A series featuring car-free women in LA.
Browne Molyneux of The Bus Bench
Basics: 30-year-old college writer. Lives in downtown L.A. with a partner who is also car-free. Child-free.
Car free since: Sometime in 2005.
Blogging since: August 2007.
Notable posts:
>> Browne’s pick: Brazilian Nites via the MTA 60 from downtown LA. Hell.
>> green LA girl’s pick: How to take public transportation in L.A. guide
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On going car-free….
Cars were my weakness. Driving hard and fast was a major hobby since I turned 16. My last car was a Mini Cooper S; it was lovely. So giving up my car, for me, was real sacrifice, since at my base I am a car junkie. I also loved the freedom that I perceived, but you know as I got older I realized that my car was more of ball and chain than a freedom.
I also I have to admit that being a LA car girl, I thought the bus was gross. I slowly eased my way into it before I sold my car. I started taking the Red Line to bars and cycling father distances. It took about six months before I realized I could take the bus. I was a princess — sue me.
The cost of having a car was beginning to prohibit my art in regards to cost. Gas got very high, insurance got very high and I just thought I would rather spend my disposable income on other things than sitting in traffic.
I went car free after going to some Peak Oil Meetings. Yes, I know that is crazy, but I felt that I wanted to make a real difference and having a car was being part of the problem and I didn’t want to be part of the problem. I wanted to do something hard. I wanted to do something real.
My partner does not have a car. He was one of the reasons that I saw that being car free could be possible. He is one of the very few people I have met in the alternative transportation movement that is real. That actually has been practicing and advocating the car free lifestyle. And he has done it for over 20 years.
How she gets around.
The bus and rail are my main mode of transport. I work mainly in South LA and in Compton. If I get very adventurous I will ride my bike, but I have to say I get quite nervous riding my bike from downtown south. The traffic coming home can be a bit insane once you get towards downtown around 30th Street.
Compton has a bike lane, which people in general respect. Compton is actually very lovely. I see so much opportunity there. There is a creek, lots of trees and very friendly people. I don’t think I would have noticed that in a car. I think Compton has unfairly been giving a bad rap. It’s truly a fabulous very homey, sweet place.
I rarely get in a car. I really want to understand how people get around who don’t have the car option, so I can advocate for that, so even at night I take public transit. I often get people offering me rides, but I rarely take them unless I want to have a conversation. I like talking.
I live in downtown specifically because of the vast number of public transportation options. You can almost get anywhere in LA County with usually one bus in downtown LA and if you don’t have a car and you don’t have a typical 9-5, that’s very important.
On the upsides and downsides….
Being car free saves you money. It also helps you to see the entire City of LA. I think I didn’t really get LA until I didn’t have a car. There is an entire community of car free people — People who have been car free for years. LA is unfortunately very segregated and I don’t mean just in terms of race, but in terms of class. I think in your car it is very easy to not see people and I think seeing people in LA is very important.
I imagine having children would make it more difficult. I think it is so important that those of us in the car free movement who don’t have children to advocate to make public transit and cycling more child friendly. The adult oriented ads on the Metro TV really bother me. The safety of certain bus stops bother me in regards to being child friendly. I want it to be safe for a mom in any neighborhood, whether it be Watts or Boyle Heights, to walk up the street at 8pm with their kid and feel just as safe as they would feel in a car.
I think making public transit friendly for teenagers is very important. I have been on the 10 bus which lots of students from Fairfax HS take. It’s crowded, it’s horrible, and there is no reason for that. At 3 pm when kids get out of school there should be extra buses so that those future adults will view the bus as a pleasant experience and not want to get a car at the first chance they get a few extra bucks. We have to kill this car culture obsession at a young age. Why do all LA area high schools have parking lots? I had a car at 16 and I lived less than a mile from my school. To me that is a bit problematic that we’re still encouraging this kind of consumer culture within our youth.
On car-dependent people.
