GoingCarless

2011-11-24T22:45:00.001-08:00

"Again, you can't connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backwards. So you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future. You have to trust in something — your gut, destiny, life, karma, whatever. This approach has never let me down, and it has made all the difference in my life." - Steve Jobs

The "in between" Time

2010-11-12T14:31:00.000-08:00

I've been back in Austin for just about six weeks now and am really enjoying the chance I've had to stop, think, and work towards new and exciting personal and professional goals. Do not get me wrong, it hasn't been all flowers and sunshine. Moving from DC was certainly a tremendous risk, giving up a stable job, income, fabulous group of friends and colleagues, and a life I built up over a year. And friends, this journey is not over, though at this point I do see light at the end of the tunnel. Here are a few things I have learned in my "in between" time.

No matter how fabulous you think you are, you can't get there (wherever there is for you) without a little help from your friends/acquaintances/ college roommates/former colleagues/on and on. Do not ever be afraid to reach out and share your passion with those around you. Let downs only reinforce that passion and lead you down your own unique path.
As humans, we evolve with our experiences and exposure. Sometimes that evolution means letting go (even temporarily) of what we saw ourselves doing when we were 5,15, 25, or 85. We must always be open to new opportunities and experiences that will undoubtedly impact our lives for the better and have a positive impact on those around us.
It is important to help someone everyday. I really mean that. It's $1 given to a musician that made you dance a little as you exited the Metro. It's a smile to the guy posting a flyer on your apartment door even though you know you're just going to throw it away when he leaves. It's so many big and small things.
Family and friends. Because you just can't get anywhere without a solid army of folks ready to back you up, pick you up when you're down, and celebrate with you when everything works out (which it always does). It feels like life moves so quickly that sometimes it's all I can do to stop and be present. But those moments of focus and clarity put all the minutiae in perspective.

That's all I've got for today. The photo up top is a collage of a few taken last weekend on a trip to Lost Maples. Nothing beats nature+friends+sleeping outside+hikes+fall foliage.

Beyond a Functionless Aesthetic

2010-09-19T18:12:00.000-07:00

I read this article in Fast Company magazine a few days ago and it got me thinking about the role of public space in creating and sustaining community. The article is about one of Fast Company's masters of design, landscape architect Walter Hood. Hood espouses a view that public spaces should add up to something larger than places with a 'functionless aesthetic,' meaning our parks should go beyond looking good to encourage interaction and activity. Specifically he puts down parks with fences around them and the look don't touch atmosphere that accompanies that type of space. I was impressed to find out that Hood was the landscape architect for the De Young Museum in San Francisco where we visited back in April.

Last week I found a new park near my office building at the Navy Yard in DC. According to the Yards website, the Yards Park "is destined to be a significant amenity of the Capitol Riverfront neighborhood as well as the entire metro area, is the centerpiece of Forest City Washington’s urban, mixed-use development project known as The Yards." Prior to the development of this park, there were parking lots along the waterfront in this area, so I am happy to have a new space to kick off my shoes and enjoy my lunch (at least for the next few days before I leave DC).

Above you can see the crazy (read: space age) pedestrian bridge in the center of the park, over the fountain that flows into the Anacostia River.

Check out my fellow DOT employee taking a little nap. Do not fear, your tax dollars are certainly at work... but we all need to take an occasional break, right?

Finally, I affectionately call the figure on the upper left-hand corner the "lightening rod" even though the park website identifies it as the "light tower" because it is illuminated at night. Whatever its title, I feel confident that in a thunderstorm, it'll take the heat. Also, notice the people enjoying the park in this photo. Clearly, I am not alone in enjoying this new DC treasure. This space has the potential to encourage greater interaction among the thousands of office workers headed out for a walk in the park, and will no doubt increase their sense of well-being and connection to the growing area.

Milestones

2010-08-22T19:28:00.000-07:00

It's true. There is a first time for everything. Last week I had my own first in my adult life. On Tuesday, I put in my resignation at work and formally announced my plan to move back to Austin, Texas late next month. Up until that point, I had flirted with the idea for a few months, telling only a select few close friends, mentors, and family members about my thoughts on the subject.

I have been in DC for a year now, working at my federal government job, learning more than I ever thought I would about the ever-evolving narrative of passenger rail in the U.S., and about professional life in general. I have volunteered with two note-worthy organizations, Horton's Kids and Yoga Activist, which have kept my passion for direct service alive and well in my time outside cubicle life. I have built and strengthened friendships with some special individuals my heart will dearly miss. I have found new bike routes to work, and developed new routines. Sunday morning 10am hustles to get to the Takoma Park farmer's market in time to get eggs from "the egg man" and trips to the public library to peruse the shelves and let my mind wander. I endured, and learned to appreciate my very first real winter, enjoying the impromptu week off I had during "Snowpocalypse!"Lastly, and most central to this decision, I shared a home, and my life with my boyfriend. I can't even begin to express the ups and downs, and the things we have learned about each other and ourselves through this experience.

So it is with a mixture of excitement and nervousness that I face this next and completely uncharted chapter in my life. All I know is that I am following my heart, and taking a risk. I believe that if I continued to play it safe and forgo opportunities to develop personally, I might regret not taking a bet on developing the life I see for myself. This move is happening for the much of the same reasons I sold my car back in Texas. It feels right and when I put pen to paper, crunch the numbers, and sit a while and think about it, it just makes sense.

