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I Stopped Driving at 58. My Life Improved

Vision loss took away my car keys. Here’s why you, too, should learn how to live without a car long before you absolutely must

John McCormack,

AARP

Published August 24, 2026

an illustration shows a giant version of author John McCormack running through a city, using his smartphone gps as he stomps past the cars beneath his feet

Before you’re forced to give up driving, learn how to ride the wave of alternative transportation options.

Greg Kletsel

After I’d had a decade of deteriorating vision due to basal laminar drusen, a condition that typically affects people in young to middle adulthood, the eye doctor told me exactly what I had been denying: “You can’t drive anymore.” For a few weeks, life as I knew it was over. But at 58, I was not ready to hole up at home.

Determined to keep my independence, I explored public transportation, rideshares and delivery services. I’d used those options sporadically, but I was now going full throttle.

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In some ways, I consider living without a car the silver lining of my vision impairment. And I want people who are losing their ability to drive for one reason or another to recognize that their SUVs and sedans are not the be-all, end-all.

Many people in their 70s, 80s and 90s are not happy in the least when faced with the prospect of car-free living. Some continue to drive long after they should have given up the keys. Others sit at home in frustration.

The problem: Most don’t want to learn about other modes of transportation. Believe me, I get it. I was reluctant to get on the proverbial (and the real) bus when I first faced a carless future.

But I’m so glad I did, and, as a result, have adopted a soapbox message: Everyone should practice living without a car as soon as possible. That way, if you lose your ability to drive — due to a health, aging, financial or other issue — you will be ready to go, literally.

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Benefits I’ve discovered from being car-free include:

Goodbye, stress. Instead of white-knuckling the steering wheel, I typically read, listen to music or simply rest my eyes while traveling by train or via rideshare.
No more paperwork. Forget about keeping track of and paying for license plates, village stickers, emissions tests and insurance renewals. Freedom!
More “me” time. With delivery services, I simply log in, edit the existing shopping list and press pay. My shopping is typically done and dusted in less than 10 minutes.
Planet-friendly. Obviously, public transportation is better for the environment than driving your own car. Delivery services can also be a sound environmental choice. When one truck delivers groceries to eight houses in the same neighborhood, it reduces carbon emissions significantly.
Step-friendly. I never got in the habit of going for a walk every night after dinner, as virtually every self-help article recommends. Recently, though, I decided to swap out my twice-weekly rideshare jaunts to and from my part-time job three miles away with a one-mile walk and a two-mile bus ride. Less expensive, and more exercise.
Social connections. Rideshare driver Joe, who lives a couple of blocks from me, often picks me up. We talk about travel and share tips on the local restaurant scene (we are both foodies). He even invited me to his epic Halloween bash.
Money-saving. While the numbers vary depending on each individual’s situation, using alternative options can be less expensive than driving for many people, including me. The average monthly cost to own a car in the U.S. — including all expenses beyond just the loan payment — is $965 for a new vehicle, according to Moneygeek. What’s more, when using alternative options, you pay as you go, and there are no unexpected big-ticket expenses (think $4,000 transmission).

a photo shows author John McCormack standing outside a Chicago Metra train

Author John McCormack enjoys getting around on Chicago’s Metra system.

Courtesy Heather Keigher

So park your car for a week and explore the transportation options available in your area. A carless existence certainly is not the grim prospect that it was 20 years ago. Public transportation alternatives abound in many areas. Rideshare services make it possible to get anywhere, anytime. Some municipalities even offer free or reduced-fare transportation options for older or disabled persons. And if you can’t leave your house for whatever reason, delivery services make it possible to get virtually anything you need to your doorstep in a matter of a day or two, if not an hour or two.

If you live in a rural community, you probably don’t have the plethora of options available in other areas, but don’t consider yourself stranded. Many rural municipalities support fixed-route buses, which run on limited schedules but connect to key destinations like grocery stores, clinics and schools, as well as transit services that operate by request. Churches and other nonprofits also support transportation programs. In addition, for-profit rideshare companies are expanding to rural areas.

After acknowledging the possibilities, it’s time to learn the ins and outs of the routes. While you have most likely used public transportation in the past, it’s a good idea to take a deep dive and study the system: routes, prices, connection points, etcetera. Remember, taking the train to work every day is one thing. Visiting your mom who lives two counties over, getting to Wrigley Field to catch a Cubs game, grabbing groceries at Trader Joe’s and dropping by the barber is another. But you can do all those things efficiently via public transportation. Case in point: I recently took care of family, baseball, food and hair with just one $10 weekend pass on Chicago’s Metra system. Plus, since I have the app on my phone, I could easily buy the ticket and flash it every time I boarded.

Getting comfortable with rideshare services also helps the carless cause. While negative press scares some people off, rideshare statistics show that 99.9 percent of rides occur without incident. Of course, you need to be cognizant of safety at all times and only do what feels right to you.

What’s more comforting is that rideshare drivers have fewer fatal crashes per mile than the typical driver, according to Insurify. Makes sense: These people drive all the time, so they are good at it.

While the numbers are reassuring, it’s still a good idea to use the app’s “share your trip” feature, which lets a friend or family member know exactly where you are. In addition, some apps enable women riders to prioritize connecting with women drivers.

Learning how to use rideshare services can improve your overall experience. My tips:

Consult multiple apps such as Uber, Lyft, Curb and Waymo to determine the best price.
Pay attention to patterns, and schedule trips for the days and times when prices are lower.
Use the “wait and save” feature whenever you are not in a rush.
When exiting a concert or sporting event, walk a few blocks away and wait 20 to 30 minutes to avoid surge charges.

Doing your due diligence is important when it comes to delivery services as well. Make sure to compare options and prices from the major players such as Amazon, Instacart, DoorDash, Target and Walmart, plus local stores, and determine whether you will use delivery services frequently enough to warrant a subscription.

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