The downside to being car free is that as a person of color is that you are not viewed as eco or green when you don’t have a car. Being a person of African descent particularly, not having a car has changed how some people view me. Being black and not having a car means you are poor. And being viewed as poor can limit your opportunities.
I remember when I first went car free I applied for a job and proudly stated that I was car free. (My parents forgot to break certain things down for me.) I was asked how I would get to work. It wasn’t a driving job, but it was something that people were able to use to discriminate against me. Me being middle class and having all of my I’s dotted and T’s crossed have given me an advantage. Not having a car took away some of that advantage of the perfect minority that is employable. You would think if you can do a job and if you were competent and you were applying for an environmentally oriented job that not having a car would be an asset, but being black and not having car has given people a tangible reason to discriminate against me in regards to employment.
I fix that by working for myself. I know that is not an option that everyone can choose, but if you are Latino or African-American I suggest you lie about not having a car, because it doesn’t come off nearly as cool as being a white guy with a bike. This is just a harsh fact owing to prejudice and preconceived notions.
I got turned away from five jobs for not having a car, even though I informed the people that I ride a bike and I would have no problem getting to work. I had never been turned down for a job before. I’m virtually perfect, seriously.
Another thing I have found unexpectedly hard being a woman on the train and bus is that I get a lot of rude comments by men. I get harassed at times and if I am not friendly I get called a bitch or other unpleasant things. That is not something that I expected. It makes me feel bad for women that have to grow up in certain neighborhoods where this is commonplace. I now always take a jacket if I’m wearing something more revealing. I call it my public transit burka.
I think not having a car has made me more aware of gender, class and racial issues. I have to say. I never really felt black until I didn’t have a car. I never really thought about feminism until I didn’t have a car. There is a certain social stigma to not having a car, but I think as more of us do it that will change. I am never sure if the stigma is race or gender related.
Advice for the car-free curious.
Where you live is important. You have to live somewhere you feel safe at night. Also, get the number to a reliable cab company. Taking public transit is a wonderful experience, but you have to be practical. You have to be aware that you’re letting go of a bit of control in your life, but you know that is a bit exciting.
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green LA girl’s notes: As Fairfax High alum who used to take that damn Metro 10 bus every day, I have to say this is the Car-Free Mondays interview I could relate to the most so far — though Browne and I don’t live anywhere near each other and lead pretty different lives.
For those interested in some of the class issues Browne brings up, this n+1 article about the “Class Clash on Seventh Avenue” may be a worthwhile read: “The working class has become more dependent on their automobiles than the wealthy, who can afford to live near schools and work. The motorless commuter, regardless of his actual class position, has become a symbol of the privilege that comes with prime real estate.”
Read The Bus Bench for an engaging look at L.A.’s social ecology. This group blog looks at both the good and bad of L.A. transit from a variety of perspectives — as well as the many issues that public transit in L.A. can bring to a head. As Browne puts it: “I feel that the transportation rights is part of a larger issue. I view transportation as a civil rights issue, so I also discuss race, class and gender issues.”
Photo courtesy of Browne Molyneux, who in this pic is wearing an Street Wear Art Kimono by Edith Abeyta, made with a thrown away mattress. Says Browne: “This is an outfit that protests the plight of homeless women in the streets of downtown LA.”
thanks so much for this post. i was just thinking about gender/race/class issues while riding to work today. i live and work in san francisco, and i ride to work nearly every day. i mainly see men, and then when i see a woman, she’s usually white. and in seeing this day in and day out, it just got my mind thinking about what i see every day.
unlike browne, i have felt actuely that i am a person of color pretty much my whole life. but i never have thought that i was a “poor” texican when i tell people i ride around. i am honest in that i ride for health reasons as well as wanting to advocate an oil-lite lifestyle. and yes, saving money is obviously a nice benefit too. however, i’ve never lived in LA, so i don’t know what the racial politics are. i’ve just read stuff, but haven’t experienced it for myself.
so i while i understand her advocating lying to erase some stigma, i believe lying only buys into and perpetrates the stigma. as strange as it may be when you say you ride a bike for interview purposes, you can say it helps get a work out in your day (which is true) and i find that people respond positively to that. it’s worked for me twice. in SF i know it’s very different than in LA in that LA has strong a car culture. but for every person that rides, you can begin a discussion at the true grassroots level.
i strongly applaud her for advocating for the mothers out there that want to be car free & need to use safe and accessible public transportation. that is something i haven’t thought too much about, but would definitely be interested in pursuing further.
