I’ve been car free for 1 year

Controversial topic! I know. My car was totaled last December, got a decent insurance pay out, and took my time looking for a new vehicle. After 2 months I thought I'd see how long I can go without buying a car.

To preface, I work from home, single, and mid 30's M. I live in the meadows (near 59 and W. Airport), and have access to Keegan's Bayou hike & bike trail, which goes to Brays Bayou hike & bike trail, which takes me anywhere in the city I'd wanna go.

I wanted to give it a year before I reflect back on my decision to not buy a car, and there honestly hasn't been any downside. I do have an elderly mother whose vehicle I can use if I really need to, but I've only done so 3 or 4 times, and usually just to help her.

For groceries I just take a backpack to the local supermarket. A few times I had them delivered. For social life I'll take Uber/Lyft. For exercise/fun I ride all over town. I visit more parts of Houston now than when I did have a car.

From the meadows I have access to Kirkwood which makes it easy to get to Sims Bayou hike & bike trail (goes to Hiram Clarke, Sunny Side, South Park) and Brays Bayou (goes to medical center, Hermann Park, downtown, UH, ship channel), and an easy ride on streets (with sidewalks) to George Bush park and Bear Creek park, which takes me to Clay Rd., turns into w. 43rd, which takes me to White Oak Bayou hike & bike trail with access to the NW side (the Height area then to UHD), as well access back to Brays if I want to ride a loop route.

My reason for making this post is because I regularly see people saying how bad traffic is or how bad drivers are, so just letting people know it's actually possible to not drive and still have access to many parts of the city.

I've saved a ton of money, learned patience (because you're not getting anywhere quickly on a bike), and seen a lot of parts of town I wouldn't have seen otherwise.

Happy to answer any questions.