Citizenship and Public Space

2010-08-15T18:10:00.000-07:00

Last month, while on vacation in Montana, my family and I took a short trip to Glacier National Park. On the way back, we stopped in a town called Polson, where I picked up the local paper and read a few letters to the editor. I often like to do this, because it gives me an idea of the culture of a place.

There were a few articles about the local public library in Polson, and an upcoming ballot initiative to create a local library district in order to raise enough revenue to keep it afloat. One letter discussed the lack of need for a physical library space, especially at the cost of additional taxes. It discussed the availability of e-books, available right at our fingertips (well, sort of for some people). Who needs to go the library and check out a paper book anymore? Aren't we technologically beyond that? Beyond this single sentiment were a handful of other letters that expressed support for the library district. Writers spoke of the Polson library, created back in 1912, as a public space for gathering, sharing ideas, and learning new skills.

Back home in Takoma Park, Maryland, I came across another letter to the editor in the local community paper on a similar topic. This letter was to a council member who had apparently threatened the local library as a way to reduce overall financial obligations (parks and libraries are the first places local governments often look to reduce budgets). The writer said "libraries are the hub of our community. The library is the place where students do schoolwork... senior citizen attain computer literacy, professionals have broadband access, new immigrants learn language skills, new residents learn about the community... public meetings are held, and the community as a whole is involved in constructive activity."

It's no wonder people have such strong sentiments about their libraries. They are symbolic of a larger sense of community and place. No matter the strength of our virtual communities, there is simply no substitute for the local library. Going back in history, we can look to Thomas Jefferson for the foundation of our nation's libraries. In 1814, after the British set fire to Washington and the Library of Congress, Jefferson offered his own collection of books to the nation. In January 1815, Congress accepted his offer, appropriating $23,950 for his 6,487 books. Fun fact: today, you can search the Library of Congress on Thomas.gov. Jefferson believed in an engaged citizenry (of the white, male variety... but still) and felt that ward republics allowed for the expression of public will-- that "the voice of the whole people would be thus fairly, fully, and peaceably expressed, discussed, and decided by the common reason of the society." This participation, in his view, would make a "true democracy."

Our libraries are for learning, engaging, debating, perusing, and day dreaming. In my view, the only thing electronic about the library is the vast sense of opportunity I feel when I walk into a room of people dreaming of the possibilities written about between the covers of a good, old fashioned book.

Equa-what?

2010-08-06T20:36:00.000-07:00

Equanimity

A former yoga teacher of mine consistently spoke of equanimity in an elusive sort of way that made me curious to learn more about it. Recently, I came across an article on the subject and it got me thinking of the importance of this trait in my own life right now. Equanimity, or upsheka, is described as:

a state of even-minded openness that allows for a balanced, clear response to all situations, rather than a response-borne of reactivity or emotion. Equanimity is a spacious, stillness of mind within which we can remain connected to others and all that happens around us.

In day-to-day life, it allows us to accept that while we cannot always change our circumstances, we can learn to respond to trying circumstances/ events with kindness, compassion, and even expressions of joy. Or sometimes, equanimity may be just not responding at all (if you can't say something nice...). For me, equanimity is learning to take a step back from my day to day responsibilities, to do lists and hang ups, to see the bigger picture... or perhaps just a piece of that bigger picture. It's finding peace in the walk home from the Metro, after a long day, when I would rather be teleported directly to my cozy bed than have to put one foot in front of the other. Or truly listening to co-workers in an effort to build consensus and collaborate, without becoming wedded to my own ideas. Finally, it's learning to let go of other people's expectations of me (or even my own previous expectations) and trust my own direction. The last key point about equanimity just happens to be that:

all beings are responsible for their own actions. Suffering or happiness is created though one's relationship to experience, not by experience itself.

Amen to that.

Volunteerism

2010-07-31T07:21:00.000-07:00

"My daddy always told me that if I brushed up against the grindstone of life, I'd come away with far more polish than I could ever get at Harvard or Yale." -Lyndon B. Johnson

This is a quote I came across in grad school, but have always understood at heart. From a very early age, I was taught the importance of volunteerism. In elementary school, my family received a leaflet in our mailbox asking for volunteers to work with a neighboring family who needed assistance doing at-home physical therapy with their young son. My mother, brother, and I began making weekly trips over to our neighbor's house to help out. It wasn't long before our two families became very, very close and over the years, we've maintained that bond.

Later, in my South Florida high school, I became the president of the Gay Straight Alliance (GSA) purely out of happenstance. It was a new club, I had friends who I had seen discriminated against, and as a peer counselor, I knew there was a genuine need to raise awareness. At first we held meetings, discussions about issues facing the teenage GLBTQ population and their friends, and generally thoughtful discussions provoked by our faculty sponsor. We gradually got more involved with organizations outside our school walls, including the Gay Lesbian Straight Education Network (GLSEN), with whom we worked to form a partnership with the school board to offer tools for educating teachers on how to handle discrimination in the classroom. It was through this experience that I first began to understand the connection between my sensitivity and understanding of issues to direct action on behalf of those issues, and subsequent real change at the local level. If you're interested, a short piece I wrote about my experience in high school is still posted on GLSEN's web site.