Comment by melyssa — November 24, 2008 @ 12:41 pm
This is a great post, and she touches on a wide range of issues. I was interested in her comments on family-friendly transit, as this is a topic I don’t see discussed much (maybe I’m looking in the wrong places, of course!). Although we want to have children, I have tremendous respect for those who know they want to be child-free; that’s a tough position to hold in this society, and yet it’s such an important thing to know about yourself.
For all of us, though, it’s easy to see how certain things might benefit us. Browne’s ability to see how something might benefit others is commendable, and if more of us had that, there would be better understanding and communication across the board–and how could that do anything but help all of us?
Comment by KateNonymous — November 24, 2008 @ 3:13 pm
Thanks y’all!!!
Yes my journey in regards to race has been so freakin weird. I was home-schooled and while my environment was crazy in some ways it was very sheltered in other ways.
Yes lying is bad and things, but you know I want people to understand the impact in LA not having a car has on people of color. It can limit your job prospects if people don’t know you. And if you have to feed your family, well don’t try to be a hero. Don’t feel guilty or anything about doing what you have to do. I meet people in the alt trans movement who are very unsympathetic to the fact that many women who are working class regardless of color don’t live in neighborhoods that are safe for walking. You have to look at things in a universal way. Everyone can’t do everything, but it’s up to us who can to advocate. You know whatever you can do for others if you have the opportunity you should to it.
I remember they were doing random stops on people on the Eastside of Los Angeles and taking away their cars and some middle class no children advocates were all, “good they shouldn’t have a car anyway and they shouldn’t have kids either!” And I was like, hold up, you have to understand where a person is coming from and why they do what they do. The less money you have the less likely you are in LA to be near reliable and safe public transit.
So we have to work on the whole community. The alt transportation movement can’t be compartmentalized. Its got to contain undocumented people’s rights, feminism, racial justice as well as the eco component.
To piece it up like that, it dooms the movement to failure. It makes it a single middle class person’s game and that’s not change. If a working class mom with two kids under 10 can’t participate then the movement has failed. If people who are disabled can’t participate then the movement has failed. If the elderly can’t participate then the movement has failed.
It is all about balance.
Ok enough with my hippie talk. Thanks Siel this was great!!!
Browne
Comment by browne — November 24, 2008 @ 6:25 pm
I do think that often, members of minority groups are placed in the situation where they have to pick what’s doable as an individual vs. what could potentially be better in a very intangible way in the long run for the entire minority group. The choice is esp. hard b/c we can’t be expected to carry the entire fate of our ethnic group in each of our decisions — esp. when we all only get one life to live and would like to pursue indiv. happiness, fulfillment, etc.
I’m not sure where I’m going with that –
Comment by Siel — November 24, 2008 @ 10:14 pm
I understand what you are saying Siel. Oddly my partner just wrote a paper on that exact topic.
And even though I’ve said that I am an individual. I was all freaked out by the “you have no responsibility” slant of the paper. I mean yeah of course I don’t, but wow is that ok?
Is it ok for me to feel no obligation. At different times in my life I have felt different on the topic. It’s weird because capitalism and anarchy are both on two different sides of the spectrum but they both have this strong individualistic streak. And I’ve always felt and been put in a place where that desire to be an individual was viewed as this negative thing and not just among people of color, but even among white people. I’ve felt this odd pressure from both groups to represent. And you know lots of stuff I really don’t know.
