What will you do?
Did you guys know it’s Blog Action Day? Literally zillions (well, maybe not zillions but you get the idea) of bloggers are publishing posts about the environment today. Helpful tips, or calls to action, or whatever. Me? I’m just going to tell you what I personally have chosen to do, and hopefully inspire some action on y’all’s part.
So here it is. I have decided to stop driving to work and commute by cycling instead. To the tune of around 16 miles per day round trip. Yes I said it.
Yes, this will be a sacrifice in some ways. I will have to get over my fear of getting hit by a car or slamming into a stationery object. I’ll have to plan a little more carefully, get up earlier, spend more time commuting, be cold or wet or sweaty sometimes, probably go to bed a little earlier, probably miss some classes at the gym. But I feel really good about this decision and can see so many benefits.
Why I’ve decided to be a bike commuter:
- I think it will build character and self-esteem.
- I know it will make a positive impact on the environment and lessen my footprint on this planet. There will be less emissions because of me. We’ll lessen our dependence on oil because of me. Bikes don’t drip oil or fluids so there will be less water pollution because of me. A four mile bicycle trip keeps about 15 pounds of pollutants out of the air we breathe.
- I will most certainly enjoy a higher level of fitness and probably boost my weight loss in spades.
- I can fill the gap that has opened now that an injury prevents me from running anymore. When I ride, I feel that same reduction in stress, and I feel connected with my surroundings, something I never feel when I’m driving. I miss that about running. Now I don’t have to anymore.
- I can put off buying a newer car because there will be so little wear and tear on mine now.
- I’ll get to park closer to the elevators than even the CEO and I don’t have to spend ten minutes a day driving up and down seven floors of a parking garage.
- I’ll save $35 per month in parking fees and probably $60 or so in gas.
There are probably more, I’m sure they’ll come to me as I gain experience. I’ve been mapping out a route in my head and thankfully I have a great supportive network of people like my mom and David, who are both huge cycling fanatics (they ride tandem, they do a 50 mile loop a few times per week) and another guy I work with who also commutes and has been really helpful. My mom gave me a gorgeous and super nice Trek bike which she has ridden in road races before and doesn’t use now that they ride tandem. It’s pretty and purple and feels so nice, it’s hooked up with great tires, lights and a speedometer. I was able to give my old bike (which mom also gave me) to Jimmy and now we can ride together. David (who works at BikeBeat as a mechanic) helped me pick out a helmet and some gear, and installed a rack with bags so I can carry what I need to work. I’m so grateful to both of them. I feel like I have the right equipment now and that makes me feel safe and prepared. I want to take a test run this Saturday morning to see how the ride goes, and I will start riding to work next week.
So, today is sort of an environmental action day for you, Internet. I’m wondering, what will you do? Taking action doesn’t mean you have to do something huge. It could be as small as deciding to eat vegetarian for a week or buy organic produce or starting a recycling bin in your kitchen or stop drinking bottled water. So what steps will you take?
As for me, there will be one less car in that traffic jam because of me. Just breathe a little easier and thank me later.
Some other Blog Action Day posts I like (I’ll add to this throughout the day):
- 5 Ways to Save the World, While Getting Fitter, Saving Money, Simplifying, and Becoming Happier
- for designers or those who freelance: 29 Simple Ways to Become a More Environmentally Friendly Freelancer
- from Lifehack: You The Consumer
- Items You Never Thought to Recycle
- Exercise with Nature
- The Coolest Green Habits to Adopt Today!
- Crafting for your Community
- Better Living Through Design: Greening The Home
- The Green Challenge
26 comments
16 miles is a lot and kudos to you for having the audacity to do such a thing. I will buy a Nalgene this week and finally stop buying bottled water. It’s dumb and I know it.
That is wonderful that you are biking instead of driving! You are going to have some sore legs for the first couple days! 16 miles is a long, but great trip! Congrats on the wonderful decision!
Actually, C, I recommend SIGG bottles. They are super-thin, super-light stainless steel, they don’t contain oil and they don’t leach anything into your water! I had a nalgene but hated how it made my water taste like plastic if it sat for a while. Plus they have the coolest designs! I got this one and this one! I love them!!
Reading this literally made me cheer out loud! I am HUGE on the no car thing! I have been car free for 7 years now (and 2 of those were in the US). My bike has bags to carry stuff (usually groceries- or stuff Sam picked up in the woods) and a seat on the front for Sarah, and one on the back for Sam. People do not get why we don’t want a car- but honestly, we really don’t need it. Sure, there are times it would be nice, but its not needed.
We have rain suits here- I don’t know if they have them there. I can send you one if you like, so on really wet days you are not drenched. Also, when I lived in Florida and it rained, I would just leave for work a little early, have clean clothes for work wrapped in a plastic bag to keep them dry, and I would just change at work. I worked for a cardiologist, and he just LOVED that I rode my bike, he thought it was a great example.
So, yeay for you!! Since I live in bike-land, let me know if there is anything that might be handy for you to have that you can’t get there, and I will see about sending it to you. I am ALL about encouraging no-car usage!! yeay!! (am I too enthusiastic??)
