As an American, I've been dependent on my car for everyday things all my life. From getting food to going to restaurants, to work... pretty much everything.

I'm reducing that dependence. I ride my #bicycle for a lot of errands, walk to the grocery store and work from home. To quantify this, I've only filled up my gas tank once this year. Two months and only $36 of gasoline purchased (and my tank is currently more than half full).

I feel this is good for a number of reasons.

1.) I am more #SelfReliant

2.) Save #money

3.) Less #pollution

4.) Getting in better shape

I can personally #repair most things that go wrong with my bike, and for a small amount of time and money at that. No long supply lines to depend on. No shipping in parts from Japan.

I still have my car for certain things. Picking up 4'x8' sheets of plywood, or a cubic yard of compost, for example, are things I'll still use the car to do for the foreseeable future.

There are also some in-person meetings that are currently out of my range, but they'll be easily doable if I were in better shape. #goals

Are other people trying to make these kinds of changes in their life? Have I inspired you? Do you have any tips on other things I can do, given the benefits I listed?

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Discussion

Learning to install solar on my home (a travel trailer).

Nice. Be careful with that high voltage DC power. It's harder to block out the sun than you think. Just cover the panels in a blanket and check the voltage to see how effective those blankets are.

The panels are currently on a breaker, so, if I need to service anything past the panels, I can cut off power to the system.

All the connectors are proper MC4 connectors so, no bare conductors are easily touched.

Smart moves

I've been zapped enough to know when not to play around. đŸŒŠī¸âšĄđŸ’Ĩ

I'm in the country so I have a small motorcycle I ride. I have a work vehicle that I can drive home. It has been good.

You should build an electric bike with a trailer

I just might. Unfortunately, the collective the does bike repair and alterations in my town is forbidden from working on bikes with an electric motor, or that can even be outfitted with one. This is a restriction the insurance company put one them.

They could help with a trailer. It'd still be difficult to bring home 4x8' sheets on account of the wind profile or width required. If you've seen any designs for a bike trailer that might work for me, please send 'em my way.

And the compost weighs about 1-2 tones, depending on how wet it is and how much they actually give me in practice (sometimes it's like a yard and a half!).

Like this? Lol

BTC makes life easier.

Ebikes are incredibly efficient transport. With storage or a trailer they can't be beat.

I like having a cheap car for long distance trips or bulky material.

I like the pic. Is that your tandum recumbent? Based on the seat heights, I'm guessing the steering must be in the front?

Yes exactly! Tandem recumbent that I electrified few years ago when I bought it. It has been my loyal steed for years now and has proven to be incredibly reliable and efficient.

Plus it entertains all that see it ride by... 😊