I believe that the benefits of volunteerism are immense, especially for young people who are able to engage in dialogue about the need for their efforts. When young people are able to serve, and see the results of their service, they are more likely to develop as actively engaged citizens, who will work to address societal needs as adults. Check out this take on youth volunteerism in the NYTimes.

Yoga to the People

2010-04-25T09:23:00.000-07:00

I'm working on a list of five people I want to meet... in the next year or so. These are people I don't already know that have qualities I want to emulate, have acted on their passions, and are committed to challenging the status quo to create a healthy, more balanced world. This morning I found my #2! I believe that the most important teacher in a yoga class is the student. My yoga practice does not require fancy yoga clothes, gentle music, calming scents... or even a mat for that matter.

My very first yoga teacher was a woman in Hollywood, FL. During the day she owned and ran an auto parts store with her husband. In the evenings she taught a Kundalini class at the same church where my parents were married. My Dad and I went every Thursday, dropped $10 or so in a basket by the door, and did the breath of fire until we were blue in the face. I remember very vividly thinking about what we were going to have for dinner after class (usually IHOP) and being very frustrated with repeating the same movements over and over. It's just now, almost a decade later, that I am learning to embrace this practice. As you can see in the photo above, I love standing on my head. It's a 30-60 second way to turn your world upside down!

Oh and my #2- Greg Gumucio of Yoga to the People in New York. Read this NYTimes article about why.

“I truly believe if more people were doing yoga, the world would be a better place.”

- Greg Gumucio

Citizenship

2010-02-21T18:53:00.000-08:00

The job of being an alert active citizen is exciting, relatively easy, and wholly rewarding. My many years of civic work—as a citizen and as a public official—convinced me that if each one of us did his or her share and lived up to the spirit of this oath, that his town, his nation, and the world would be a happier and a very better place to live in. In this I believe.

-Genevieve B. Earle (http://thisibelieve.org/essay/16524/)

Collin and Smash Ride Bikes!!!

2010-02-09T19:11:00.000-08:00

My friend, Collin, with whom I was an RA at New College, moved out to Portland after graduation in 2007. He really likes to ride bikes- he probably has at least four. In fact, I went to visit him in Portland a couple summers ago and rode one of his bikes around the city. Here's proof:

Right now, he's riding his bike somewhere along the southern tier of this map with his friend Ashley: http://www.moneyformilescampaign.info/. According to their blog, they spent the Superbowl in New Orleans and were greeted by lots of hospitality. All totaled, Collin and Ashley will be riding over 5,080 miles from South Florida to Portland! Aside from taking on the immense personal, physical challenge, they are raising money to support a couple of worthwhile Portland-based non-profits: Bike Farm and the Coalition for a Livable Future. You can learn more about these organizations and donate here: http://collinandsmashridebikes.blogspot.com/. I am so prouddddd- going to make my donation right now!

COPENHAGEN!

2009-12-15T18:23:00.000-08:00

We've all been hearing a lot lately about the UN Climate Summit in Copenhagen but here's a short, informative video about Copenhagen's bike culture:

My favorite parts are the cyclist counter with weather info (how handy would that be?!) and LED lights for right-turn zones. Oh yes, and taking "another lane away from the cars" to add more bike lanes!

Some hope for my fellow Americans-- a bill was introduced in the House last week to create an Office of Livability in the Office of the Secretary of Transportation, which would focus on (among other things) increasing the "number of transportation options, including bicycling and walking, to improve access to housing, jobs, businesses, services, and social activities, particularly for low-income individuals and populations without access to a motor vehicle." Track this legislation here: http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=h111-4287.

Complete Streets

2009-12-13T19:00:00.000-08:00

It's always nice when you find out there's a name to go along with an idea you may have floated around in your head. You can support a name, slap a bumper sticker on your car, post support to the digital social networking outlet of your choice.

Complete Streets policies and initiatives seek to ensure that future road projects "consistently take into account the needs of all users of all ages and abilities, particularly pedestrians and bicyclists" (check out this 11/09 TRB report Dangerous by Design). I recently wrote about sharrows, which attempt to serve as a visual representation of the "share the road" idea. Complete Streets programs advocate for a more holistic thinking when designing new streets or retrofitting old ones. In the 20th century, we have seen a shift from Main Street to multi-lane state highways with large shopping centers, parking lots, and drive through food chains. While potentially more convenient, this environment is more hostile to the pedestrian.

The most common pedestrians are children and the elderly, given these two age-groups are most likely to be out of a car and on the street or sidewalk. Even new housing developments are designed with wide roads and narrow sidewalks. Check out Cedar Park, TX neighborhood I took a photo of for a Transit Oriented Development (TOD) course I took last year.

Growing up, I lived in a cul-de-sac of a pretty secure, quiet neighborhood in South Florida. I inherited my brother's 1985 Honda Prelude when I was just 16, which was a good thing considering the nearest bus stop to our house was about two miles away. This being the case, I am not surprised to see headlines like this one "Florida is the most deadly state for pedestrians."

According to Dangerous by Design, 400 people are struck and killed by cars each month and 76,000 pedestrians have been killed since 1994.

Is it that one in three Americans is overweight? I'm not sure of the statistic but it's safe to say that as a nation, we could use a good, long walk.

