Jared Soares | The Roanoke Times

River Laker, leaving his home in Old Southwest, says his biggest challenge in living without a car is grocery shopping. He's now taking more frequent trips to the store so that he doesn't have to carry large, heavy loads home with him in one trip.

River Laker's willingness to try new things has now left him wheel-less.

Actually, that's not entirely true. He's got wheels, just not those attached to an automobile.

Laker has completed the first month and a half of his six-month experiment to live without a car in Roanoke.

Why six months?

"It's really a long enough period to give you a true taste of not having a car," the 42-year-old said.

Laker's decision wasn't meant to be a grand green gesture, though he does recycle to help the environment. His experiment is to show that, while useful, "a car isn't as essential as we think it is."

Laker calls the project "Carless Brit" and is documenting his experiences online through journals, photos and video clips. An England native, he's lived in Roanoke for eight years and came to the area when he was an exchange student at Radford University.

His car-less cause started after he sold his gray 1991 Volvo station wagon in November.

Laker finds driving somewhat stressful anyway, and there's also the matter of owning an older car. Although the Volvo was in good condition, an older car can mean costlier repairs, he said.

So, he decided to sell the car and see what life was like without it.

"I love the idea of the unknown," he said. "It adds excitement and adventure to life."

Pedal power

Starting the experiment in winter has presented some challenges.

One morning last week, brisk winds blew as he bundled up before getting on his road bike. Laker lives in Roanoke's Old Southwest and works at the downtown Roanoke Public Library.

Laker slipped on nylon pants over his dress pants, added a sweater over his shirt, grabbed a coat and gloves and donned his helmet before taking off shortly before 8 a.m.

He kept close to the curb and coasted beside the morning traffic with ease during the 10-minute trip.

Once he got to the library, snow flurries fluttered in the sky.

"I'm warm now," Laker said while getting off the bike. "This is very refreshing, though."

His other frequent destinations include the Grandin Theatre, which is a 10- to 15-minute trip, Mill Mountain Coffee and Tea in downtown Roanoke and Westminster Presbyterian Church on Peters Creek Road, which is about a 35-minute bike ride.

The biggest challenge so far is grocery shopping and trying to pack all the stuff into his backpack. He is now going to the store more often so he won't have as much to carry during one ride.

Other than his bike, Laker has also used the downtown trolley and plans to ride buses to some locations.

But Laker, who is single, hasn't shunned cars entirely. He will accept rides to places from friends if they are going to the same spot and only after he bikes or walks to meet them at their home. Also, Laker rented a car when he went to Richmond for Christmas. His goal, though, is to ride the bike as much as possible.

Except for when there's ice. Then, he'll walk.

Inspiring others

Laker's experiment has prompted encouragement from friends, colleagues and strangers.

Sheila Umberger, director of libraries, works with Laker and hopes to see the library build on his project, such as promoting books about wellness and green living and bringing in speakers who work with alternative transportation and environmental issues.

"He's very innovative," Umberger said. "That's what makes life wonderful -- to reach out and try new things."

Jeremy Holmes, 32, is the program director of Ride Solutions, a program in the Roanoke and New River valleys that offers car pool matching services and promotes the use of alternative transportation.

Holmes said he appreciates how Laker sees this as an adventure.

"There are people who might do this kind of thing more often if they thought it was fun," he said.

Holmes himself was inspired by Laker recently. He thought about skipping church one Sunday because his wife had taken the family's car. He remembered Laker talking about riding his bike to church.

So, Holmes grabbed his bike and attached a trailer to carry his young daughter and they took off to church, which is about a mile and a half from their home.

"It really was not that bad," he said. "I probably wouldn't have done it if I hadn't had a little bit of peer pressure."

Laker believes that biking expeditions can make for exciting experiences.

"There's just something about getting around on your own strength. It's kind of freeing, enjoyable and exhilarating," he said. "It makes you feel good."

So good that he's not sure he'll go back to the other set of wheels.

"Having a car is just a distant memory to me now."