Контент-мейкер из Феникса документально фиксирует жизнь без автомобиля в Аризоне

Phoenix content creator documents his car-free life across Arizona PHOENIX (AZFamily) — For most Valley residents, summer means a mad dash from the air conditioning of home to the air conditioning of a car. For Jamie Trufin, it means walking everywhere just like every other season. Trufin is a content creator who lives in downtown Phoenix and hasn’t owned a car in years. He says he has no plans to start again. “Anywhere there’s a sidewalk, I’ll be walking there,” Trufin said. Turning car-free life into content Trufin documents his car-free adventures on YouTube and Instagram under the name “Trufin Sees Transit,” a rebrand he adopted within the past year to focus his content more squarely on his walking and transit adventures. The name pairs with his wife’s own channel, “Skitch Sees Transit,” where she’s shared short-form videos about riding Phoenix transit for several years. What began as a personal passion for finding creative ways to get around without driving has turned into a steady stream of videos chronicling just how far a person can go around the Valley and state on foot, by bike, by bus and by light rail. “I do get some negative comments, but they don’t really bother me,” Trufin said. “I think me experiencing in reality and just seeing all my friends and family and community — that’s something people are really looking for nowadays, and they don’t get to experience that because they’re behind a car.” “It’s hard to really network and meet your community when you’re in a car,” he added. Trufin says he doesn’t mind if strangers recognize him and say hello when they catch him on foot across the Valley. Choosing to go car-free Unlike many people who go without a vehicle out of necessity, Trufin says it’s a lifestyle choice, and one that’s paid off financially. He estimates he saves at least $10,000 a year by not owning a car. These days, when he needs a vehicle for a longer trip, he simply rents one. “It is so easy to rent nowadays, and I have so many different options to choose from,” Trufin said. “I filled up gas maybe once this year, I think.” Averaging 12 miles a day Trufin estimates he walks about 12 miles and 25,000 steps on an average day. His regular routes include a roughly 2.25-mile walk each way to his job at El Zaguan Cafe, a downtown Phoenix coffee shop open weekdays from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. He’s also walked to both Valley IKEA stores — including one lengthy trek to the new North Phoenix location that ended in disappointment. “That one was closed when I walked all the way there,” Trufin said. “It was a very sad moment. But I had to go to Michael’s anyway, so I got some paint across the street. So it wasn’t the end of the world.” He and his wife have also made the trek out to Buc-ee’s on foot, bypassing the notorious traffic that builds up around the massive travel center. For long stretches when his energy runs low, Trufin says he isn’t afraid to lean on Valley Metro buses, the light rail or a rideshare — though he says he’s never actually had to call one mid-walk. As for footwear, he swears by one brand and buys in bulk. “It’s hard to find a good pair of shoes, so once you find one, I always recommend just buy a bunch of the same pair,” Trufin said. “Sometimes they don’t make them anymore, and so then I just rotate my shoes to keep the duration of the shoes lasting longer.” Content that spans the state and beyond Trufin’s car-free content extends well past Phoenix city limits. He’s documented an Amtrak honeymoon that looped the entire U.S. for about $250 — and even proposed to his wife at a light rail station. He’s captured a trip from Phoenix to Tucson by way of Ajo without a car, and has filmed how he reaches national parks, including the Grand Canyon and Glacier National Park, without ever getting behind the wheel. The benefits: community and knees For Trufin, the appeal isn’t just financial or content for the camera. “I’ve always been really interested in trying to build my community and meet my neighbors,” Trufin said. “Being able to walk everywhere and running into my neighbors has been the best benefit of walkability.” He also credits walking with easing wear on his joints. “I don’t have the best knees, and I think just using my body and walking — I’m not running, I’m not a great runner — being able to walk is low stress on my knees and has been able to improve my mobility a lot easier,” he said. See a spelling or grammatical error in our story? Please click here to report it. Do you have a photo or video of a breaking news story? Send it to us here with a brief description. Copyright 2026 KTVK/KPHO. All rights reserved.