5 Years & Counting!

     Well, this month marks my 5th year being car-free! :)  Hard to believe...  More and more each day, I read in news articles, about how people are moving out of the suburbs and into urban areas to be closer to work, and be able to walk, bike or use public transportation to get groceries, see friends, etc.  They are centralizing where they live and work.  Also, in the past five years, the share of new cars bought by young people (age 18-34) has dropped 30%.  They are struggling with the recession, but also, social trends have changed, and a lot more people are socializing via the internet.  A study has shown that the longer they go without a car, the easier it is to adjust to a life without a car.  And I think that's true - - at first it's a bit of a learning curve, to think about how to get around differently, to schedule (and/or "pad" your time) to get places, how to carry things when running errands, how to deal with inclement weather, wear the proper clothes to be comfortable in the summer and winter.  But soon after, this kind of lifestyle becomes "normal" - just like life with a car was "normal."  And everyone knows the benefits of more exercise to help your body, and less cars on the road to help the environment.  It's a win-win situation. 

Voter Parking

    Last weekend, my area had the option of early voting, so I rode my bike over to College Park Community Center, to check it out.  I can pick up a bike trail near my house that comes out next to the parking lot of the community center.  Perfect!  I saw all the voting placards, then I saw the very lengthy line of voters.  As I pulled up to lock my bike to a street sign, there was a steady stream of cars slowly inching their way along, trying to find parking where there was none.  I don't think people expected to find such a big voter turn-out!  So, not only was it going to take a lot of time for them to find parking...but when they finally got in line, they would later find out that it would take TWO HOURS to finally get to a voting machine!  I wonder how it will be on the actual election day, for people to find parking...and then try to get to work at a decent time.  I think the local communities ought to encourage people to walk or bike to their voting locations.  It would definitely help everyone in the long run...or should I say the long line?! :)

Pro-Choice (regarding transportation)

(Photo by Jenn Farr)

     I was reading an article in the Post today, about a meeting held in DC of the Federation of Citizens' Associations, regarding a zoning and development.  Harriet Tregoning, D.C.'s Planning Director, led the meeting, stating that "I'm not anti-car - - I'm pro-choice."  Ms. Tregoning happens to own a Brompton folding bike.  I've seen her biking around town, in her suit, going to meetings around town. It's very inspiring to see her setting a great example. :)   She also folds up her Brompton to take on Metro.  (In fact, she was able to effectuate Metro to change its policy regarding folding bikes, that those bikes don't need to be covered during rush hour!  When Metro saw how folding bikes fold in such a way that the chain is tucked in the fold, so no one gets dirty).  She stated that "35% of DC households have no vehicle."  She said car-sharing (like Zipcar and car2go) is like people who listen to music on demand (via iTunes or online music listening sites).  Not everyone needs to "physically own" a music CD.  Same with not needing to physically own a car.

     There was a lady in the meeting who shouted out, "Who are these people?" [who are car-free].  Many people in the meeting "were incredulous that any appreciable percentage of residents would choose to live without cars."  I think the key word here is "choose".  I choose to live without a car....even though I could easily afford and own a car.  It's a lifestyle choice.  There are some inconveniences to not having a car in the driveway, but I think the advantages outweigh the disadvantages.  But for my own personal needs, having a bike, walking, using Metrorail, Metrobus, Amtrak, Megabus, Zipcar and Enterprise - - I am able to take care of what I need to get and where I need to get to.  And don't forget the convenience of online shopping to get other items. :) 

      Friends of mine have asked me, "How long are you going to be able to keep biking around like that?"  The other day, I was talking to a biking friend of mine who lives in Maine, and he's 81.  So I figure I can keep up my biking lifestyle for say, another 30 years at least.  And when I'm old and gray, and my balance isn't that great, I'll get a three-wheel bike. :)  I've traveled to Europe and have seen LOTS of people older than me, riding around town.  It's wonderful to see.  Bicycling is a low-impact form of exercise that can easily be continued as you age. :)  I read in the news earlier this month, there's a French cyclist, Robert Marchand, who is 100 years old, and he set a record for bicycling 50 miles in about 4.5 hrs.!  Age doesn't have to be a dibilitating factor.  I think the object is to keep moving...and it's my intention to do so. :)

Walkable Hyattsville

Since moving to my new residence earlier this year, I've been getting to know my area, and one thing I like about it (and which is mentioned in their logo above) is that it is "A World Within Walking Distance".  Both the public transportation and walking/biking accessibility score high, and that comes in handy for me, living car-free.

The other day, I needed to bring one of my bikes to the bike store near home to get some maintenance done.  After biking home from work, I then grabbed the bike needing the work, and rode it 10 minutes over to the bike store.  After I dropped it off, I decided to get a haircut at the Hair Cuttery located a couple blocks up the street.  I was happy to see that there wasn't a wait, and I was soon on my way, to walk the 20 minutes back home.  On the way, I enjoyed viewing the established homes and their landscaped yards.  I also saw my neighbors from up the street, walking their dogs and we greeted each other. 

It's nice to have these stores and services within walking and biking distance.  I came across a website that describes all these things, about living green and shopping locally, and the benefits for doing so:

1.  Greater service satisfaction - more pleasant dealing with vendors you get to know
2.  Saves time and money - don't have to travel far
3.  Local purchases have lower impact on the local environment - you can walk/bike to the stores -  no pollution and you get the exercise
4.  Friendship and trust - getting to know and trust vendors who can provide products for your needs

Local shopping is good for my health, wallet, time and for the environment.  Plus I get to know my community better, which feels good.

Freedom with a Folder

On July 4th, I had plans to meet up with a friend in Old Town Alexandria, to have lunch, see a movie and watch the DC fireworks from atop her condo.  I know that bikes aren't allowed on Metro on big holidays or crowded events.  I got off my bike as I approached the Metro entrance.  I saw two gals walking away with their full-sized bikes, and I wondered if maybe the rules didn't apply for earlier in the day.  But then I saw a white piece of paper taped on the handicap turnstile saying "No Bikes".  Just then the lady Metro attendant saw me and said, "Excuse me - - Excuse Me, Ma'aam!"  I knew what she was going to say.  I held up a finger as if to say, "Hold on, wait a minute" - as I turned to quickly fold up and cover my Brompton.  You could hear her exclaim "Oh....okay!  A folding bike!  No problem."  As I wheeled it through the turnstile, she said she had had to tell about 6 other bikers that no bikes were allowed, but she was glad that I had a folding bike. :)  It's great to be able to bring my covered Brompton on Metro when other bikes aren't allowed.  When these circumstances come up, it makes me glad I have my Brompton. :)  Definitely makes it worth it.

The trip home after the fireworks was a little more difficult, with TONS of people on the Metro - - I barely managed to fit on.  Reminded me of taking the subway in Manhattan during rush hour.  It was do-able, however, I think next year, I'll skip taking the Metro and just ride downtown (or somewhere nearby) to see the fireworks. 

The Metro does come in handy, especially when it's bad weather (and we've had some pretty hot weather this month).  The Metro station is only a mile from my house, and then it's nice to arrive at my destination without being overly hot and sweaty.

To the Beach! :)

Last Friday, I rode my Brompton to work so that I could take it on the subway to go to National Airport and rent a car for Saturday.  An out-of-town friend was visiting her parents in Bethany Beach, Delaware, and I wanted to go see her.  I got on the Metro elevator to take it down, and another lady got on the elevator with me.  She saw my bike (it wasn't folded yet) and mentioned she wanted to get back into biking.  I told her that this was a folding bike and when we got out of the elevator, I asked if she wanted to see it fold.  So after I "did the magic show", she looked down at the bike and said, "YOU HAVE GOT TO BE KIDDIN' ME!!!  Wow, what a bike!!"  She couldn't believe her eyes. :)  ha!   I covered the bike with the Brompton cover and headed to the subway train.  After I got to the airport, I took the shuttle bus to the Enterprise rental area, which is within the parking garage.  Carrying or rolling the folded Brompton a short way is okay, but for longer distances, I prefer to unfold it and walk the bike.  I rode it through the garage to get to the door of the various car rental companies, then rolled it through the long lobby to get to Enterprise.  I probably looked a bit odd standing there with my bike, when everyone else had luggage. :)  After checking in, I rolled it to the Enterprise check-in lady to get the car.  She looked at the bike as if,  "Where are you going to put that in the car?"  I told her it folded and I would put it in the trunk. 

Early the next morning, I headed to Bethany Beach and it was a nice drive.  I've often wished that Amtrak or Megabus would make trips there, but the closest you can get there on Amtrak is Ocean City.  (Actually, you take the train to Baltimore, then a bus to Ocean City).  It takes about 4 hours, and costs $124 EACH way.  And even then, you're still about 15 miles from Bethany Beach! :(  It's less expensive and faster to rent a car.  Maybe Megabus will add the beaches to their destination list in the future - that would be nice!  I think they would get A LOT of customers!

When I was getting ready to leave to head home, my friend's dad look at me and said that he really was proud of me.  Proud of me??  Why?  He said he thought it was great that I got around by bike, that it was such a healthy lifestyle. :)  Aw, that's nice of him!  I told him that I have friends who think I'm CRAZY to NOT have a car, so I appreciated hearing he was proud of me. :) 

When I was returning the car and taking the bus shuttle to the Metro, the shuttle driver saw me fold the bike and bring it on.  There wasn't anyone else on the bus, so he put it in park, got up and came back to me and stood there looking at the Brompton with amazement. :)  He said, "That is SUCH a neat bike - - I have never seen anything like it!"  He proceeded to tell me that his daughter was in college and that the distance between her dorm and the classes were a bit of a walk.  He said if she had a bike, that would help so much, and having a folding bike, she could take it inside the class and not have to worry about someone stealing it.  He took out a pad a paper and wrote down the Brompton name and I told him the stores he could buy one from.  He was quite happy and I'm sure he couldn't wait to check one out at the store. :)

UPDATE!!!

I was just looking at a bookmarked page that I have for DC2NY, another bus company that has service between DC and NYC.  I was surprised to see that they now have service to Rehobeth Beach and Dewey Beach!!!  Wow, that's great!  It's offered between Memorial Day and Labor Day, and you can catch the bus at Dupont Circle or Union Station.  The bus leaves around 7:30 a.m., and returns at 7:30 p.m.  The travel time is about 2.5 hrs., and the cost is $39 each way.  That's less expensive than me renting a car.  However, it still wouldn't help in visiting my friend's house (in South Bethany), but it certainly could be used for a day trip or longer! :)  This is GREAT news!! :)  You can bring bikes and store them in the luggage area, though they said it depends on how much luggage space is available.  However, that wouldn't be a problem with my Brompton, since it doesn't take much space at all. :)  So, perhaps I will make another trip to the beach this summer! :) :)

Yard Magic

With the Spring season, my yard has begun to sprout lots of green things - - some good, like flowers, and some not so good, like weeds and other plants. After trying to pull some of the bad stuff out by hand, I decided a weed trimmer would be a good thing to have. I checked Home Depot for what they charge for an electric weed eater, and then went on Craigslist to find one cheaper. I found a guy selling one (the model in this picture) for $25, who lives about 10 miles from my office. It's a little bit of a hike to get there, but I could do so mostly by riding the Washington & Old Dominion trail. It took me a little over an hour to get there, which is faster than taking the two-bus option. I haven't ridden in Virginia much at all since I moved to Maryland, so it was nice to ride "old turf" again. I had a lot of memories of past commutes on the bike path, through all kinds of weather... Speaking of weather, while I was heading to the guy's house, storm clouds threatened to let loose, so that kept my pedals turning faster too. :)

After the guy demonstrated that the weed eater indeed, did work, he was wondering how I was going to get it home, since I had arrived by bike. I emptied the contents of my pannier, and put the weed eater in there, with the long handle sticking out of the top of the pannier like a broom. I stuffed my other things back in there and it worked just fine. When I had told a friend of mine that I intended to get on the Metro subway with my bike and weed eater, she was a little concerned and wondered if they would let me on...that I might be deemed a (terrorist) threat... :) I said that I would just give it a try, that I doubted it would be a problem. And, as I thought, no one batted an eye, though they probably wondered what in the world I had in my bag. :) The weed eater handle not only stuck up, but back a little bit, so I had to be mindful when I was boarding the train and where I positioned myself, so that people could get around. Fortunately, it wasn't too busy on the trains, so I wasn't in the way that much.

Taking the subway was much less expensive than getting a Zipcar, and putting it in my bike bag worked just fine. :) I'm looking forward to doing some "yard magic" at my place this holiday weekend. :)