Review: Carless in Chicago by Jason Rothstein

’ve never owned a car, and I can happily say that being carless in Chicago has been a much easier experience than anywhere else I’ve lived.  For this reason, I was delighted to find a copy of Carless in Chicago by Jason Rothstein, published by Chicago publisher Lake Claremont Press, on my doorstep.  If you’re currently carless or thinking about giving up your car for good, this book will prove to be an invaluable resource for getting around in Chicago.

Most books based upon a platform of environmentalism, counter-consumerism, and slowing the pace of modern society are woefully targeted and often isolate any reader that already isn’t a member of the choir, so to speak.  One of my favorite things about this book is that it seeks to include the lazy environmentalist, the driver who could care less about global warming but really wants to stop spending thousands of dollars a year on insurance, gas, and repairs.  Rothstein addresses the benefits of going carless in a logical, practical way by focusing on the financial, health, and environmental benefits of non-automobile based transportation.  I found his statistics fascinating—especially the things one could do in Chicago with the money saved in a year by not owning a car.  He has some fantastic suggestions budgeted down to the dollar.

After convincing his reader of the advantages of going carless, Rothstein goes on to detail all of the many options available for carless transportation in the city.  He details the CTA’s bus and train services, the metra’s services, walking paths, bike paths, and—for when it’s absolutely necessary—car rental services and carpooling.  I found his resources and comparisons of car rental services to be particularly helpful in deciding which service to go with myself for the occasional weekend jaunt out of the city.  I also seriously enjoyed his detailing of each and every CTA train stop on the map, including the address, what lines one could transfer to, and what shops and restaurants one could find around the stop.  Fantastic!

Inclusive, complete, and meticulous, this book is a must-read for anyone in Chicago interested in ditching their car for their pocket book, their health, and/or the environment.