Quick story about a family downsizing their home and living a zero waste lifestyle. I love the “de-cluttering” approach and attention to design.

The Benefits of Biking to Work

Thanks to my new ride, I have the ability to bicycle to work rather than drive. It’s something I’ve always wanted the choice to do, and finally my proximity to the office, the local weather, and a recent lifestyle choice coincided to make it possible.

A round trip is only 5.2 miles, which amounts to 26 miles if I rode every day.  That’s probably not a reasonable goal since there will still be occasions where I will need a car for other reasons (weather, errands, etc.), so I’m starting with a goal of 3 days per week, or 15.6 miles.

Assuming a leisurely pace, that’s about 700 calories I would not have burned. It’s about 2 more hours of fresh air and sunshine and a the chance to savor a peaceful buffer between a bustling home and frenetic office.

It will save me about a gallon of gas per week, running about $3.50 around here, and maybe $8 in vehicle mileage (that’s almost $600 per year!). If I’m able to do this year round, it amounts to saving over half of ton of CO2 emissions (calculator).

So I suppose the question should have always been, why drive?

My old friend Josh Tickell on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno discussing green energy and his film Fuel. If the embedded video doesn’t work, you can find the original here.

Improving Traffic Flow with Variable Tolls →

The section of this article titled The No-Rush Hour in Southern California describes the variable pricing used on the 91 Express Lanes.  Prices vary by hour of the day and day of the week (up to $1 per mile during peak times) which provide not only quick access for drivers, but a market-based test for identifying where more capacity is needed.