Trade my car for a bike: Boise
My car is a 1992 VW Jetta. It's black, it's cool, it has low miles and gets good gas mileage. It also has a red button on the dash that serves as the horn. I thought it would eject me through the sunroof the first time I drove the car. All in all, it's the perfect commuter car. So why would I want to trade it for a bike?
I've been a part time commuter for the past 20 years in Boise and I've witnessed a lot of change. There are more people, more cars, more bikes and more altercations between bikes and cars. The Boise cycling community has experienced tragedy in the past 3 months with the deaths of three cyclists. The cyclists on the streets today are dealing with hostility and misunderstanding as well as true generosity and encouragement. Recently the Boise Cycling Task Force has produced 24 recommendations to the current cycling laws in Boise, a huge step forward in these troubled times. I ride as much as I can to help be a part of this change, but I still have the car...and I drive it.
Giving up a car is a big deal. How do I haul my stuff around? What happens when it snows? Can I get up early every morning, be on time to work and stay clean? It only takes 9 minutes in my car, but 22 on my bike. What if I get hit?
My answer to these questions is YES. Yes I will get up, yes it will snow, yes my stuff is heavy, yes I will be a little rumpled, and yes, I definitely might get hit. But I'll be on my bike anyway. And I'll be setting an example for what can be done if you put your mind to it. No more single occupant car, now I would be a rider joining with others pledging to make a choice to stop. Stop draining our natural resources and polluting our air. Stop making excuses and stop taking the easy way out and start making a healthy choice for everyone.
I'm glad to even be able to think about making this choice. It helps me understand what those who don't have this choice go through every day.
Thank you New Belgium for coming up with this idea. It makes us ordinary people think about what we have and what we can give up to be extraordinary instruments of change. I'd like to give up my car.
Sincerely,
Lisa
PS Am I the only chick doing this??
Comments
Good work Lisa! For the price
Good work Lisa! For the price of that Jetta, you should be able to get yourself one nice bicycle!
I'm not quite to the point where I'll get rid of my car... yet, however, I do commute via bike 5 days a week.
Keep us (the readers) updated on how your transition goes!
I got my bike new in 1972 -
I got my bike new in 1972 - in Boise. I've gone through a few cars since then, but I still ride the same bike. A one speed, the bike is a bit slower than it was back in the '70s, but it's my speed. The bike works fine, so I'm keeping it! But I do need another car, one that runs …
Nice! You are too inspiring.
Nice! You are too inspiring. I drive 2 miles to work...craziness....tomorrow I'm going to ride my bike!! Best of luck to you. I don't know how they decide this but my vote is definitely for YOU!!
I admire your courage. I
I admire your courage. I live 2 blocks away from where the biker was killed by the young car driver on Hill Road. It really scares me because I'm not a great bike rider. You have given me courage and inspiration to help make a change. I will try to ride my beautiful bike more and I'll be so very aware that more and more bikers are on the road when I'm driving my car. Thanks Lisa!!
Good luck Lisa. I am really
Good luck Lisa. I am really hoping you get selected. I have enjoyed reading your updates on your preparations for this, and have been inspired!!! Ride On!!!!
We moved downtown so I could
We moved downtown so I could walk and bike almost everywhere. Now, I am trying to find a family physician downtown. It's a process, but so rewarding. Thanks for showing the way.
Sounds pretty good, except
Sounds pretty good, except that I would keep saying, "No, I definitely won't get hit."
(Are you the only chick doing
(Are you the only chick doing what)
The only chick wanting to
The only chick wanting to trade a car for a bike in Boise...
Oh. Well I don't know about
Oh. Well I don't know about Boise, but there seem to have been plenty of car swapping "chicks" in other cities. I'm pretty sure the beer company only publishes selected entries.
Bummer, I didn't win. I guess
Bummer, I didn't win. I guess I don't need a new bike to encourage me to do what I already do. And I'll keep on doing it. Met a guy today who got hit last night (hit and run) and it just confirms my belief in continuing education and being part of the solution. Thanks everyone for your well wishes. It's been a fun ride and will be again.
Lisa
Hi, Lisa. Congrats on your
Hi, Lisa.
Congrats on your commitment!
You have detailed some "challenges" for someone who only has bicycle transportation available. It's not an easy thing to do, in our society, to be 100% bicycle. (A better bus system would be a big help...)
