Car Free in SLC!
Three years ago while visiting my family for the holidays in Colorado my parents van broke down on the way out. My wife and I decided to give up our extra car to my parents rather than have them buy a new one. Our second car spent most of its days sitting in front of our house collecting dust anyway since both of us had already made the switch to taking the bus or riding our bikes to and from work.
Then, about 14 months ago my wife accepted a post-doc to continue some of her research in California. We only had one car between the two of us. We decided she would take the car with her and I would see how long I could go car free in SLC. I’m happy to say that I still haven’t broken down and bought a car and I don’t have plans to. I’ve logged many miles on my commuter bike. I read my monthly book club books while riding the bus to work in the morning and we’ve saved enough money to pay off our second mortgage. I realize that all the emissions I eliminate by not driving are lost every couple weeks when I hop on an airplane to visit my wife. It could be worse though, I could be doing both.
Clean air is important to me because I breathe it every day, whether I’m walking to the bus stop or out for a spin. Plus, everybody complains about how ugly it is during our winter inversions. But how many of those people are doing something about it. I figure you’re either part of the problem or part of the solution. I may have taken a somewhat more extreme approach, but it hasn’t really been that difficult. I find the hardest part is recreation. If I want to go skiing or climbing I need to bum a ride every time.
– Rob Phillips
Shown Up
I was pretty excited for the Clear the Air Challenge. My husband and I signed up, and I carefully planned out my first trip from Bountiful to work at Huntsman Cancer Hospital. I would ride my bike from Bountiful along Highway 89 onto the bike path that connects to Beck Street: 8.2 miles. I would then jump on a bus downtown and get dropped off at the University Hospital: 3.1 miles. Though I wasn’t quite ready to take on the “hill”, I was still thinking how cool I would be riding my bike part ways to work.
The ride went well and I caught my bus in time. It felt great and I felt like a rock star. I got off at the University Hospital and walked up the short hill to the Huntsman. I noticed that there was someone behind me, also heading up to the Huntsman. It was Don Mulligan, one of the Huntsman managers, and he was dressed for running, water bottles in hand. He looked a little sweaty. We entered the elevator together.
“How was the ride? Where did bike from?”
“I came from Bountiful; the ride was great,” I said.
“Did you take the bike path?”
“Yes, it’s really nice riding along there. Where did you run from?”
“Bountiful. I like the bike path too.”
“You are crazy!” I said as I wheeled my bike out of the elevator.
Eh…I guess 8.2 miles is pretty good. Stinkin’ overachievers.
- Winter Redd
An Adventurous Walk
I have always used the University of Utah shuttles and UTA to get to and from school and work, but wanted to step up my Clear the Air efforts during the Challenge. So, on the first Saturday of the Challenge, I decided to combine spending some time with my children and running my errands by taking my kids on a walk to the bank, the movie rental and the grocery store. The trip was not a small one, nor was undertaking this goal with a 2 and 4 year old tagging along. Despite all the reasons I shouldn’t have tried this trip, I was determined, buoyed up by the great examples from the U of U Biochemistry team. Well, we did it. It took us a few hours and was difficult, but surprisingly we all really enjoyed it. I found a park near our home that I was unaware of, I found out that my 4 year old makes a great hiking/walking buddy, I determined that the walk will be one I can take in the future, and I saved some money while bettering the environment and my relationship with my children. I also now appreciate wide sidewalks and the adventures the Clear the Air Challenge can provide.
- Thomas Orsak
Short and Sweet True Story of a Driving Girl/Bike Neophyte
I love driving. It relaxes me. However, after the challenge I started to think. I hate waste. I despise the air quality of this most beautiful of places (SLC) and want my kids to grow up without “Red” days. I recall the time I have spent abroad how much I enjoyed walking and taking mass-transit through those places. Transportation in those international cities is a very organic and memorable part of those places to me. Inspiration hit. I have options. The week before the challenge I mapped out my bus/Trax route. Then I thought through a few bike routes to get around. It’s like a switch flipped for me. Now, even when it’s raining, I am thinking about alternatives to getting in the car – novel concepts for a girl inconsiderate of the many alternatives before this challenge. Now I just need to learn bike etiquette and road rules, and get myself a bike of my own.
Amidst the new blisters are tradeoffs – I am hearing the birds on the way to work and my stronger legs are thanking me. Well worth it.
