As if I didn't need another reason to not drive the car. I did a great job today. B and I went to the Prospect 1 art project that was all over New Orleans. We took a shuttle and walked. I didn't feel rushed. I have to worry about parking. But tonight we had to get back to our hotel from my Aunt and Uncles. It was also the Bayou Classic, so all of the French Quarter was a mad house. We got downtown alright, but as soon as we didn't hit the quarter there was no way to get in. We had to drive in circles and go through road blocks. There was nobody to tell us how to do it, we just had to figure it out. All the time cars blasting load music, rain slicked roads, tons of traffic and 3 other people saying go left, go right, stop and go!
We got super close to our hotel when a sour interaction with a cop went nowhere. They weren't going to let us drive into the hotel and we couldn't get in any other way.
I parked the car and walked over to the hotel and asked them to valet park the car. I handed them the keys, a $10 bill and I went up to the room, glad t finally be rid of this huge weight.
I get so anxious and aggravated when I drive. I don't like how it feels, no matter how fast you get there, or how convenient it may seem, nothing can compare to the freedom of my feet or my bike. Traffic cant stop me, road blocks.. nothing...
Saturday, November 29, 2008
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Day ? In New Orleans and their aint no choice...
Sorry for the delay in writing ya'll. Im with the family in New Orleans.I called ahead a few weeks ago to see if there were any bikes here.. I guess I had high expectations as all the bikes are rusted through and all the roads are in horrible shape...
There isnt really any choice here. I told myself, Bosco and I would find some bikes and ride around. But one thing leads to another and I find myself driving the kids to Smoothie King, running back and forth to Whole Foods and basically not having any other choice then to drive.
Back at home I had to drive a friend back to his office because the situation didnt afford any other option and while I was doing some work at my place I had my car parked on the street where I got a parking ticket. Im feeling like I should have sold it already.
Its so easy back home with all the Bart, buses, walking and biking available. Everything is so centrally located, but I head back to my parents house and it's a real difference in how far everything is spread out and its only 20 minutes from Oakland. Imagine what New Orleans is like.
People, you cannot imagine what New Orleans is like, STILL. No recycling, houses boarded up, some stores and restruants are still not open (and probably never will), very few schools are open and not all the hospitals are open (the Dr's fled!)... I could go on here...
Anyhow, Im glad to live in a place where I can do this. What im learning is that its an option for people living in some big cities, but in other places it just isnt an option.
There isnt really any choice here. I told myself, Bosco and I would find some bikes and ride around. But one thing leads to another and I find myself driving the kids to Smoothie King, running back and forth to Whole Foods and basically not having any other choice then to drive.
Back at home I had to drive a friend back to his office because the situation didnt afford any other option and while I was doing some work at my place I had my car parked on the street where I got a parking ticket. Im feeling like I should have sold it already.
Its so easy back home with all the Bart, buses, walking and biking available. Everything is so centrally located, but I head back to my parents house and it's a real difference in how far everything is spread out and its only 20 minutes from Oakland. Imagine what New Orleans is like.
People, you cannot imagine what New Orleans is like, STILL. No recycling, houses boarded up, some stores and restruants are still not open (and probably never will), very few schools are open and not all the hospitals are open (the Dr's fled!)... I could go on here...
Anyhow, Im glad to live in a place where I can do this. What im learning is that its an option for people living in some big cities, but in other places it just isnt an option.
Saturday, November 22, 2008
Day 5- First time using Zipcar
Sorry about being a day late. It was Shabbat, and I had the family over for dinner last night. I ended up making some crazy ice cream concoctions that came out delightfully. Chipotle ice cream anyone?
