I’m happy to report that I have survived the first month of this challenge–yay! Unfortunately, I still have a lot of room for improvement. We put a total of 449 miles on the car in the first month; if we keep driving at this rate, we’ll be looking at 5,388 for the year–well above even the 25% goal.
What I love:
I have noticed a significant change in myself in that I have become much more thoughtful about where I go. Instead of driving to Target on the first impulse, traveling by bike has made me become more purposeful in my trips. I have to ask myself, “Is this a necessary trip? Do I need to go to that particular store or can the item be found closer?” I’ve found it makes me cut down on a lot of silly driving around. I really resented this at first, but now I truly appreciate the change. I’ve learned to hold off on purchases until I can make a longer trip, whether by bike or car. Even though I’m a pretty frugal person to begin with, I’m noticing that I’m not rushing out as often to buy something the second it pops into my head and thus saving even more.
I’m saying “no” more often. This was long overdue in my life, but I never could make the change. Both my husband and I used to agree to every activity that came our way and nearly always felt overwhelmed. Even though I feel bummed about some of the stuff I miss out on, I am already enjoying the breathing room gained from sitting some stuff out.
I have a serious case of Cargoitis. I love hauling things on my bike. Now that I’ve faced the challenge of camping by bike, I’m not intimidated by anything. I find myself looking for strange and heavy things for the sole purpose of hauling it home. Whereas my hubby used to often have to push me to go out shopping by bike, I’m now the first out the door. This makes family errands a whole lot more fun.
What I don’t love:
I am still struggling very much with my morning commute to work. It’s become easier physically, but I have yet to get past the mental block. It just feels like such an odyssey! Working full-time with two young kids leaves me feeling like just rolling out of bed is a push some days, and so I’ve given in too much to taking the easy route and driving. The awful part is that it’s not the physical, but the mental push, that has me copping out. As I’ve been reflecting on why I drive so much, I’ve realized that I drive because I know it’s mindless–as automatic as brushing my teeth. It’s a terrible realization and has me thinking much more about how I drive!
In spite of my less-than-stellar first month, I’m still deeply committed to making this work. On the one hand, there are times I would push through simply to meet the challenge I’ve set out. On the other hand, I want this to be sustainable and I don’t want to make riding something I only do because I have to meet a goal. The line between the two is very difficult for me to see and my tired mind is very tricky. I’ll continue to work on improving my ability to find this balance. I am grateful for the changes I’ve already experienced and will continue to push myself outside of my comfort zone. So, onwards to Month Two!
way to go Angie…Month two is ready for you
Perhaps you should keep a journal of when you use your car. It might help you figure out where the mileage is coming from, and it may help in finding ways to cut back.
BUT ….Like you said, don’t get so hung up on the goal that everyone gets bummed about bike riding. You set very high goals — I might have started at 50% for the first year with the goal of reducing from there (33% next year, then 25%, etc..) but part of this process is to find out how realistic your goals are in being achievable without being sacrificial, and every family is different in their circumstances …..
So enjoy dropping in and catching up on your posts ….
Congratulations on a literal and figurative milestone.
The mental block of the morning start is certainly a tough one. I would be surprised if all of your readers haven’t experienced it in some form or another. Sometimes you have to tell yourself that once you’re rolling, it’s all going to feel much better.
“More powerful than the will to win is the courage to begin.” -Anonymous
When I was commuting by bike, getting on the bike was the hardest part. Riding was a joy. Avoid burn-out.
When I started bike commuting regularly, I also took a hard look at the necessity of many car trips. One such light bulb occurred when I found myself in the car for a late-night snack. As I placed my order at the drive-through for the $1 sandwich, I realized that my sandwich cost more than that, considering that (at the time) gas was over $4 a gallon.
Cheap gas has made the the automobile convenient for impulse trips.
I think it is terrific how aware you have become in the month since you started– thinking about how you used a car in the past. I know you have a specific numerical goal, but I think it is awesome that you are making a choice, a clear one, each time you decide to drive or each time you decide to bike. Driving is not an evil thing, but it is just not an automatic for you and that is so cool.
I completely can relate to your “Cargoitis.” In fact, it is clear from certain photos on Flickr that there are other cargo cyclists who love to see (and document!) just what their bikes can haul.
Sara, and others, of course, if you like cargo bikes, you might find this article amusing. I enjoyed the video with the 21 year old “skeptic” who appears to be very close to changing her mind, but then again…
a great quote from the video: “But we are Dutch after all, so we can do that very well and fast.”
It would help if I included the link… drain bamage setting in:
http://www.recumbentblog.com/2009/12/08/cargo-bikes-go-ahead-and-bring-the-kitchen-sink-by-deena-prichep/
http://tinyurl.com/dutchcargobike