DC Metropolitan Branch Trail Adventure

2009-11-08T13:40:00.000-08:00

The picture above is of my friend, Emily, on the Metropolitan Branch Trail in DC. This trail is not done all the way is some places so you really have to pay attention to where you are, look for signs, and try not to get too far off track. The portion above is near the Rhode Island station on the red line. You can see the train tracks off to the left and the Capitol very faintly straight ahead. Shortly after I took this photo, the trail ended and we had to ride through a shopping center. This is when the adventure really started, as Emily fell off her bike because we rode over a metal grate not meant for skinny tires, recovered, and realized her front tire was flat. Since we were late, we opted to get on the Metro and head to Union Station, where we got off and she dropped her bike off to get realligned and get a new inner-tube put it (her hand pump wasn't doing the trick and we were having a hard time getting the tire off the rim). The Union Station Bike Center (which you see in the big picture up top) is really convenient for this sort of thing, reasonably priced, and the staff has been friendly and helpful when I've gone in.

Does anyone know anything about the history of that bike route? When is it going to be completely done (ie: when can I take it to connect to 4th street to get to work in the Navy Yard)? You can find general info about the route here: MBT.

Bicycling as a Legitimate Form of Transportation... and Sharrows!

2009-11-07T08:35:00.000-08:00

Several times times this week, after I was given driving directions to places, I mentioned casually that I do not own a car. One response was "oh but once you are working a little longer and can afford a car..."

NO NO NO that's not the point! While money is a significant part of the reason I chose to sell my car, it's not the only reason. I believe that my bicycle, Metropass, and Zipcar membership are enough means to support my transportation needs. I choose to put my money (and my sweet transit benefits) into these resources as opposed to using the same or additional resources to pay for and maintain a personal vehicle.

I would like to use this blog to chip away at this question:

How does bicycling as a legitimate form of transportation fit into federal priorities?

Here is a list of Department of Transportation agencies. I found mention of bicycling in the Livable Communities Initiative of the Federal Transit Authority. Within the Bureau of Transportation Research, there was a report from 2000 that reported on the availability of bicycling-related data and needs. Overall, federal leadership is/ was promoting the idea of a multimodal transportation network that is seamlessly connected. This is most apparent in the President's Vision for High Speed Rail (April, 2009) however this set of issues has dropped off the federal radar in recent months given more immediately pressing priorities (health care mostly).

I plan to keep checking back on this issue... please let me know your thoughts and where you see bicycling fitting into your government- at the local, state, federal levels.

For some some timely inspiration/motivation here's an article about "sharrows" in Austin. No, they're not rare Texan birds. They're 3x2 feet images of men on bikes on car/bike shared lanes. Austin was one of six cities to be chosen for the pilot program to see if riders/drivers understand the image. The title says it all for me! Read more here: SHARROWS!.

Civic Engagement and the Pursuit of Justice

2009-10-29T19:45:00.000-07:00

I just watched a movie that's been in my Netflix queue for quite some time. The Garden reminded me of the power we, as citizens, have to exercise our right to pursue justice. The story there is a simple one. In the post-Rodney King nineties, the City of Los Angeles turned a piece of land originally acquired through eminent domain for $5 million for use as a trash incinerator site, into a 14-acre community garden. For over a decade over 400 families built up the soil and farmed the land. Then the City sold it back to the original owner for the price he was paid over a decade earlier. After over an hour of the film's ups and downs, I was hoping that $16 million the group raised, and the major celebrities/ media attracted to the site (Willie Nelson, Danny Glover, and Daryl Hannah) was enough to convince him to sell it back to the gardeners. Alas it was not and I wonder how that guy sleeps at night.

While those acres were taken away- the South Central Farmers live on... selling produce from their garden (outside of the City and much larger) at LA farmers' markets and through their CSA and continuing efforts to revive the still vacant plot to its former lush state. They were also given another plot in a different part of the City. All in all they got their message across loud and clear, were mostly peaceful, and through their struggle are probably united more firmly as a group. It's true - we can always plant again.

Here's an appropriate song that I like: mirah - the garden.

Stop Drinking Bottled Water and Learn to Love the Tap

2009-08-29T06:28:00.001-07:00

I just read a good little blurb about why we should all stop buying bottled water on Food and Water Watch and it reminded me of a couple of movies I saw a while back on the same topic. Below are my top three reasons to stop drinking bottled water and learn to love the tap.

Economics: The EPA estimates that "the American household spends, on average, only $523 per year on water and wastewater charges, in contrast to an average of $707 per year on carbonated soft drinks and other noncarbonated refreshment beverages." We are already paying for what's coming out of the tap.
Environmental: Yes plastic bottles are recyclable in many communities, but how much energy does it take to recycle? How many times have you thrown a recyclable bottle in the trash because there wasn't a recycle bin around?And why recycle when you can buy a bottle, fill it up, wash it, and reuse it for years and years? The last bottle I had for about 6 months. It cost me $21 from REI and I refilled it multiple times daily. Refilling that bottle gave me an excuse to get out of my cubicle, stretch my legs, and chat with co-workers at the water fountain.
Community Justice: Yes, I said it! According to a May 2008 Huffington Post article, "in the state of Maine; in 2006, Nestlé sold $843 million worth of Maine's water under its Poland Springs label." The article questions whether such a massive drainage of municipal water supply leaves enough water to supply Maine residents. Further, as consumers, how do we feel paying a fee to drink some other city's tap water transported aross the country in plastic bottles? Personally, that makes me feel like a chump.