I've been a dedicated transportation cyclist - here in Boise - since 1985. I work downtown and haven't driven a car to work - even once - since 1997. So it can be done. ("Cars are for the weak!!")
We DO have a car in the family, however. The missus has a minivan, and every now and then I will borrow it when I need to move a bulky or heavy load, or haul passengers. (For smaller loads, my BOB trailer serves nicely. I use it all the time... the most ironic use is when I go to the auto parts store to get oil, filters, parts, etc., for the minivan!) My understanding is that you have to call upon friends for your motor-vehicle transportation. I'm pretty sure I could handle that arrangement for a year. (I guess I'd find out how kind and understanding my friends are!)
Ride on! Be safe!
I know exactly what it feels
I know exactly what it feels like to be a bit more afraid of cars on the road than I used to be. July 7th is a day I will not soon forget. I was just heading home after being out geocaching. I was maybe 5 miles from my apartment when I got hit by a young driver that was in a hurry to get to work. He looked one way but failed to look the other way and well I somehow ended up on the hood of his car and then the ground. As soon as my world stopped spinning I saw many people running towards me asking to see if I was okay. Thankfully I didn't break any bones. I just had a mean case of road rash for a week. And bruises for a week after that. My bike on the other hand suffered the worst of the damaged, and the pedal saved my leg from being squished between the frame and the bumper. The good was his insurance company covered the repair cost. But the bad was I had lost the main form of transportation. I do own a car but I only really use it to go camping or hunting when I know I will be carrying a lot of gear.
Best of luck to all bikers both young and old. And don't forget to be safe on the roads. Even the backroads are dangerous.
Thanks BikeBoy. I read your
Thanks BikeBoy. I read your replies in the blogs at the Statesman during all the craziness in May and have enjoyed your logical approach to the madness out there. Good job on riding so long! I'm never that good, but am now trying. Even though I didn't win I'm going to pretend that my car doesn't exist. (most of the time.) See you out there!
I want to trady my car for a
I want to trady my car for a bike too!
Awesome Lisa, and you aren't
Awesome Lisa, and you aren't the only chick doing this!
I rode w/ you in Boise @ Tour de Fat, but my hometown is Menlo Park CA where I commute by bike >90% of the time. It doesnt snow here but it rains... a lot in the spring. sometimes I grin and bear it, sometimes I get in the car- but driving doesn't give me that sense of aliveness that commuting to work on a bike does. I work at a very affluent school and am the ONLY person who rides a bike to work. My kids always ask "why don't you have a car?" and "why do you ride your bike?" and I always love to open their minds up a bit: "Don't you guys ever ride your bikes? Isn't it fun? Can't you just IMAGINE how much fun it is to do that everyday instead of driving? did you know that cars are really expensive and waste gas and cause global warming and that if we all biked the world would be a big green happy place? (ok, I'm pushing it a bit! ) But, we are models for the next generation! Wave to kids, ring your bike bell when you pass pedestrians, smile, and ride with an open heart
good for you. Certainly it
good for you. Certainly it will be less convenient to be on a bike. But we have enough conveniences already.
Can anyone provide a link to
Can anyone provide a link to the Boise Cycling Task Force 24 recommendations to the current cycling laws in Boise? I am an elected official in Ogden Utah and am very interested in helping make our roads safer and better utilized by bicyclists. I would like to see what other communities are doing to accomplish this.
Lisa!!! No ur not the only
Lisa!!! No ur not the only chick doing this!!! I live in Ft.Collins, Co and have been car free for a year and a half. I can't say its been w/out its challenges, but for me its worth it. I ride year round, and recently hubby bought me a new bike for commuting on - one that is going to be better in the snow!! Way to go Lisa!!!!
Gosh, I stoked to see all the
Gosh, I stoked to see all the support on this page! Just so you all know, I'm still riding the ole Raliegh and having a great time. I've got new rain pants and bought a helmet cover today. The nice gal at Tully's knows me very well now and I see a lot of the same people every day.
One thing I've learned...we bikers need to help each other learn the rules of the road. I was yielding to a ped group yesterday and got passed on the RIGHT by a cyclist, compromising both me and the peds.
I'm getting ready to sell my car and buy a true commuter bike. I've been looking at the hybrids. We'll see what happens.
Ride on!
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