Before you dismiss this article and insist there is no way you could live without your vehicle, hear me out. I was back in America holding down a job, running a business, and excelling at the university when I sold my truck to use a bicycle for transport. It was the best decision I ever made. There are a lot of reasons getting rid of your car is an awesome lifestyle choice. Even where I lived at the time, where nowhere worth going is less than a fifteen minute drive and the city transport system begs for an upgrade, I immediately saw improvements in my quality of life.

Here are some reasons why ditching the automobile is a good decision:

Your Social Life – Without a car, you now have to depend on others more often. Depending on other people for rides makes you associate with others more often. Your socials skills get better and you end up getting invited to a lot more social events.

Even if you’re walking, riding a bike, or taking the bus, you are forced to talk to people more. I often got off the bus and before my bike ride home I’d pop in to see a friend who lived nearby or stop at my favorite brewery for a quick beer and some hot wings. On the bus, I found myself talking and associating with amazing people I never would have met sitting in my air-conditioned truck with the windows rolled up.

This constant companionship is great for your health – humans need this kind of social interaction. As with anything, a balance is good, and being around people so often can be a test in patience, but patience is a skill many people need to cultivate.

Good for your Health – Possibly the most obvious of benefits to not having a car are to your health. Being forced to walk or ride a bike gets you outside in the fresh air and all that pedaling is great exercise. You will soon find there is no need for going to the gym.

Good for your mind – Using the older forms of transportation slows you down. You get a completely different sense of time and place. You see the world in differently. You see the plight of people less fortunate than you and develop a new sense of how your community functions – what it would be like without it. Moving along in a fast-paced world at a slower pace gives you a perspective you would not otherwise have.

Good for your Spirit - Now that you have put new challenges upon yourself, you have to rise and meet them. As you pedal everywhere you go or sometimes struggle to juggle a ride, you find you often earn every small step of your life. This may not seem attractive to some, but it is great for the human spirit.

When I would get back from an exhausting day of school or get off work at two o’ clock in the morning and face the uphill ride home in the rain, I would sometimes doubt my decision, but as soon as I walked in the door to my house I felt a sense of triumph, accented by the fact that I was finally living in line with my beliefs. Which brings up the last point?

Good for Your Soul – Not having a car is better for the environment, of course, and you are participating in the act of change. People around you will see the changes in your life. Some may resist those changes, but others will admire you and eventually follow suit. Living out your principles gives you a sense of purpose.

Adjusting to a car-free lifestyle is not an easy process, but for those who live in cities, this kind of living can even be easier than the former option. With a new emphasis on sustainable city planning, we will see more and more cities and towns built around the idea that living without wheels is a healthier choice.

In my own experience, giving up the my limiting vehicle and all the chains that came with it gave me the freedom and courage to throw some of my things into a backpack, move out of my home, and take off to see the world. Not everyone’s decision will lead to such a drastic change, but I assure you, with a little patience, a little effort, and a little lateral thinking, a car-free lifestyle will change your life. For the better.

University students don’t necessarily have the discretionary income to back their political and ideological views with buying power; however, what they lack in funds they make up in passion. America’s schools have long been the leaders of revolutionary social thought, which in the long run often leads to top-level policy changes.

Maybe you’re off to college this coming fall, and you want to start living in line with your beliefs. You no longer live with Mom and Dad, and you’re ready to make your own decisions about what equals a responsible life.

Here are five ways you can make your entrance into college life a green one.

1. Live on campus – Even if you have the choice to live off campus, do yourself a favor and opt for the dorms. Living at the college is appealing to students for many reasons. It is great for jumpstarting your social life, makes it easier to get to school in the morning, and keeps you up on your work because of constant submersion in a learning environment.

Did it occur to you it is easier on the Earth as well? Living walking distance from class, the library, the cafeteria, the gym, and all your new friends means less unnecessary driving around. Many universities are small cities in themselves.

2. Get rid of the car! – Get creative about transportation. It is better for the environment and likely better for you. Many of the best university towns are the most bicyclable in the nation – Santa Cruz, CA and Eugene, Oregon spring to mind on the West Coast.

Riding a bike keeps you in shape and gets you out into the real world.

Walking, the world’s oldest means of transport, is also great for your health. You will be surprised how many miles you log just walking about your day. I know winter is coming, but a good hard pedal or brisk walking pace will keep you nice and warm.

No matter how far you need to go, there are options. Many university towns have fantastic transportation systems to fill the needs of a student demographic. Riding along with your friends when going to more secluded places is more fun than driving alone, in my experience. A combination of transportation solutions makes a car completely unnecessary.

For more about the health benefits of active transport, click here for information from the NIH.

3. Stay active – I know you want to be in shape to look your best when you?re out on the town, but the truth of the matter is spending all that time on a tread mill is a waste of energy. But you’ve been riding your bike and walking to class, haven’t you? Active transport alone will do wonders for your figure, but you can do more to stay in shape by playing amateur sports, lifting weights, or running on the track. There was a time when staying fit wasn’t so much like being a hamster on a wheel. Bring back the old school with hands-on physical activity.

4. Plan for the Future – Some of the hottest fields of study today are in greener industries. Make no mistake, the world is changing and changing fast. Students who see the opportunity are diving in and getting the know-how in order to be better equipped for the jobs of the future.

Not a tech guy or gal? No problem! Your options are only as limited as your thinking. Career opportunities abound in environmental business, environmental ethics, government policy, and advocacy. With a green future looming ahead, there is room for forward thought in nearly every industry. Click here (link to the green tech majors article, which is coming soon) to learn more about the opportunities available.

5. Get Involved – The beginning of the semester is the best time of year to launch your brain-child club that organization your school needs to come along and start pushing for new policies. Why not start a club focused on solutions? How about organic food options in the cafeteria? A university garden?

Petition to start your new club as soon as possible. These are issues people care about and a lot of new students are eager to meet like-minded people to form those lifelong friendships.

College is a new beginning. The paths before a young adult entering the real world offer limitless choices, and it is time to start thinking about the mark you want to leave on the planet. Make the right choices. Take control of your future and inspire others to do the same.