get in their cars and drive there for visit and spend lots of money.