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.”
I did this in LA for 4 years back when I was in my mid to late 20s. I bicycled, walked, and metroed everywhere. Sadly, this eventually became very difficult due to certain life circumstances, and I admittedly willingly returned to traveling around by wheeled coffin.
That said, getting around LA without a car was an amazing experience and were I a younger man, I’d do it all over again in a heartbeat. I met amazing people, gained a unique perspective and love for the city that will be with me until the day I die, and the health benefits and street smarts I gained are traits I still benefit from.