As life continues to evolve, with remote work blurring the lines between home and office and alternative transport options becoming more prevalent, I find myself pondering the necessity of car ownership. This article is a personal journey through the tangled web of factors that tether us to our four-wheeled companions, from the emotional attachments we form with them to the practical roles they fulfill. It’s an exploration of how trust and community influence our decisions on mobility and the sharing of resources.

Sharing personal anecdotes alongside broader societal insights, I invite you to join me in questioning our dependency on cars in an age brimming with alternatives. Is the era of the personal vehicle waning, or are we simply transitioning toward a new paradigm of mobility? This narrative seeks to uncover the shifting dynamics of car ownership in a world eager for change.

The Evolving Role of Cars in Our Lives

Following a recent dialogue on LinkedIn, a profound realization emerged: the car is more than just a mobility. Earlier, a car offered the possibility of getting a job, food, and a connection to the environment outside our local community. It has enabled access to the world.

Today, we have created a different world where working from home is also available. The evolution of our work habits, notably the shift away from traditional office environments to remote work, has significantly reduced our reliance on constant mobility.

Related to that, we do not need permanent mobility to go from one place to another, for example, from Celje to Ljubljana and back every day, to survive.

This transition is further supported by the convenience of home delivery services and the availability of public transportation options, challenging the traditional notion of car ownership’s necessity.

Our choices around work and lifestyle—whether we embrace remote work or continue commuting, and whether we reside in areas rich with alternative transportation options—play a pivotal role in determining our dependency on personal vehicles.

Depending on our choices regarding how we earn money, do we work from home, or do we need to commute? Do we live where alternative mobility is possible, such as CoSharing Avant2Go? What variety of other activities do we engage in that necessitate a mode of transportation?

Community and Trust: The Cornerstones of Shared Mobility

Where alternative transportation options may be limited, communities often find innovative solutions to bridge the gap.  D-Studio’s CEO, Matej, shares a compelling insight into the practicality and success of car sharing within small groups, highlighting the initiative as both viable and effective.

Of course, the most essential thing in all of this is the level of awareness of all the individuals involved and, as Paul, D-Studio Consulting’s director, mentioned in one of the calls, the trust towards those who borrow a car and vice versa. This trust fosters a sense of responsibility that is crucial for addressing any challenges that may arise.

Compared to abroad, where in big cities systems such as Uber Carshare, GoGet – Australia’s Leading Car Share Network, public transport works perfectly, Tomaž, D-Studio’s partner, pointed out that in Slovenia, he felt a lack of mobility when he was temporarily unable to drive a car and experienced deprivation of mobility.

His observations underline a palpable mobility gap, revealing the limitations of Slovenia’s existing transportation infrastructure.

Personal Reflections on Mobility

The journey toward understanding our relationship with cars begins with two critical dimensions: our personal awareness and the environment we inhabit.

His initial step involves closely examining our attachment to the automobile. Essential questions arise: Do I need a car to survive? What kind of environment am I currently living in, and what mobility options are available?

At the heart of this exploration is the challenge of separating the intrinsic value we place on the kind of car we drive from its utility as a mere means of transport.

This distinction prompts further inquiry into the nature of our work and lifestyle: Do I work from home, or is a commute part of my daily routine? Is a hybrid work mode an option for me?

These considerations lead us to assess whether other obligations can be met through the mobility options our environment offers.

Being deeply embedded in our local communities opens the door to sharing specific resources with trusted individuals. This community integration not only enriches our lives but also presents practical solutions to our transportation needs.

When alternatives are available, navigating the complexities of car ownership and mobility becomes significantly easier, underscoring the importance of examining our personal and environmental contexts in shaping our mobility choices.

The Future of Mobility

The environment around us significantly shapes our relationship with cars, signaling a shift towards more flexible mobility options. The rise of remote work and hybrid models suggests a gradual move away from traditional car ownership.

Matej believes the future hinges on an innovative breakthrough in car sharing, much like AirBnB revolutionized short-term home rentals. This change will depend on societal readiness and market maturity.

Smaller communities are leading the way, as seen in scenarios where families share vehicles to meet their needs. Tomaž underscores the evolving mindset towards car acquisition, questioning the traditional ownership model in favor of communal sharing arrangements like carpooling.

This evolution challenges us to rethink our approach to mobility, potentially transforming car ownership from a personal asset to a shared community resource.

In a nutshell

A thought-provoking conversation on LinkedIn has opened our eyes to the changing relationship we have with our vehicles.

This exploration delves into how shifts in work culture, the rise of alternative transportation, and the values of community and trust are reshaping our views on car ownership.

Through personal stories and wider social reflections, we’ve examined our traditional reliance on cars, contemplating the emerging alternatives that challenge this norm.

The article highlights the movement towards shared mobility, pondering a future where cars are communal assets rather than personal possessions.

As we venture forward, the discussion extends beyond mere transportation, embracing broader themes of connectivity, environmental responsibility, and communal living in a world that’s rapidly evolving.