Yesterday was my first experience with Zipcar, and it left a slight mettalic taste in my mouth. I arrived at Rockridge Bart around 8:58am and swiped my card and and listened as the clack of the door locks sounded. Im not going to lie. I was giddy, I hadnt driven in 4? days and I wanted to get behind the wheel. I hopped in and started the Toyota Scion up. I pulled out of the parking spot and stopped. I thought it might be a good idea to check and make sure the car is in good condition. I had heard horror stories of people getting charged the deductible, $500, for things they werent responsible for. Good thing I checked, cause someone had made sweet love to a pole or something that didnt agree with the rear side of the car. It had a few deep scratches and dents. I called Zipcar and informed them by leaving a message.
As I made my way to Alamo to pick up a couple to take them to SFO, I realized I didnt have enough gas. Great! I had budgeted 2.5 hours total to go from Oakland to Alamo to SFO back to Oakland and now I had to make a pit stop.
I arrived after getting gas 5 min behind schedule. I tried to play a game of tetris to get their luggage in the car. This car is a lot bigger then my corolla, yet I couldnt fit two suitcases in the "trunk!" We finally got on the road at around 9:15am. A smooth drive back to Oakland, but as soon as we got near Childrens Hospital the traffic had backed up pretty bad.I was starting to worry because I had to be back by 11 and traffic was crawling...
I asked my friend to call Zipcar while my phone was on speakerphone and I told them I thought I was going to be late. They said someone had reserved the car right after I brought it back, and asked me if I wanted them to call them and say I was going to be late. Great! Zipcar said to call back around 10:45 if I was still running late.
We slowly inched our way along and thought we were home free when the freeway split, but then the traffic continued. Again we thought, since there are three of us, we will be a carpool. No such luck, the traffic backed up in the carpool lane and by the time we got there, they asked for $4.00, we missed it by 3 minutes cause of the traffic.
Traffic continued across the bridge but finally let up as we got into the city. We made it to the airport and I dropped them off with plenty of time. I looked at my watch and it was 10:35. I had 25 minutes to get back to Rockridge Bart or else I was late and someone else was screwed. I drove faster than usual and it felt like I kept ending up behind really slow drivers. My shoulders got tense, and I was sitting forward in an akward position as I tried to weasle my way into a clear lane.
I arrived back at the Bart station to see all these orange cones saying that I couldnt park in the spot. The cars have to be in the same location because thats where the next user picks them up and I coudnt park it somewhere else in the Bart station because i wasnt riding Bart. I moved the cones out of the way and parked it. 30 seconds later, someone else came up and drove off.
I wonder if they noticed the dents and scratches and called in too?
Yesterday was my first experience with Zipcar, and it left a slight mettalic taste in my mouth. I arrived at Rockridge Bart around 8:58am and swiped my card and and listened as the clack of the door locks sounded. Im not going to lie. I was giddy, I hadnt driven in 4? days and I wanted to get behind the wheel. I hopped in and started the Toyota Scion up. I pulled out of the parking spot and stopped. I thought it might be a good idea to check and make sure the car is in good condition. I had heard horror stories of people getting charged the deductible, $500, for things they werent responsible for. Good thing I checked, cause someone had made sweet love to a pole or something that didnt agree with the rear side of the car. It had a few deep scratches and dents. I called Zipcar and informed them by leaving a message.
As I made my way to Alamo to pick up a couple to take them to SFO, I realized I didnt have enough gas. Great! I had budgeted 2.5 hours total to go from Oakland to Alamo to SFO back to Oakland and now I had to make a pit stop.
I arrived after getting gas 5 min behind schedule. I tried to play a game of tetris to get their luggage in the car. This car is a lot bigger then my corolla, yet I couldnt fit two suitcases in the "trunk!" We finally got on the road at around 9:15am. A smooth drive back to Oakland, but as soon as we got near Childrens Hospital the traffic had backed up pretty bad.I was starting to worry because I had to be back by 11 and traffic was crawling...
I asked my friend to call Zipcar while my phone was on speakerphone and I told them I thought I was going to be late. They said someone had reserved the car right after I brought it back, and asked me if I wanted them to call them and say I was going to be late. Great! Zipcar said to call back around 10:45 if I was still running late.