I remember when I was writing more poetry oriented things and someone featured me and my writing had nothing to do with ethnicity (on the ground level) and all about the greed of capitalism in this satirical, dorothy parker in dramatic monologue type style and the person who booked me was quite angry. I didn’t realize that I had been booked as the “black” girl rep. They were expecting spoken word and a little Maya Angelou and I’m just so far from that.
I am definitely a black girl rep, but I’m the rep for Browne Molyneux.
I think a good book on the topic is the Autobiography of an Excoloured Man. A man who left his race to pass as white. It puts that question out when is it ok to be an individual and when is it ok to not and is it ever ok to try to martyr yourself or to just sort of disappear into the fray. Not being the problem, but just sort of just not making yourself the target of the problem if you can get out of that.
I think it is up to the individual. I don’t feel that people should feel obligated in anyway if they just don’t have the strength or the fancy to do certain things. I think everyone does what they can in their own way.
This idea that if you are a woman or a person of color or a gay person that you have to be the company rep is very unfair. Number one maybe the people don’t particular like you or agree with you. Number two being a member of a minority group doesn’t make you part of the borg, how can you possibly be a good rep for everyone or even any kind of representative of everyone, but of course if you are the “other” you just sort of by default become that.
Should you take the questions your college professor asks you or others ask you when you are the only person like you in grad school or as an undergrad and use that as a teachable moment or should you stand up and say you are an individual, even though no one ever is going to see you as such?
It’s possible that the teachable moment thing was completely stupid anyway. I’m pretty sure teachable moment are completely ineffective when it has to do with adults.
But is trying to prove that you are an individual every waking moment is that a healthful way to go through life? Is it healthful for you as an individual? And is the individual a real concept in the real sense, is the individual concept a way to divide us all up and to make us fight with one another for our own selfish interests? I don’t know?
And for a person of color, what does individual mean? That is the question that keeps me up at night, but I think way to freakin much.
But it doesn’t matter. You choose your path. As long as its not trying to be a big jerk, then it’s ok. At least I’m not going to judge you…lol..of course I’m one person.
Now if you are using your knowledge as an “excoloured” person to hurt people owing to some weird sick problem (and not wanting to have to deal with racism or sexism or any kind of ism is not a sick problem, that is a normal survival mechanism in your brain) well that’s bad, but if you are just living your life, well what do you do?
The House Behind the Cedars is also a good book on this subject.
Browne
Comment by Browne — November 25, 2008 @ 2:23 am
not to ignore the great points brought up in this comment thread*, but i would like to know what you guys think is something that one can do to advocate for mothers on public transit. i haven’t been able to stop thinking about it, and i would love to know what you guys have heard/are doing about it.
thanks!
*because we could talk about that foreverandeverandever, but i just want to have some control over what i can do right now, and for me, that’s advocacy.
Comment by melyssa — November 25, 2008 @ 9:57 am
What you could do Melyssa is make sure that conversation is brought up at every opportunity. If there is a transit meeting go out there and go “what about safety for children.” Complain about the dirty ads on the Transit TV.
The thing is that in general most alt trans people are childless, so you have to insert that into the conversation all of the time, even if people think you are annoying.
The first thing I would like to see is to get rid of adult oriented ads on the METRO TV, because to me why should only middle class people get to decide what their kids watch on TV. It’s little, but it is something.
Browne
Comment by browne — November 25, 2008 @ 11:46 am
thanks for the suggestions. i’ll give it a shot.
Comment by melyssa — November 25, 2008 @ 5:27 pm
Yes, for being a girl and for not having a car, and having to deal with really, really creepy guys on the train/bus. Public transit burka, indeed.
I usually have my headphones on and if a guy starts being rude, I pretend to not hear him.
Comment by Heather — November 27, 2008 @ 12:19 am
Heather I think there needs to be a real movement in regards to education of people in regards to how to treat your fellow people on the street. It’s not just on the bus, it’s even walking to the bus. When I walk up the street and people say vulgar things to me everyday in the same spots and I have to go a different way to escape this. That’s insane. I think what if people were screaming racial slurs at people in the same spot everyday, people would feel an urgent need to do something, but sexual comments, that’s completely ok, that’s life we must deal.