Movies I recommend on the subject: Flow and Liquid Assets. I believe we vote not only at the polls but also with our dollars. So vote for the tap - stop drinking bottled water!

Craziest Bike Story

2009-07-28T14:12:00.000-07:00

Apparently the bike gods are looking down on me.

Today, as I was wrapping up all the odds and ends in Austin before I leave on Friday, I walked to the bus stop on 34th and Guadalupe to catch the #1 to South Congress to close my Austin CarShare account. After standing in the heat for a few minutes, I boarded the bus and looked at the bike loaded on the front rack. Out of my surprise I took a long look and decided it was my bike- same leopard-print seat, same rack, pouch, single sun-bleached bungy chord. He must have stolen it from my apartment a few blocks away and boarded at 35th, the stop before where I got on. I told the bus driver and she asked if I wanted to call the police. She did and we pulled over at 30th and waited with the back-door closed. As I was staring in disbelief, a man ran past us to the front-door and grabbed the bike. I jumped off and said "that's my bike!" to which he responded "no it's not" and rode off in a hurry (because it was my bike and he was stealing it). That was all it took and I took off running to catch him, screaming louder than I thought possible (and with more profanity than I thought I knew). Another guy, my new friend, ran to catch him and threw his water bottle at him but the bike-thief was going so fast.

My new friend and I walked back to the bus. A guy on a BMX bike stopped and asked what happened. He said he'd keep an eye out. A guy in a car pulled up and asked what happened. We made it back to the bus and everyone got off to catch the next one. One guy said to me "I have an extra bike if you need it." I told him I had another one I could use. My friend and another couple of guys stayed on the bus. The two other guys said they "wanted to see what happened." Finally everyone got off and the police came. The next part is the most shocking.

They caught him! Apparently we make quite the spectacle and other people called in and the police took off on foot to catch the guy on 38th and Lamar. In the span of just a few minutes this guy crossed a huge intersection and headed for the woods. The police drove me to where the bike was and I identified the bike-thief. We loaded the bike in the car and the police drove me home, where I safely stored it in my apartment.

What gets me about this story? I asked the police what would happen to him and he said because the bike was only worth $200 it would be a Class B misdemeanor but because he also ran away from them there would be another charge of a Class A misdemeanor. In addition, he was in violation of his parole for burglary so he would likely serve additional time for that. Clearly, this guy, who was very skinny and sun-burnt, has issues. Earlier in the day I gave a young woman a quarter at the bus stop for bus fare. I gave her a break, not knowing if she deserved it or not. Had this guy ever been given a break? What sort of environment is he a product of that he would be so brazen, make so many mistakes so many times? Would a little compassion do him any good or is he just a "bad" seed? I also question how everything aligned in such a way that these events transpired the way they did. I could have just as easily been in my apartment and would not have noticed for hours.

Lord, I don't know. But I have to think that this is a reminder to me that the world is not so warm and fuzzy as I sometimes like to think. I am moving to Washington DC and I will be buying a U-lock for both my bikes.

Netflix of Car Sharing in Austin 2010!

2009-03-27T07:12:00.000-07:00

Source: http://blog.wired.com/cars/2009/03/mercedes-car2go.html

Those of you that know me, have listened to me complain about Austin CarShare on occasion. While I love the premise of car sharing and have continued as a member, I haven't actually been using ACS cars lately. There are a few problems with the service mainly focusing around poor customer service as a result of a lack of funding for the non-profit. Well, I read this morning in a mesage from Brandi Clark of Austin Econetwork that there's a new car-sharing for-profit coming to town in about a year...

Daimlet's Car2Go!

Apparently there will be 200 cars in Austin available to members. In order to be a member, all you have to do is sign up with your valid driver's license. To rent a car, you can choose to reserve ahead of time or check on the spot for available "untethered" cars in various locations using a mobile device. This makes it so there are no time limits and NO LATE FEES! Excuse my enthusiasm but this is like the Netflix of carsharing :). As far as costs go, in Ulm Germancy (where the pilot program took place) it's about 25-cents a minute, $12.75 per hour and $64 per day. Costs take into account the costs of fuel in a given area. This far beats ACS rates especially when you take membership costs into account and the complicated factors of figuring in time and mileage.

According to the e-mail this may mean that ACS transitions into a more educational role while Car2Go takes over the fleet market in Austin. This makes a lot of sense to me. It's important for car sharing to be functional, efficient, and most importantly EASY so that people use it and see that it is a reliable and cost efficient alternative to the one-person one-car way of life. Cheers to that!

March 24, 2009

2009-03-24T19:50:00.001-07:00

Source: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/photo/2009/03/24/PH2009032402893.jpg

Tonight, for just under an hour, the President held a press conference at the White House. He delivered a speech, which I listened to on my mp3 player while finishing up my last few crunches at the gym, and then as I got into the car, drove to the grocery store, and finished up on the way home. [I will tell you why I got into the car in a moment.] He talked about AIG, the budget, the crisis in Mexico (mentioning Gov. Rick Perry), the Israeli/ Palestinian conflict, stem cell research, and on. He took questions, going down his list of reporter names, and responded earnestly to each. I mean, if this isn't a 21st Century Fireside Chat, I don't know what is. I found myself caught up. I found myself pulled away from myself, from my worries, deadlines, and plans. I found myself wanting to know more, to be a more engaged citizen, a more informed voter - to stand for something.