We slowly inched our way along and thought we were home free when the freeway split, but then the traffic continued. Again we thought, since there are three of us, we will be a carpool. No such luck, the traffic backed up in the carpool lane and by the time we got there, they asked for $4.00, we missed it by 3 minutes cause of the traffic.
Traffic continued across the bridge but finally let up as we got into the city. We made it to the airport and I dropped them off with plenty of time. I looked at my watch and it was 10:35. I had 25 minutes to get back to Rockridge Bart or else I was late and someone else was screwed. I drove faster than usual and it felt like I kept ending up behind really slow drivers. My shoulders got tense, and I was sitting forward in an akward position as I tried to weasle my way into a clear lane.
I arrived back at the Bart station to see all these orange cones saying that I couldnt park in the spot. The cars have to be in the same location because thats where the next user picks them up and I coudnt park it somewhere else in the Bart station because i wasnt riding Bart. I moved the cones out of the way and parked it. 30 seconds later, someone else came up and drove off.
I wonder if they noticed the dents and scratches and called in too?
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Day 4- Public Transportation
A lot of people complain about Bart. It doesnt run 24 hours and you cant bring your bike on during commute hours. I guess because I live so close to 3 Bart stations, and B lives close to one, I find it hard to fault it. I can see that for certain people these would be real issues. I've been meaning to explore other methods of transportation. Bus, ferry and casual carpool?! I know that the bus runs from SF to Oakland 24 hours a day, maybe even stopping at Rockridge?
Tommorow morning will be my first use of a Zipcar. I know its just a car, and maybe im having withdrawls, but im excited. I really want to wave, or swipe or whatever you do to get in the car. I want to experience how it all works, or maybe i just want to get to my destination without dodging flying bits of gravel that have sprung up while they repave Shattuck...
I notice that a majority of people who wrote comments and who dont have cars also live in SF. It seems much easier to do this in SF, than other places. Oakland isnt far behind, but imagine if I was still in Concord, or Pennsylvania, where my family is from.
Im heading to New Orleans next week, and I called ahead to see if they could oil the bikes and have them working...
Lets see how it goes when im away from home!
Tommorow morning will be my first use of a Zipcar. I know its just a car, and maybe im having withdrawls, but im excited. I really want to wave, or swipe or whatever you do to get in the car. I want to experience how it all works, or maybe i just want to get to my destination without dodging flying bits of gravel that have sprung up while they repave Shattuck...
I notice that a majority of people who wrote comments and who dont have cars also live in SF. It seems much easier to do this in SF, than other places. Oakland isnt far behind, but imagine if I was still in Concord, or Pennsylvania, where my family is from.
Im heading to New Orleans next week, and I called ahead to see if they could oil the bikes and have them working...
Lets see how it goes when im away from home!
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Day 3- Whats up with the cars?
Why is it that when you are on a bike you become fair game for anyone who happens to be driving by? Ive gotten into verbal arguments with bus drivers and other people who feel like just because they drive a car, they own the road. My favorite obstacle is riding my bike on Shattuck ave and trying to avoid people getting in and out of their cars, traffic on your left and road work at the same time.
It was mighty cold today. I did something ive never done before. I put on my thermals. I can only guess that it will get colder and colder and soon I will be riding in my rain gear!
I had an appointment in downtown Oakland in the middle of the day and I headed into the city tonight.
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It was mighty cold today. I did something ive never done before. I put on my thermals. I can only guess that it will get colder and colder and soon I will be riding in my rain gear!
I had an appointment in downtown Oakland in the middle of the day and I headed into the city tonight.
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Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Day 2-It's getting colder!
I spent the first half of the day waiting for the plumber to come and snake my drain. He arrived about 11:30 and spent about an hour snaking the line, cutting up roots and chip-chopping anything that happened to be preventing stuff from going into the sewer. Gotta love This Old House!
