Thursday, October 1, 2009

12 years of car-free commuting

When September finishes up each year, it marks one more year that I've not driven a car - even once - to and from work. The last day I drove a car was sometime in September 1997.

Unless outside forces intervene, that will always be the last day that this worker drove to work.

Some clarifications:
- Since 1986 I've been essentially car-free commuting. But I would drive ever so occasionally when my "excuse" seemed especially strong. For example, in 1997 leading up to September, I drove a car 3 times.
- I have also ever-so-occasionally driven a motorcycle to work. But I was 100% bike-commuting from October 2005 until August 2009. (In August, the doctor ordered me off the bike for two days.)
- I ride the bus every now and then. Once this year - in January.
- I don't want to imply that I live a totally car-free life. My bride drives a minivan and I go places with my family, who mostly cannot be persuaded onto bikes. Also I borrow the minivan when I'm hauling a load that won't fit in the BOB trailer. It would be truly challenging to totally give up automobile transportation altogether. But my bike is my chosen mode unless I think long and hard, and determine that the car or motorcycle is the most practical alternative.

3 comments:

Clancy said...

Congrats. I am sure lots of miles and memories.

Anonymous said...

Congrats! I'm into my fourth year now, and I hope one day to catch up to you! ;)

Scott said...

Congrats! We'll be moving to Africa next summer, and I plan to take the car-free plunge then.