YES!!! as a non-driver (as in a don’t know how) and avid bicycle rider and lover i’m stoked you are switching to be a bike commuter! good luck. make sure you get a good light for your rear rack, or your bag, for those nights you work late and want to be seen on the road in the dark.
Awesome! Congrats! My hubby and I carpool in my hybrid, but in the spring we’ll probably bike some too. I recommend the SIGG bottles too. We each have one and they rock!
Rachel, emailing you!
That’s fabulous! Good for your health, good for the environment, good for your community. Kudos!
what an inspiring post! am making notes on your tips.
One of the best things about biking for transportation is the connection you get to the world around you. It’s hard to explain, but I know I wouldn’t have explored half of the neighborhoods/stores/neat little places I’ve found in Chicago if I had strictly gone from place to place by car, or even train/walking.
I applaud you for your action. This is one of those positive, life-altering experiences - go YOU! I visited Amsterdam once upon a time and everyone rides bikes! Good for your health, and traffic … I wish our way of life was universally set up to accommodate this way of commuting. (I wish I could cycle to work and back but my commute is 40 miles one-way ACK!).
My contribution is quite small. I try very hard to bring my own canvas bags when I shop, or if I don’t have the bags with me, to decline the plastic and paper ones the stores give out. So many times I go in for one or two items I can easily carry in my hands (or purse).
I so want to start cycling again, I haven’t been on a bike in years, I think I need to move a bit closer to the heart of the city first though.
Thanks for all the links! I love seeing all of the different responses to the environment.
I wish I could live without a car. I would love to ride my bike to work. Too bad there is not more political interest in better public mass transporation. I did here they are getting close to light rail over there in Norfolk.
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*claps hands* I’m really proud of you. This is something I’ve contemplated doing, but my commute would be 15 miles EACH WAY, and I have to run numerous errands during the day - which would tack on about 5-10 more miles… and it’s not like I have any spare time to work that in… so I can’t think of a way it’s feasible right now. (Not to mention, work has no shower). Anyhow, I think what you’re doing is totally awesome! Kudos!
Excellent!!! What an awesome challenge - I’m so excited for you, and impressed :) Great post, great challenge. There is always more - I’m slowly working through all the avenues of my life and learning more and more things that I can do to support the enviroment. Thanks for an awesome post!!
Good for you! Biking is a great way to get around. Now you just need to do a post about good outfits to wear while riding :)
Congrats on your commitment, Amber! I linked to your post from my blog: http://soxylady.blogspot.com/2007/10/our-red-sox-have-turned-green.html
Congrats on your commitment, Amber! I linked to your post from my blog: http://soxylady.blogspot.com/2007/10/our-red-sox-have-turned-green.html
Hey Amber! I congratulate and applaud you for your commitment. I linked to this post from my blog:
http://soxylady.blogspot.com/2007/10/our-red-sox-have-turned-green.html
Way to go!
You gotta let me know how your commute will be, as you’re just a bit further from downtown than I am. I’ve contemplated doing this myself, but am a little sketched out by some of the blocks I’d have to peddle through after dark.
Our new “action” is using kitty litter made from recycled newspaper, called Yesterday’s News. It actually works well, as the cats don’t leave their powdery white footprints all over our comforter now.
You’re awesome! Congrats on your decision to commute by bike, you’re making the world a better place!
i love your blog and i love that you’ve decided to become a cyle commuter! i do the same thing (but i do work from home…ha!) in that i don’t have a car and use my bike for getting around everywhere in my city. it makes me happier and probably healthier too! hooray!
hi amber. i’ve been reading your blog for some time now, originally came across you on the WW message boards.
this post made me smile. i am fortunate enough to live 2 blocks from work, and my kids go to school 1 block from home. i walk them to school each morning, then walk to work, walk to pick them up then back to work. i do NOT drive unless leaving the city. if we need to go somewhere in town, that isn’t feasible to walk, we take the Beeline, our local electric powered ‘mini’ bus.
i also take my own canvas bags when i go shopping, even to a retail store, not just the grocery store.
it’s good to know there are others out there who are also doing thier part to make an impact on the environment, in a positive way.
What a great choice!
I’m lucky enough to live in a city right now where it’s feasible for us to have only one car. The Boy needs to drive for work, but I take transit and walk most places. I’m hoping to save up for a bike and the assorted gear needed to rain-proof myself, and see biking in my future. Thanks for the reminder! ;)
Hi Amber! Great post. Good luck with biking to work - that’s awesome! I participated in Blog Action Day as well - and thought you might like to check it out: http://www.geekxnerd.com/2007/10/blog-action-day-utopia-vs-reality.html
Exercise will kill you. So will dolls, if they come to life, or maybe if you choke on one. Is Norfolk like a city or something? Ink and think rhyme, but no one ever notices. I live in Hampton. Flat shoes make a slappin noise. If you think napping is a waste of time you’re not doing it correctly. Elvis Costello saved my life. My wife has a handmade Ramones T-shirt signed by the origional members. Of Led Zeppelin. Have you ever made pizzas with biscuit dough?