SPONSORED — If owning a car was your ultimate goal when you were younger, well, you don’t have that in common with kids today. In fact, millennials are picking up a lot of attention for not driving – or even wanting to drive. According to The Atlantic, adults 21 to 34 made up just 27 percent of new-car buyers in 2008, down from 38 percent in 1998.

So what do the millennials know that you don’t? Well, it just may be that a car-free lifestyle is more carefree than you’d previously imagined.

The time and money pit

While it might be convenient to have that sedan waiting for you in the driveway, the frequent trips to the gas station, mechanic’s shop, car wash and DMV are anything but. Add to that the hours per week you spend sitting in rush-hour traffic and you might be surprised at how much time you’re wasting on that “convenient” car.

And then there are the expenses. You already knew what you’d be paying each month when you signed that five-year auto loan, but that’s just where your vehicle expenses start. Add to that the costs of gas, insurance, registration, tires, oil changes and general maintenance and you’ve got a much larger figure. According to Consumer Reports, the true cost to own an average car is more than $9,000 per year for the first five years.

The environmental factor

Whether you consider yourself an environmentalist or not, the fact of the matter is that driving unequivocally equals energy consumption. In fact, according to National Geographic, cars consume a hearty amount of energy during manufacturing before they even make it to the road.

Using fuel — a must if you’re taking on the road — then affects the environment even more, from petroleum product production to greenhouse gas emissions. These gasses aren’t just harming the environment either. Carbon monoxide and smog contribute to poor air quality, and that affects your health.

Your health and well-being

Speaking of health, spending all that time in traffic might just be sabotaging it. According to a 2012 study published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, the lengthier a person’s commute, the higher the person’s blood pressure and body mass index is likely to be. That’s likely not surprising if you’ve ever experienced the stress and anxiety of a rush-hour traffic jam.

High blood pressure aside, driving can be dangerous for other reasons from distracted drivers to drunk drivers to drowsy drivers, the road can present a mélange of risks. Add in road rage and inclement weather and you’ve got more than enough reasons to ditch the car.

The alternatives

Being car-free doesn’t require you to work from home or live as a recluse. Today, shared transportation options abound for anyone willing to look outside his or her garage. On-demand car-sharing services like ZipCar can be good options for those who only need a vehicle on occasion.

For the daily commute, public transport is likely your best bet. Dow Constantine, Sound Transit board chair and King County executive, recommends trying out the area’s robust transportation system.

“Each year more and more people hop aboard Sound Transit’s trains and express buses. These gains mean not only happier and more productive commuters, but fewer cars on our congested roads.”

Community members can have a say in public transportation options by taking part in Sound Transit’s current public involvement campaign, which will determine which mass transit projects are studied as final candidates for a Sound Transit 3 ballot measure. If you’re interested, you can attend one of several public meetings, or get involved via social media and www.soundtransit3.org.

Fewer cars on the road, better transportation options and more time and money saved: that equals a lot more people living carefree in the Pacific Northwest.