Americans may find this impossible to believe, but it’s possible, maybe even better, to live without a car.

Late last summer, when I found myself on the side of the highway, cursing my old Nissan, I switched to two wheels. For all its difficulties, it has also been one of the richest experiences of my life.

A year without a car has taught me how much we’re missing. Here’s four reasons to kill you car and do life on a bike:

1. Love your city. A highway is like a hermetically sealed conveyor belt. When you walk or run or ride a you feel every inch of your commute. You smell the air, you relish in the breeze and you sweat in the heat. You actually see neighborhoods, and notice how they differ. You experience the inequities of different parts of town. You speak with neighbors as they garden or walk the dog or enjoy the evening. In a car, you are pushed through the city. On a bike, you’re a part of it.

2. Get to know your neighborhood. In a car, it’s no big deal to pick up and go wherever you want at any time of day. On a bike, you have to make your decisions based on how much time and energy you have, and how much you can carry. This may sound like a downside, but it forces you to live simply, take advantage of what’s nearby, and spend time with the people close to you.

3. You will exercise. One of the things I had to stop doing when was exercising. But I didn’t feel bad about not being able to run five miles or lift weights, because I had no energy left from my twenty mile commute. Instead of making time and paying for a gym, exercise is just part of who you are.

4. Slowing down will do you good. When you’re in a car, you’re always in a hurry. Sitting at a stoplight or in traffic are infuriating. On a bike, you’re always moving, even if it’s slow. It forces you to think, look around, or listen to hundreds of hours of audiobooks. Rather than cursing traffic, I often find my rides the most enjoyable part of the day.

5. It’s cheap. You have to invest in a bike, tubes, a rack, bags, lights, water bottles and a lot of carbs. But even then, you’ll save hundreds of dollars a month. For the last year I put aside the money I used to spend on gas and insurance, and paid cash for my new ride.

Alas, Austin isn’t a great city for bikes. It’s more compact than Houston or San Antonio, but it’s still Texas and way too spread out. I hit my wall when two weeks of

105º days left were making me sick. Two hours of commute and prep time I’m gaining back will allow me to do better in grad school, relationships and in growing my career. It’ll be nice to make grocery runs whenever I need, and see friends on the other side of town. My goal is to keep costs down and exercise up by riding 2-3 days a week…at least, when it cools down. And maybe someday I’ll be able to live in a way I kill my car again.