She doesn’t want to see the costs of her car getting higher and higher

Amela, when did you first think that owning a car is superfluous or no longer fulfils its purpose?

Since my commute to work was reduced by 90%. Before that it always took me about an hour to get to work. When that was no longer the case, I found myself watching my car gradually become a motionless object. Or to put it another way: as the costs went up, the car aged faster.
 

How long did the process take in total, i.e. from the first time the idea occurred to you until you made the decision?

As I said, it all started when I changed jobs, after which a number of weird things happened within a short space of time: the boot opened all by itself, there were screws in the tyres, and the car was vandalised. On a number of occasions I thought to myself: “Hey, is that still worth it?“. And I liked the idea of not having to worry about things like that if it wasn’t my car.

Were environmental considerations a factor in being able to let go?

Various arguments play a role when letting go. But it’s certainly the case that I’ve been more concerned with the environment since I joined Mobility. We shouldn’t forget the time we spend in traffic jams these days. Anyone can own a car, so there are more and more cars on the roads. That means it’s no fun any more.

When did you buy your first car?

I had a car of my own from when I was allowed to drive. That was about 14 years ago.
 

What do you think is the nicest/most practical/greatest thing about having a car of your own?

It’s useful to have a vehicle on your doorstep. You know it’s there when you need it and you can leave things in it if you like. Nobody cares. I don’t have an emotional connection with cars – for me they’ve always been a means to an end, and that’s not going to change.
 

Can you imagine having a car of your own again one day?

Absolutely, if I needed one on a regular basis – whether for work or for a hobby. As soon as I was doing 10,000 kilometres or more per year, it would be worth considering.

Note: Amela has been working for Mobility since December 2022.