Later on this evening, I asked Patrick what he thought. Patrick, my boyfriend (not his full-time job), also a student of presidential persuasion said it's about approval ratings. If Obama's approval ratings go up in the polls, members are Congress are more likely to vote in line with him because they, too , want to get re-elected. Seems to me Barack Obama knows his strong suits. He knows how to please a crowd, even if that crowd is the American public.

I had a work meeting at 7:30am so I borrowed a car and commuted alone, for the first time since September. I was reminded that I am late, even when I have access to a car. Afterwards I ran an errand, or three, because I could. Tomorrow, rain predicted. I think I'll risk it and ride my bike.

Broadening in Scope...

2009-03-14T21:07:00.000-07:00

It's been rainy and cold in Austin since early this week. While I am pleased that the rain is falling (we need it), this weather disturbs my daily routine. My bike rides to work are replaced by bus rides, which leave me feeling less energized than my bike-commute. It's been over five months since I sold my car and I find myself looking forward to bike rides to work, school, play :). But, what about the future? Where does my new-found, car-freedom fit into the next, post grad-school stage of my life?

Yeah, I'm OK showing up to work a little sweaty as an intern but what about trying to get a "real" job? To date I have officially applied for one job. For this ONE job there were FOUR HUNDRED AND FIFTY-FIVE applicants. This, my friends, is an employer's market. I learned early on in this journey that I was going to have to make sacrifices. No longer can I expect to attend a swimming lesson and a dinner date after work. It's one or the other. No longer can I show up to more than one social engagement in the same night (most of the time). I have come to see that these things are not sacrifices, but more an assignment of values. If I do not acknowledge my values, I cannot be happy. If I am not happy then what is the point of any of it?

Aha! The answer is not that I will never again own a car. The answer is I do not have the answer but damn if I haven't learned a whole lot about myself, the people around me, and the tremendous amount of potential sitting untapped in the world waiting for each individual to challenge his or her own situation.

That's all I have for now. Next time: why don't many bikers wear lights and helmets at night? Also, in addition to the two aforementioned offenses, why do they also have earbuds in their ears? What can this town do to better educate its bikers on keeping themselves safe?

What about food?

2009-01-04T07:47:00.000-08:00

A pie I made for Christmas dinner... mmmmmmmmmmmmmm!

One problem for low-income individuals and families without cars is access to healthy, affordable foods. The Sustainable Food Center published a report documenting the lack of access to healthy foods for residents in East Austin. Turns out in low-income areas, there are more small, corner-stores, where healthy food is either non-existent or exorbitantly overpriced (think: $.99 bananas). Another pet-project of mine this year is looking into Sustainable Food Policy Boards, and how they can set policy agendas to address this important issue. Austin recently established its own board - a productive first step!

But what about me? I'm a full-time grad student, part-time City employee, and I try my hardest to volunteer in the community/ my school, and maintain relationships. I moved to Hyde Park from South Austin so that I could sell my car. I live within half a mile of a large HEB, smaller grocery stores, a coffee shop, restaurants, and one bar. This web site gives you a "walkability score" for the area where you live: walkscore. My neighborhood is pretty walkable but this doesn't take into account that sometimes you want to buy a lot of groceries and you don't want to carry them home, or sometimes you want to go to another grocery store, or buy in bulk. When I go to HEB, I usually walk. I bring my own bags and put them in my cart so that I can put my purchases directly into the bags, getting an idea of how much I will be carrying home. I also go at least a couple of times a week so that I have less at a time. Luckily one of the buses I can take to work and school picks up and drops off in the grocery store shopping center. I take it home and pick up my groceries on the way home.

For times when I want to buy in bulk, I plan a trip to Costco with my roommates or I reserve a CarShare car. For an hour and fifteen minutes, it costs $14. This can add up so I budget about three hours per month for CarShare. Dues are $10 a month, also.

Some people, including my friends Jonny and Laura, build trailers to move large amounts of stuff- http://bikeohaulism.blogspot.com/.

Generally, I think differently than I did when I had a car. I plan my day in advance- from the clothes I wear (am I biking/ taking transit?) to the food I eat (same question- salads don't work out well in my pannier with my lap top, school books, etc.).

Do I ever think about going back - buying a car? HELL NO! I love my carfree lifestyle. I love riding my bike. I am learning more about how to fix it when I have problems, and enjoying the benefits of a healthy set of legs. Yesterday I ran ten miles with my running group in training for the 3M Half Marathon on 1/25. I rode my bike to our meeting place at Austin American Statesman on South Congress, enjoying the people and things I saw along the way at 7 o'clock on Saturday morning. I don't have to worry about car insurance, a car payment, gas. I am more connected to the weather and to the people I see along the way. I know this is cliche and idealistic but in living without car ownership, I am taking one car off the road. I am contributing to public transit, carshare opportunities, and use of bike lanes. I am making the world more of a place I can be proud to live. I believe we can all do this in some way - through the purchases we make, the decisions we stick to, and the lives we lead.