I put some effort into comparing Zipcar to City Car Share vs owning a car, and it seems like maybe City Car Share might be less expensive and they are a non profit! Im going to use Zipcar for the month, but might check out Car Share later.
I also had to figure out how to handle a job I have on Friday. I have a client who lives in Alamo and they are not accessible by public transportation. I checked 511, and the bus only runs by there house 2 times, and the last one is at 7:15am!! In addition to fixing their computer, im giving them a ride to the airport. It looks like im going to rent a Zipcar to drive to their house, then drive them to the airport, and then return the Zipcar.
Shortly thereafter I hopped on Bart and headed to Concord to stop by my sisters house and my parents too. They both needed a little bit of computer help and then I headed over to a clients office and worked for several hours. I was happy to have some work, but bummed I missed the farmers market.
Gabriel Farms and I are forging a little relationship. Tory gives me some fruit and I make ice cream and sorbets with it. I had Fiojas that I turned into a tart sorbet, but I will have to wait till Saturday to give him some. Boo for him, yay for me!
I hopped back on Bart and rode home. Around 7 I headed over to the gym. Its getting colder, but as I was riding I noticed a really skinny guy who only had a t-shirt zip by me, so maybe its just my imagination?! After my workout, I headed over to Breads of India where Kevin and I chopped it up about Goa and on the way home, I decided to ride up a random street. I smiled to myself, because I knew had I been in a car, all I would have seen was the same old homes and gardens and here I was discovering new trees and such.
Home-->Parents House
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Parents-->Client
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Client--> Home
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I put some effort into comparing Zipcar to City Car Share vs owning a car, and it seems like maybe City Car Share might be less expensive and they are a non profit! Im going to use Zipcar for the month, but might check out Car Share later.
I also had to figure out how to handle a job I have on Friday. I have a client who lives in Alamo and they are not accessible by public transportation. I checked 511, and the bus only runs by there house 2 times, and the last one is at 7:15am!! In addition to fixing their computer, im giving them a ride to the airport. It looks like im going to rent a Zipcar to drive to their house, then drive them to the airport, and then return the Zipcar.
Shortly thereafter I hopped on Bart and headed to Concord to stop by my sisters house and my parents too. They both needed a little bit of computer help and then I headed over to a clients office and worked for several hours. I was happy to have some work, but bummed I missed the farmers market.
Gabriel Farms and I are forging a little relationship. Tory gives me some fruit and I make ice cream and sorbets with it. I had Fiojas that I turned into a tart sorbet, but I will have to wait till Saturday to give him some. Boo for him, yay for me!
I hopped back on Bart and rode home. Around 7 I headed over to the gym. Its getting colder, but as I was riding I noticed a really skinny guy who only had a t-shirt zip by me, so maybe its just my imagination?! After my workout, I headed over to Breads of India where Kevin and I chopped it up about Goa and on the way home, I decided to ride up a random street. I smiled to myself, because I knew had I been in a car, all I would have seen was the same old homes and gardens and here I was discovering new trees and such.
Home-->Parents House
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Parents-->Client
View Larger Map
Client--> Home
View Larger Map
Monday, November 17, 2008
Day 1 without a car
Hello, my name is Jonathan. I live in Oakland, CA. I do a lot of driving but care deeply about the effect that this is having on the planet and have always felt conflicted by this. I've heard about bio-diesel and Waste Vegie Oil cars as well as electric cars yet I still drive a car that takes fossil fuels. (2000 Toyota Corolla, 145,000 miles!!) Im trying to lessen my impact on the planet despite the driving. I compost, I (try) to grow food and shop at the farmers markets, I recycle and I operate a computer consulting business where my goal is to repair computers instead of having people just buy new ones. Less consumption = less waste. (I was inspired when I saw thestoryofstuff.com).
When I met my partner I wondered how he ever lived without a car, yet the more time we spent together the more I started to realize that he didnt need a car. There is no parking where he lives and he is a 5 minute bike ride from his office. During the times he seldom needs a car, he utilizes Zipcar.
