Two kids, no car: how this Vancouver family saves $8,000 annually by going car-free

Wiebke Bohm, originally from Germany, has lived in Canada since 2015. She works as a senior lighting technical director and lives with her family in downtown Vancouver.

“Thanks to public transport, taxi and car sharing services and the opportunity to live within walking distance of work, we never miss a car again. I also try to live an environmentally friendly life.”

Together with her husband and two children aged three and five, they fully embrace a multimodal lifestyle. Instead of owning a car, they take public transport, cycle and use car sharing to keep their carbon footprint minimal.

A conscious choice

For the Bohm family, the decision to live car-free is not just about convenience; it is a conscious choice, driven by their commitment to environmental stewardship.

It’s not that they can’t afford a car; rather, they actively choose not to own one.

The family prioritizes sustainable living and implements practical steps to reduce its carbon footprint, such as taking the SkyTrain. They recognize the impact of excessive car use on the planet.

Navigating parenthood without a car

Their journey to a car-free lifestyle started by challenging a common idea: that you need a family car.

“One of my colleagues told me when I became pregnant with my first child that a car was the first thing I would buy,” says Wiebke. “I looked at him and said, ‘No, I don’t do that.’ And I stuck to it!”

Parenthood often leads to car ownership, especially if you have two children. However, the Bohm family has successfully navigated the city using bicycles, public transportation and car-sharing services.

Wiebke says, “We take the SkyTrain and bus about 10 to 20 times a month. We don’t use the bus as often as other means of transport, because our double stroller or bicycle trailer takes up quite a bit of space.”

She also added that their travel options depend on the season.

“In the summer months we take Aqua taxi,” says Wiebke. “In the winter we make more use of car sharing services to make ends meet.”

One of Wiebke’s travel tips is to use a stroller to carry her child seats to car-shares. As nature lovers, the Bohms often use intercity bus service when going to Squamish, Whistler and Grouse Mountain.

Standing up for affordable climate action

Tackling climate change has another major benefit: saving money. Wiebke says she spends about $819 a year on transportation for a family of four.

Plus, because kids 12 and under ride for free, the Bohms continue to save even more money, making their transit-oriented lifestyle even more cost-effective.

In addition to public transport, Wiebke’s family also travels through the city with an electric cargo bike, which they often use to go shopping. They also spend about $40 to 60 per month on car sharing.

All told, by forgoing car ownership, the Bohms could save about $8,000 a year. But that’s not what motivates them.

“Our motivation is not financially driven, because we could afford a car,” says Wiebke. “We simply choose not to do that, because it suits our lifestyle and we are convinced that we will have less impact on the environment if we do not do so.”

Overcoming challenges

Living car-free in a world designed for cars comes with challenges, especially with children. From coordinating schedules to making sure everyone has what they need for every outing, the Bohm family recognizes the existing barriers to a transit-oriented lifestyle. However, their perseverance and dedication to their sustainability values ​​keep them going.

Join the movement for everyday, affordable climate action and choose Transit for the Planet. Learn more about how you can reduce carbon emissions and increase your savings at translink.ca/transitfortheplanet.