Jennifer Gale

2008-12-18T21:07:00.001-08:00

I stumbled upon this article while reading another blog that was totally unrelated - http://www.statesman.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/austin/cityhall/entries/2008/12/17/jennifer_gale_found_dead.html.

Last year after finishing finals, a couple of friends and I went out for a drink after class. I remember Jennifer Gale was there and she sang a song with my friend, Susan. It was a Christmas song. She was quite the character, sitting there alone, eating a burger and drinking a beer. I guess I didn't think she was homeless. Surely she must have lived somewhere. Surely we couldn't let her sleep on the streets in the miserable, cold weather. I've been wondering lately what all the homeless do in the winter months. A few weeks ago at lunch I took a walk to Congress and saw some police officers asking a homeless man if he had enough blankets to keep himself warm.

I am sad that this Austin-character, mayoral candidate died on the stoop of a church. I am sad and a little sickened.

Right now I'm in South Florida. My brother is getting married on Saturday. Everything is just right- food, hotel, reception, family, friends, flowers. Everything. We have so much to be grateful for and there is so much wealth in the world and yet we continue to get the distribution of that wealth all wrong. How can I be worried about getting another pair of shoes when people I know are falling dead on the street?

I am not aiming to be practical here. I am upset. If Jennifer Gale had asked me for help, I would have tried. I hope I would have tried.

Update and Naked Bike Rider Story

2008-11-13T16:01:00.000-08:00

I sold my car one month ago today. My life hasn't changed all that much - except that I've had to borrow my roommates' cars a couple of times (to get a haircut and run errands). I joined Austin CarShare last week so that I can avoid having to do that. After I joined, I met Felipe from ACS at the cars in Hyde Park behind Fresh Plus. We went through a 15 minute orientation where he showed me how to use the cars and talked about what to do if one needed gas, etc. Afterwards he said that I'd get my login info that day. I didn't get it until Monday. Also, I had elected to have my deposit taken out in installments but it was taken out all at once. This could have resulted in an overdraft fee. These two errors made me a little cautious to recommend ACS but I'll see how it goes once I start using the cars.

In other bike news, there was a story on NPR about a naked bike rider in Portland who was arrested in June for his public display of nudity, challenged the arrest, and won. On NPR when he was asked why he liked to ride in the buff, he didn't really have an answer except to express that he and his friends were not riding in protest of anything but more in promotion of biking and the human body. When asked about the potential for offending others, he said he knew his neighbors and they'd be fine with it. So the kid came off as a little arrogant, I think. I do agree that biking and the human body are beautiful and while I do not think I would personally go on a nude bike ride, I see no reason others should be prohibited from the act.

Maybe a sale?

2008-10-14T21:30:00.000-07:00

You can never be sure until the car is gone and the check is cashed but a nice family came over tonight to see the car. The daughter, a sophomore in high school, totaled her own yellow Chevy Aveo earlier in the month and the father had a check from the insurance company to buy another one. It seemed like the Pflugerville girl knew she was pretty lucky to get a new car. I made sure to tell her the "my first car was as old as I was!" story. After I said it, I felt kind of old.

Before this family, there was a couple back in early September that test drove the car and took it to a mechanic before deciding not to buy it. After that I got crazy with school and life and let it be. Then I posted it in the paper and got one response from a Dallas limo-driver who I denied at first but then came to terms with two weeks later when he followed up. Earlier today I decided anyone who would ask a complete stranger to pick him up at the airport because he couldn't afford the shuttle into Austin was probably just a little sketchy. I told him I could not sell it to him because his attitude was making me uncomfortable. It's true. I'd rather let it depreciate in value sitting in my driveway than I would risk my safety. Later on this evening I re-posted it on Craigslist for a couple thousand dollars less and voila the nice family at my door.

Once the thing is done, I will breath a sigh of relief, pop open a bottle of leftover Birthday wine, and shortly thereafter join Austin CarShare for my remaining days in this car-dependent town.

Finally...

2008-08-31T13:34:00.000-07:00

It's on Craigslist - http://austin.craigslist.org/cto/821198721.html !

I haven't written lately because it's been sort of a crazy week with school starting and all. A couple of weeks ago it was raining in the morning before I left for work and I thought "great opportunity to see what that's like." I had my rain jacket on but thought I could just change my pants when I got to work and it would be ok. I didn't think to bring a change of underwear so I had a wet butt for about an hour. Now I keep an extra pair in my pannier just in case. After work I wanted to go to my usual swimming lesson so I road to the bus stop and loaded the bike on the bus. This was annoying because I had to take the pannier off, watch it to make sure no one grabbed it, pull the bar that holds the bike down, and load it on there. I did it successfully. Once I arrived at the pool, it started pouring down rain and the lesson was canceled and I was still in my work clothes waiting in the rain for the bus. Again, load, watch, get on the bus wet, cold, and dirty. What did I learn from this?

There's just got to be some give and take. The wet morning was ok but I could have avoided the evening debacle by simply opting to skip the lesson and head to the UT pool instead. I cannot expect to do all the same things I would have done with a car and I might have to shift my schedule a little bit to accommodate my transportation needs (sanity, health, etc.).

