Colin Leath

I've lived in Falls Church (Near Washington, DC), Kahului (Maui,HI), Monterey (California), Seattle (Washington), Austin (Texas), and New York City. Eventually I'll write about those and other places I've experienced from a carfree perspective.

Added by colin #442 on 2003-05-17. Last modified 2008-03-06 17:42. Originally created 2003-05-17. F0 License: Public Domain
Location: World, United States, California, San Diego, College Heights
Topics: introduction, men

For what I've published here visit cfu/Members/colin/. For more visit purl.org/net/j9k/ and purl.org/net/ea/cleath/docs.

September 1, 2004 18:11

I have been in San Diego since August 28, and am now trying to sort out what I may be doing Fall semester at San Diego State. At the moment, perhaps two Spanish courses and Rhetoric and Writing Studies 609 (The Teaching of Writing).

July 10, 2004 07:44

I'm now in San Francisco, which I hope to write more about later. I have tentative plans to float around the bay area until at least August 7! Let me know if I can visit you (and perhaps sleep on your floor for a night!).

Zach Ordonez, Colin Leath, Ruichi Nakamura, and Eugene in the Kitchen of Hostel Obispo, May 2004, photographer

Zach Ordonez, Colin Leath, Ruichi Nakamura, and Eugene McGettrick, May 2004, in hostel kitchen. by: ?

May 19, 2004 18:19

I'm now in San Luis Obispo, doing work exchange for a place to stay at hostel obispo, and organizing to have a booth at a local greenfair.

I won't be writing "wasteland" poems for SLO... Though cars are still a horrible presence, I'm, so far (three days), much happier with this place. Some people recommend Santa Cruz, but for now, I'm here.

Jan 20, 2004 19:50

I'm now in San Diego living with one of my Grandmas and a being that we call a cat and give a name of "Blue."

I'm considering working on an MA in Literature at nearby SDSU.

In the meantime I plan to keep reading, and writing, with the goal of creating transformational literary art that inspires everyone to formulate a vision of where we're going as a people and what their part in that is...

I swim and lift weights at the Kroc Center, a very nice place. Both SDSU and the Kroc Center are an easy walk from my grandma's house. I still do some dance type exercises and hope to dance more...

I will be training to be a ropes course instructor at the Kroc center and the Aztec (SDSU) Recreation Center... maybe that will be how I make some money.

I hope to get back to reading more of Joseph Campbell soon. At present I've been occupied with reading for classes I'm considering taking, reading that is primarily about British literature and poetry.

San Diego is good to live in without a car because of the weather (less rain than Tuscon, I believe, & rarely freezes), but it is very car-infested. SDSU is surrounded by a 10 lane freeway and acres of multi-story parking garages, for example. There is a trolly extension that will connect the campus area with downtown by 2005, however.

Where are we going as a people? We're going toward a future where individuals move from acting out of a concept of self that consists only of their immediate self/family, to considering their self as a part of a larger, continually becoming thing that exists on a global level. So we have: concern with personal survival needs -> concern with personal development needs (e.g., loving and being loved, finding joy in living, etc.) -> being increasingly concerned with the development of the society of which they are a part.

Individuals concerned with the development of the people will always have concerns on all those levels (this is Wilber Integral Philosophy inspired).

That's all. George Kao has some good things on his intro page.

Colin at TCFCIII by Orest?

Jun 13, 2003 03:02

This is my introduction.

You can find out more about what I'm up to at: http://purl.oclc.org/net/j9k

Here are some questions you get if you join the carfree yahoo group (and my answers)

Introductory Profile

1. Which of the following best describes you? Please check one.

_____ I am do not presently own a car though I have owned a car previously.

__X__ I am car-free and have never owned a car

_____ I own a car but use other forms of transport frequently

2. How long have you been either car-free or used non-automotive transport as your principle means of transportation?

since 1994

3. What inspired your decision to reduce or end your reliance on the automobile?

Seeing fat people driving cars. Being driven around by parents for as long as I could remember and hating the smell of the car, being cooped up in a car, the whole experience of the car--jerkiness, driver's anger and impatience, car breakdowns, potential of car killing animals and people. Polluting aspects of car ownership (leaky milk cartons of old oil), dad dirty repairing cars all the time. Hate of smell of gas station. The thought of being dependent on something that was more of a hassle to fix than a bicycle.

