Take the JUmp meets….A car-free family
We all come to climate action finding some shifts hard and others easier. But one that feels like a real challenge for many of us is ‘Travel Fresh’ - trying to cut car use. So many barriers, especially poor public transport, make this shift feel particularly tricky.
But cutting car use can be done, particularly if you live in a town with bus stops nearby and facilities within reach. Joanna Jurlowiecka and Marcin Ciupinski, a Hove couple with two girls aged 10 and 7, have never had a car as a family - and have no plans for one either.
“We’re completely car-free, as we know that if we did have one, we’d be tempted to over-use it,” says Joanna. “As soon as it rained, we’d have that option. WIthout a car, we have to find creative workarounds to tricky days - and it’s surprising how you adapt when you don’t have the option.”
Joanna gives the example of making a trip to Ikea. Instead of choosing the nearest store, which they would if they had a car, they go to the one that’s nearest a station (for them, Southampton). They make a day trip out of it, visiting the town and making it fun.
“We plan our trips around what’s possible,” she says. “WIthout a car you look at the bigger context - not just going from A to B, but how to plan a fun day out and get the most from the journey.”
Joanna and Marcin’s car-free life began with a passion for cycling along disused railway paths. They got hooked on the cycling life and now have seven bikes between them, including a triplet and an electric long-tail for cycling as a family.
Joanna points out that they haven’t spent a fortune on their bikes - quite the contrary: “Our bikes aren’t new - one is older than me! We built our triplet from old parts. You really don’t need shiny, expensive kit to have a cycling lifestyle, and it’s always cheaper than having a car.
For Marcin, the best thing about being car-free is avoiding the queues and traffic jams that come from driving.
“You always know how long a trip will take,” he says. “If there’s a hold-up or accident, you can either whizz past or find another route. That takes so much pressure out of taking the kids to activities. We don’t have the stress of being late because of queues on the road.
“Some parents queue in their cars for around 20 minutes to get out of the nearest car park after the school pick-up. I see them looking stressed at the wheel - understandably! On our bikes, we avoid that.”
Joanna and Marcin also feel their cycling lifestyle has really benefited their daughters. “If they’re on the triplet (like a tandem for three, where everyone pedals), they’re actively involved in the journey, rather than just sitting in the back. And being less enclosed, they’ve become more alert and aware of what’s going on around them.
“It makes travel more interesting and engaging for them. We make journeys fun too - we bring a speaker and put on our favourite playlists, just like you would in a car!”
Being visible, out on the road with an interesting-looking bike like a triplet or a long-tail, is a great way to share your story with others.
“People often ask us about our bikes when we’re out and about,” says Marcin. “So just by being out on a bike, especially when you’re carrying kids, you’re making change visible and inspiring others.”
Of course, there are challenges. “Rain!” says Joanna. “On rainy days, I have to turn up to work in a dripping waterproof poncho when I’m supposed to look reasonably smart. It’s not a good look. But you just deal with it. Carrying bulky loads is obviously also challenging, and we tend to shop more frequently so we’re not carrying as much each time.”
For both Joanna and Marcin, climate and sustainability are major motivations for being car-free. But the benefits go a lot further. “We’ve saved so much money, given our kids the gift of resilience and fitness, and had so many wonderful adventures. We wouldn’t want a car now, even if climate wasn’t an issue,” says Marcin.
f you’re interested in cutting your car use, or even trying a car-free lifestyle, why not try climate charity Possible’s car-free challenge for the month of June? Just having a go, with friends and neighbours, you may surprise yourself with how much you can do.
Joanna and Marcin have the following tips to help you get started:
Keep it simple and safe, starting with easy rides, and make it fun
Borrow bikes, child seats or trailers from friends to see how you go
When you’re ready, look on Facebook Marketplace for low-cost kit
If you need some support with this key shift - Travel Fresh (cutting car use) - or can help support others, please contact us: team@takethejump.org