I wondered if I could follow his lead. Could I still operate my business, do my laundry, go grocery shopping and run the day to day errands that I depended on my car for doing? I decided to do an experiment! Im going to pretend like I don't own a car, join Zipcar and ride my bike and take public transportation for a month.
This all started when my brakes started to go. I had to invest about $1000 to fix my car and I have been thinking that instead of repairing my car, I would invest in a VW TDI Golf and convert it to run on Waste Oil. I had wanted to do this about year ago and was thinking about converting a 4-wheel drive vehicle, but I balked when I heard from my cousin that it was more difficult than I thought. This past weekend I attended the Green Festival in San Francisco. I decided I would join Zipcar and see if instead of buying a car and converting it, I could do without a car.
Today is the end of day 1. I woke up in San Francisco and rode my bike to the Bart station and got home around 9:45am. I had to deal with a plumbing problem and wanted to get to the Tool Lending Library to get a sewer snake. I rode my bike to the library but found the snake was to large and had to walk my bike and the snake back home. After futzing around trying to unclog the drain and getting brown water all over my clothes, I decided this wasnt something for me to do, and went to Angieslist to find a plumber. After the plumber came and was unsuccessful at clearing the drain, I walked back with the snake to the library and then walked back home. I threw all my clothes into my back packing backpack and got on my bike and rode to the laundromat. On the way I stopped at the Cartridge World and got two refilled cartridges and then headed to the laundromat. Surprisingly I got it all done with relative ease. I think it was due to the fact it was such a nice day. Had it pouring rain, it would have been a different story.
I came back home and did some work. I hopped back on my bike and went to the gym. I just got back. Its the end of day one and I feel like it was a relative success.
Im including maps showing each trip.
From SF-Oak
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From my house to the library:
View Larger Map
My house to the laundramat:
View Larger Map
When I met my partner I wondered how he ever lived without a car, yet the more time we spent together the more I started to realize that he didnt need a car. There is no parking where he lives and he is a 5 minute bike ride from his office. During the times he seldom needs a car, he utilizes Zipcar.
I wondered if I could follow his lead. Could I still operate my business, do my laundry, go grocery shopping and run the day to day errands that I depended on my car for doing? I decided to do an experiment! Im going to pretend like I don't own a car, join Zipcar and ride my bike and take public transportation for a month.
This all started when my brakes started to go. I had to invest about $1000 to fix my car and I have been thinking that instead of repairing my car, I would invest in a VW TDI Golf and convert it to run on Waste Oil. I had wanted to do this about year ago and was thinking about converting a 4-wheel drive vehicle, but I balked when I heard from my cousin that it was more difficult than I thought. This past weekend I attended the Green Festival in San Francisco. I decided I would join Zipcar and see if instead of buying a car and converting it, I could do without a car.
Today is the end of day 1. I woke up in San Francisco and rode my bike to the Bart station and got home around 9:45am. I had to deal with a plumbing problem and wanted to get to the Tool Lending Library to get a sewer snake. I rode my bike to the library but found the snake was to large and had to walk my bike and the snake back home. After futzing around trying to unclog the drain and getting brown water all over my clothes, I decided this wasnt something for me to do, and went to Angieslist to find a plumber. After the plumber came and was unsuccessful at clearing the drain, I walked back with the snake to the library and then walked back home. I threw all my clothes into my back packing backpack and got on my bike and rode to the laundromat. On the way I stopped at the Cartridge World and got two refilled cartridges and then headed to the laundromat. Surprisingly I got it all done with relative ease. I think it was due to the fact it was such a nice day. Had it pouring rain, it would have been a different story.
I came back home and did some work. I hopped back on my bike and went to the gym. I just got back. Its the end of day one and I feel like it was a relative success.
Im including maps showing each trip.
From SF-Oak
View Larger Map
From my house to the library:
View Larger Map
My house to the laundramat:
View Larger Map
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