I got a new, used bike form East Side Pedal Pushers. The guy (owner) I bought it from, Lee, is awesome. A lot of men at bike shops I went to either actually said, "oh that's cute you want a road bike" or gave me little useful information. A couple of places were more accommodating- including Ozone Bikes, Bicycle Sport Shop, and the Tricyclist on Barton Springs. The guy at Tricyclist, Don, actually taught me- literally wrote down notes for me about components, etc. I learned a lot from just a day of going to different shops and riding a bunch of bikes. In the end I opted for this baby:
He put new brakes on, new gears, and added the ergonomic seat. It was a lot more reasonable than what I was looking at paying for a new bike. I came by to ride it and pick up a new tire for my other bike and I couldn't stop smiling because I have never had something so sleek and fast. A lot of the newer bikes are expensive because they have better components and lighter frames. I can't pick this bike up with my pinkie but I can easily lift it with one arm. It's a standard frame, too, so I shouldn't have a hard time selling it (doubtful this day will come).

What I'm giving up?

2008-08-15T12:49:00.001-07:00

My car: 2005 Chevy Aveo. It's pretty sweet, huh?

How to sell a car in your mother's name without a title

2008-08-14T19:02:00.001-07:00

This is no easy task, friends.

Yesterday afternoon I went to the Tax Collector's Office to talk to a professional. After waiting five minutes to get a number, I waited for another thirty to talk to a "title expert." He was very nice and walked me through the process step-by-step. Without the title, and my Mom in another state, here is what I have to do:

- Send Mom the Power of Attorney form (POA),
-Send Mom the "Bill of Sale" form once I find a buyer (this buyer would have to be ok with buying a car without the title until I could get her the funds to pay off the loan and get the title and mail it back),
- Give the buyer the POA and Bill of Sale once they arrive,
- Once I get the title, sign it in this fashion "MB Patten by Emily Vasile POA,"and
- Finally go with buyer to tax office to do the transfer with the title, POA, and bill of sale.

Being that I am uncomfortable posting an ad without the title and entering into a sketchy agreement with a buyer, I would like to pay off the loan and get the title. I have the money but this involves working with my Mom to make it happen. Given that she just moved to Montana and started a new job while simultaneously making arrangements for a new house, life, etc.- she is a little stressed these days when I talk to her. I am working on the delicate balance of thoughtful daughter and the sort of machine I become when I want to get something done.

Welcome to my car free journey.

2008-08-12T22:08:00.000-07:00

Growing up in suburban South Florida, I couldn't wait for the independence my first car would bring. When I was 16, I inherited my older brother's 1985 Honda Prelude. It was red, had a sunroof, and over 150,000 miles but I liked that car. I won't say that it opened a huge amount of doors for me. It made my life easier in that I could do things on my own, without relying on my family or friends to cart me around. I didn't question that I needed to have the car. It was available to me so I took it and drove it- plain and simple.

I am currently 23 and I have been living in Austin, Texas for the past year. I'm starting my second year of grad school at the LBJ School of Public Affairs. I live about a mile from school and about three miles from work. Between student loans and my income as an intern with the City, I don't live a lavish lifestyle. My philosophy in this weird stage of semi-adulthood is that I should put my money where my mouth is. Let's face it, gas prises are rising, Americans are overweight and isolated in bedroom communities, and in an era of globalization, we are detached from the things we consume. Personally I find this all very isolating. Before I graduate and begin charting the course that will be my professional career, I have decided to make a commitment to living a car-free lifestyle.

I feel it's only fair to lay all my cards out on the table. Last summer my Mom traded my old car in for a newer, more fuel-efficient, 2005 Chevy Aveo. The car is in her name. She pays the car payment and insurance. I have only had to pay for gas and maintenance since I've had it. My Mom and step-dad used to live about an hour north of Austin, so the car was handy for getting out there to see them. Recently, they moved to Missoula Montana. With the economy not doing so well and the difficult task of getting the car registered in Montana and rising insurance costs, my Mom is in full support of my decision to sell it.

I'm very process oriented so keep that in mind if you are still reading at this point. A few obstacles I've encountered so far:

The Kelly Blue Book value of my 2005 Chevy Aveo hatchback is between $8,000 and $8,500. CarMax offered $5,000 because there is some hail damage on the roof (but I can't see it!).

My Mom still owes ~$4,500 so we don't have the title.

She's in another state right now so there's a process for transferring the power of attorney to me so I can sell it. I will write about that process as I go through it.

As far as how I will get around once I am actually able to sell the car, I have a plan on that front. The other day someone told me that a Japanese person he works with said no one drives in Japan. They take their "BMWs" to work. That is- bike, metro, walk. My plan is to commute by bike most days. I am comfortable taking my bike about five miles for commutes. Any longer than that and I consider the bus. I use GoogleMaps to chart my course by bus. It gives estimated walking times so I'm able to plan ahead. I also plan on signing up for Austin CarShare for any trips to Costco or anything where I will need a car for a few hours.

I have lots of other thoughts on the subject matter but those are all to come...

Something to Keep an Eye On: the Economy, Stupid!

2008-03-30T08:34:00.000-07:00

This article does a good job of laying out the Feds plans for regulating the market, or rather to collect information "except in times of crisis." It leans towards greater regulation to avoid crisis like the recent Bear Stearns crisis.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/30/business/30regulate.html?_r=1&hp=&pagewanted=print