Why I Bike to Work
So, Friday was National Bike to Work day, which was an event celebrated largely by businesses offering freebies to people who show their bike helmet. Hey, I'm all right with that, since it directly benefits me
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My downstairs neighbor has been bike/train commuting 30 miles (approx.) to her high tech job for over a decade. It can be done, although I must admit that she is one of those people who doesn't sleep very much. Exercise for her seems to be what sleep is for the rest of us. She doesn't own a car. I don't bike. I don't have a bike. But I have been telecommuting since 1996, so that's my slothful solution.
I'm working on not having a car, either. I think they are evil, although I love them. So pretty. So damaging. But we are talking about getting an electric car to share with the neighbors. We have solar panels that generate more electricity than we use, so it would be "free" to operate, and nobody would use it for regular commuting. I don't know. No car and public transit or part-time electric car and public transit? IDK. Working on it.
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Honestly, if I have to say "NO, I SAID I HAVE A BAG" and physically intercede to stop a plastic bag from being opened one more time... *grump*
Telecommuting is very eco-friendly. Also pajama-friendly. Sounds to me like you're winning.
People always ask why Brian, John and I don't have a second car. And I'm like... why? Sure, every once in a while there's a bit of a jam when two of us have to be at far-flung places, but mostly we get by, and it's not enough of a problem to warrant another 2-ton killing machine. Er, I mean, car.
They are sexy, though. I do love a mustang. I content myself with admiring them from afar. Much like pretty young men.
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The number of people who have looked at me in blank shock when I mention we don't have a car (usually following a conversational vector something along the lines of "oh, it's not far, just a 20-minute drive) is starting to climb well into the double digits.
Around here, it's not so far outside the norm - most people know of at least one other car-free family - but my in-laws thought we were deranged when we told them about our plan to live a car-free life. They live in a suburb of Chicago, and although there are bus stops not too far, not to mention a library within a 10-minute walk, a grocery store within a 20-minute walk, and a Walgreens within a 15-minute walk, they literally drive everywhere. Even my FIL, who only works a couple of miles from work drives every day (he does have a medical issue that makes what would be a mild scrape from a fall off a bike potentially life-threatening due to a blood-clotting issue ( ... )
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I do pack my own lunch generally, and try to avoid disposable containers and utensils, using reusable ones as often as I can instead. We also aren't filling the landfills with tons of disposable diapers, except when we're on trips where I can't wash diapers. Biking may not be so practical for some of us, but I do think trying to find ways we can all be more environmentally friendly is a worthwhile endeavor.
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We all gotta do what we can. Before I started biking, I didn't realize how far the 'reasonable distance' went. When I was a silly 18-year-old I wouldn't have ridden my bike the two miles from my dorm to Coventry - omg it was SO FAR. Now I know better.
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But he will soon join the ranks of bike-to-workers! :-)
I would love to bike to my "work" (SAHM stuff, errands, etc.) if someone would be willing to donate a 2-kid trailer that can handle the combined weight of 77 pounds that my children weigh. :-)
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