I want to do a march in downtown LA for the right to women to walk on the street, to the bus, ride on the subway without being sexually assaulted by people’s words!!
Ok, moving away from the ME topic…lol..I found one resource for mom’s on the bus, none in LA… unfortunately.
But this person called bus chick in Seattle.
http://www.buschick.com/
I know she has a baby because I saw the baby on LA Streetsblog
http://la.streetsblog.org/2008/11/06/having-a-kid-doesnt-mean-having-a-car/
Browne
Comment by browne — November 27, 2008 @ 2:20 am
And Melyssa I thought about something…in general the babies I see on the bus are babies of color, even the white mom’s I see on the bus, I would estimate about 50% of them have babies of color. I think the race issue in regards to all of this is important, because I think that is why the babies on the bus are not thought of or rather the children on the bus are not thought of because they are kids of color, working class kids, etc…if we don’t fix that in society at least in LA society there can be no real advocacy on that issue without including that component.
I’ve included an interesting thread I read at the end of this comment, not so much about babies on the bus, but mami’s of color and how they are marginalized, but this could also apply to all moms white, black, latina, asian, biracial…who are part of the working class world and how they are marginalized and have to wait in a line in regards to civil rights, behind men of color, behind feminist of academia, behind women of color who are middle class…the first woman who didn’t get off the bus in a major way during the civil right’s movement was a single mom, but the NAACP didn’t want to use her, because she wasn’t the right “type” of woman.
And that is the story of the working class mom. A member of the group at the very back of the line who has to wait patiently, because she’s not the right kind of rep for any kind of movement. She dared to have children and sometimes more than one and to not have the proper credential to do it.
Check this out:
http://xrl.us/oyivk
Comment by browne — November 27, 2008 @ 2:49 am
Public transporation that only caters to the middle class is not just an LA phenomenon.
I live in Stanislaus county in Northern CA. Our transit is very fractured in terms of service and need. Those that live in the very poor sections of the city and county have almost no bus service. A few towns have only two buses a day that go to Modesto (the county seat). In the mostly middle class northeast, there is a reasonable amount of bus service, bike lanes and nearby shopping centers.
Those in the more affluent areas rarely use the services that they are provided them. While, those in the poor areas depend upon almost excluively on public transit. Transportation inequality prevents any social mobility. Those without access to buses or pedestrian/cycling infrastructure (there are quite a bit of highways and roads with no shoulders or sidewalks) do not have access to public services, better employment, etc.
I can’t help to think that this was done on purpose. That the wealthier in this area want to keep others down.
I would not have noticed this disparity either if I had not been sans car almost all my life.
Comment by Diane Bailey — November 30, 2008 @ 11:22 am
Diane I’m certain this is all done purposely. I don’t believe in random when it comes to oppression of people. And it’s not so much “I’m going to be mean,” but more I’m going to put more resources over here, because these people complain more loudly and have lawyers and these people, well, we’re not going to worry, but there are not times where I do think it is very deliberate.
Like for instance the destruction of the rails in LA people like to say some car industry conspiracy, but oddly the rail lines and red cars demise coincided with the arrival of lots and lots of African-Americans after WW2 and I can’t help but think that rail in LA being dismantled had way more to do with that than the car dealer fairy tale.
Comment by browne — December 1, 2008 @ 9:23 am
“Another thing I =have found unexpectedly hard being a woman on the train and bus is that I get a lot of rude comments by men. I get harassed at times and if I am not friendly I get called a bitch or other unpleasant things.”
I can definitely relate to that issue. When my last car broke down (20+ year old Volvo) I didn’t expect or at least forgot what it felt like to be constantly harassed by men.
I did get another car, but once we move to Portland, we’re getting rid of one of them. I don’t know what its like to live in Portland as a woman of color, but I know what its like in Oakland, Berkeley and San Francisco.
Comment by Carla — December 8, 2008 @ 11:01 am