Also, riding a bike. I find it hard to believe that anyone who rides a bike is able to view car use as not evil. The evil revving sound they make as they pass, the ease with which they could kill you, spewing exhaust even sitting still, hundreds of people cooped up in their little boxes.

I did drive for a while, knowing it was evil. But I got in a bit of a bump with some people, and went to court to argue my case, and won, but resolved I never wanted to take the chance of those things happening again. I had read Walden, hated encounters with police, ... basically I knew cars were evil and that using them I'd be creating my own hell. With a bike, I don't have to worry that I might kill others (possible, but not likely), and I don't need to follow all traffic rules (I should, of course).

4. If you owned a car and then gave it up, what process did you go through to do so? (e.g., did you go through a process of gradually using the car less and less, or did you give up using it all at once -- going cold turkey?)

not applicable

5. What tools or factors have helped you the most in being able to get around without a car? (e.g., living close to transit, living close to work, owning a folding bike, joining a car-sharing club or co-op, etc.)

Planning my life knowing I would not have a car. I generally do not like public transportation. I did live in NYC for a time and enjoyed not being a minority and not having to bike everywhere. Bike trails have made a huge difference in my life. Some beautiful bike trails near Monterey, CA, and Falls Church, VA.

6. What, if any, factors have made it difficult?

Cars and the people who use them and the environment that is built for them have made it more difficult than it could be. Ironically, though, it was the society of american wheelmen (bicyclists) and the railroads who first demanded good roads and sponsored a rail car that went around the country teaching people to build good roads.

7. What effect has the way you travel had on the people around you, including children, family, and/or friends? Have any of them changed their travel behavior or relationship with cars as a result of what you're doing?

Not that I know of. Maybe I've influenced one of my sisters. My dad, seeing my recumbent and hearing me say, If I were getting one now, I'd get a thys rowing bike might have been influenced in his current testing of an olson rowbike , but as he got himself into rollerblades and windsurfing, that is hard to say.

8. What are the advantages of being car-free and/or getting around without using a car?

Living a more beautiful, less evil life. Even though every one around you is mindlessly evil. Unless you live in NYC or Europe, or a college town perhaps.

Seeing some beautiful things the cardrivers never see-

being able to stop on the Chainbridge and look down on the Potomac River gorge below where there are deer, beaver, fishermen, and egrets, and herons. The cars can't stop.

9. What are the disadvantages?

Without a car often means with a bicycle. Unfortunately bicycles break down, need repair, and are a hassle, etc. Not like walking, which is more trouble free. Getting wet, muddy. I don't mind getting sweaty.

10. Would you recommend car-free or "car-reduced" living to your friends? Why or why not?

If people are not of the moral constitution to abhor cars and car driving, then maybe they can live more happily in car-land with a car than without.

Some of us do not have a choice whether we drive or not. We are committed to our religion.

Being carfree can be wonderful in places built for carfreeness. It is foolish to encourage carfree misery in a land built for cars, unless there is a community to support and encourage one's carfreeness.

11. What differences does travelling without using a car make for you in terms of time?

It takes much longer to travel significant distances. New York City to Washington DC took at least three days. By bus it is four hours.

12. What differences does travelling without using a car make for you in terms of money?

Subway in NYC cost $64 / month... not sure if this is a good question.

13. If you still use a car please share the general situation affecting your use such as finances (share, rent, etc) how often, and the reasons?

14. What role should automotive transport play in an overall healthy and sustainable system of transportation?

Automotive transport will be eliminated in any community that cares about quality of life.

15. Please share any other thoughts or experiences you've had as a result of being car- free and/or using non-automotive transport.

If one extends the carfree philosophy to avoid using airplanes, or even rail... one is forced to cover vast distances slowly, or to stay put because of the vast distances one would have to cover slowly. This is an important phenomenon. Even travel by bike is too fast. Think of the realms in the Hobbit... Think of the homogenization of space... The re-enchantment of space and distance. Don't forget other alternatives to cars... Before there were roads, travel by water was often the only option.

here are the questions by themselves: