Car free day 5

Nothing much to say, another day of transit. Rather uneventful, but the walk back to the train was refreshingly chill.

Car free day 4

This morning, after having left my windows open overnight, I noticed how cool it was outside (about 40F) and decided that I really didn't feel like trying to bike in those kinds of temps just yet, so I opted for transit. I talked a bit with a guy who was on the train each of the 2 prior times I rode the bus, which was good for a change. I took a bit different of a walking path back to the train station, diverting through Dawson Creek Park, and a neighborhood instead of taking the most direct route. I took full advantage of quite likely the last nice day for months.

Car free day 3

Hey! That rhymes! Anyways, I decided, since today was supposed to be (and was) an absolutely clear and beautiful day, that I would take advantage of the good weather and bike into work. Since I had cannibalized the headlight off of my bike to use for a flashlight, I had to track that down before I could head out. I decided, having left my windows open overnight, that I wouldn't even need a jacket for the ride today, and proceeded to head out the door to ride my bike the 4 miles to work in 60F weather.

The part down main street was about as I had expected, quite a few cars, a bit on the windy side, and slightly harrowing at times, but mostly fine, and quite uneventful. Rather than try to cross the lane of traffic to get into the left turn lane to get onto Brookwood, I opted for using the crosswalk. Once up to Airport Road, I cut over to the multi-use path which runs through Dawson Creek Park. I proceeded to get a little turned around in there, and ended up back next to Brookwood for the second half of the trip through the park, but I should be able to keep it sorted out from now on. All in all, the ride took me about 30 minutes. A little slower than I'd like, but considering I haven't ridden my bike at all in the last months, and that there was a 10mph headwind for about half of the trip, I'm not too broken up about it.

I rode back, also in about 30 minutes, cutting over from the park to Brookwood at the library on the way. I feel awesome after having biked both ways between work. I can totally do this on any clear day with few to no issues at work.

Car-free day 2

Today started much like yesterday. I didn't want to get up, but was much more apt to get on the train/bus to get to work. It was another uneventful trip into the office, this time in foggy weather. However, on the trip home, it was sunny and pleasant outside, so I walked/sauntered the mile to the train station with my coat hung over my laptop bag, enjoying the last bits of sun we are likely to get for many weeks/months.

A TV-laden week

I've been sick for the past few days, including taking some sick time off of work. I gave up on Torchwood (again), and started watching The Office (US). Given my extra time off of work, I have now finished it (up to the latest one), and will probably put it on my DVR. Its not a show I wish to own on DVD, but its worth a few laughs, so DVR worthy. I watched the episode of Stargate Universe which my DVR missed, but have yet to watch last week's episode. I tried to start watching 30 Rock, but seem to just get annoyed by it.

I've been taking a short break from beer, due to being sick. I'll start drinking it again soon, as I am quickly getting better.

I skipped out on a couple of geohashing expeditions this past weekend, solely because I opted for napping/resting.

Car free month, day 1

And so begins the epic task. I woke up this morning at my usual time, and already knew I wouldn't be biking in on the first day. I had decided the day before that I wouldn't wake early, probably wouldn't bike, and thus would likely get to work a bit later than usual, around 8AM or so.

As I got into the shower, I was still rather tired, likely a side effect of my having been sick for the past few days, and was contemplating calling off the whole affair. As I was in the shower, waking up under the warm water, I convinced myself that I really should go through with it, and that I would take transit today. Since bus running to the office only runs once an hour, I had 15 minutes or so to kill before I should leave, otherwise I would just end up standing outside for a long time.

So I checked some e-mail, looked at the weather before I left (rather more important now), and read some webcomics. I still ended up at the train stop too early, and thus ended up waiting for the bus for 15 minutes.

After a full day at work, I decided that I felt good enough to walk the ~1 mile to the nearest train station, rather than wait for a bus. It was raining, but in general, it was a good feeling to make the walk. I had only a few minutes to wait for a train once there. After getting back home, I dropped off the laptop, and changed into some different clothes.

Immediately after changing I headed out and hopped on the next train, which I caught just as it pulled into the station, and headed one stop down to go to the grocery store. I could easily have walked over to the store, since it is only about half a mile, but I decided to be lazy and took the train. I then purchased some groceries, including 4 tall boys, bread, and some ground beef. I then headed back off to the train stop, where I had a 10 minute wait for the next train back the one stop to my place.

Based on my current mood, and tiredness, I will likely just take the train/bus tomorrow as well.

Car free month, the rules

I have decided, in my ridiculous head, that I am going to go for the month of November without driving my car. My rules to obey for this month are as follows:

1. I cannot use my car for commuting to work
2. I cannot use my car for shopping or running errands
3. I cannot use my car for going out to eat
4. I cannot have someone (by themselves) pick me up in their car. If they have other people with them, then it is allowed. The reasoning behind this is that I shall not inconvenience other people, nor shall I contribute to someone else driving alone just for my benefit. I can, however, take transit to and from someone else's place, and drive somewhere with them.
5. If I leave from work with someone (in their car) and rode transit to work, I must have them either drop me off at a transit stop on the way back to their place, or use transit from their place to home. If I rode my bike into work, I should either leave my bike there overnight and follow the transit method, or have the person drop me back off at work, and ride home.
6. I may ride with people to go out to lunch from the office, as long as they chose to drive to the office without my influence.
7. I must bike to and from work at least 5 times. It is a short (~4 mile) ride each way, so there should be no reason I cannot do this, unless I injure myself somehow.
8. I will use my car for a drive, likely just through the country, for no more than one hour, once each week, just to make sure that it still gets some exercise. I cannot get a meal, or run errands while on this drive. I can go geohashing on this drive, if desired. If geohashing, I can drive for longer than an hour, but other rules still apply.
9. The only other excusable use for my car is in an emergency.
10. I must go to the grocery store at least once a week, and I must get a six-pack of beer from the grocery store when I go. I will not sacrifice my beer habit just for the sake of going car free.

My reasoning behind using the month of November to do this experiment isn't all that strong, but still worthy. November is typically a rather cool, but not very cold, and rather wet month which shall provide me with reluctance for using bike or transit to work. However, since it is not typically very cold, it shouldn't provide so much reluctance as to prevent me from completing my task. I also thought of it mere days before October rolled in, and hadn't really thought through all of the logistics of doing it yet. November should be representative enough of the cool/cold and rainy months that my experiences should apply to being able to go car free for a good portion of the year, which will hopefully convince me to use my car less for getting to work in the future.

I will use this blog to record my thoughts and feelings about how everything is going.