- Lisa Harrison
The Bus, My New Trust
I was recently married and we moved down to Provo to finish up my last year of schooling there. With this rough economy I applied for jobs just about anywhere. After a lot of work, and I’m sad to admit, a lot of driving around…to interviews etc. I landed a job in Downtown Salt Lake City! A problem was created here though, my wife works in South Jordan, I now work in Salt Lake, we live in Provo, and we only have one car! Now that wouldn’t be too tough if our schedules worked together, but my job starts at 8:00 and ends at 5:00 everyday and hers begins at 9:00 Monday Wednesday Friday and 11:00 Tuesday Thursday and leaving times are varied. What were we to do… We looked at our options and saw that she was going to put in a lot of overtime (which her employer wouldn’t approve of) or we were going to do a lot of driving (have her drop me off in Salt Lake from Provo, return to South Jordan and return to pick me up at the end of the day, then home to Provo). After deciding that those options were both less than desirable we looked to public transit (we should have looked there first). We found that Route 801 the Express bus from Provo to Salt Lake picked me up not a mile from our apartment and dropped me off not a mile from my work! We decided to go with that option and now everything is working out great. Instead of driving to work everyday I get to sit back, relax, read a book, do some studying and sometimes… well, every time, catch a little nap on the way. It really is the best way to commute to work, plus I reunited with a friend that I haven’t seen in seven years just this morning on the bus! True that sometimes it may take a little longer to arrive at your destination, but riding the bus is much more fun and incredibly more time productive because you don’t have to focus on the road… you can even safely text message while traveling!
-Devin Moore
Why Pay For Parking?
It cost about $100‐$500 per year to park at the University of Utah. The University gives faculty a bus/Trax pass so it seems silly to not take advantage of public transportation. I not only save on parking but in gas for my car.
The other advantage is I have extra time just for me while riding the bus & Trax. I read, sleep & just enjoy looking out the window.
No more stress with all those crazy drivers.
- Kristy Green
My “aha” Moment
I thought you might like my “aha” moment. On Monday I made a doctors appointment which I did on my way home. The doctors office is only one block from the bus route so I got off the bus, saw the doctor and got back on the bus, and went home saving two trips. I love taking the bus and have tried several options lately to shave off time from my typical commute from work at the City and County Buildingg to Kaysville where I live. One day I took the bus north in the morning to the front runner station in Layton and rode from the station to work. Usually I ride 1.7 miles each morning to the park and ride in Kaysville which shaves off 20 minutes of the commute as compared to the 470 route trip I take which takes about 70 minutes. Driving to the park and ride is bad for the vehicle. Our mechanic recommends at least driving 7 miles to warm up the engine otherwise it is bad on the engine. I love the bus commutes which give me time to wind down, take a snooze or read. Thanks for promoting this option.
- Don Davies
Participating in the Clear The Air Challenge has caused me to think more and drive less. Every morning, I think ahead to see what car trips I don’t need to take. On the weekend, I look ahead and determine which days I can ride the bus in to work. My wonderful wife is amazed at how I’ve focused on this challenge and calls me a “changed man”.
In addition to clean air, I value efficient use of time. When we lived in Ogden, taking the express bus was a no-brainer – I got lots of work done on the bus. Now that we live in Salt Lake City, it takes much longer for me to walk to and ride the bus than to just get in the car and drive to work. Because of the Clear The Air Challenge, I’ve rethought my transportation options and realized that if I ride a bike to the bus stop and take the bike in to work with me, I’ll realize multiple benefits: (1) I’ll reduce my commute time; (2) I’ll have the bike available at work to go to meetings; and (3) I’ll get exercise. I need to buy the bike, but this one change will last long beyond the six weeks of the challenge.
- Mike Perez, Associate VP, Facilities Management, University of Utah
I love to ride my bicycle whenever I can, and it’s not much trouble for me to ride from my home in Sugarhouse to downtown or to run errands. However, in the past, several things have stopped me from riding: 1) darkness, 2) when I have to carry something heavy or bulky, 3) cold or wet weather, 4) distance.
My commitment and promise is to equip myself with head and back lights, fenders and raingear, and to finish the home-made bike trailer I started last year so that I rarely have to drive at all. I will buy and install an electric bike-assist system so that distances are more manageable.
I will post signs on my bike trailer that say something like: “This vehicle burns ____ calories per mile [whatever the estimated burn–rate is] and “This vehicle gets really excellent gas mileage.”
I will smile from ear to ear as I ride my bike (this won’t be difficult), so that everyone who sees me will know how much fun it is.
- Ben Mates
Last summer, I began riding my bike to and from work when the weather was perfect. This spring, I’m riding my bike to and from work every day unless it’s snowing or raining when I leave in the morning. This summer, I plan to commute by bicycle every day. I’m getting regular exercise and eliminating my frustration over finding a scarce parking place for the car. As it becomes a habit, it no longer seems like a chore or a sacrifice. I look forward to that time outside peddling my bike.
- Jamie McDonald Kamm
I take the bus to and from work and to doctors’ appointments, and will continue doing so through the summer and beyond. My children also take the bus to doctors’ appointments and other activities.
- Barbara Petrovich
I am a Real Estate Broker, so I drive a lot of miles every year. The “normal” real estate agent drives a monster SUV or a luxury car. Switching to something better for the environment seemed like the right thing to do. I own and drive two 100% dedicated CNG fueled vehicles. The Honda Civic GX is the cleanest burning IC engine available. It is so clean that the air coming out of the exhuast is often cleaner than the air in Salt Lake. It burns about 90 to 95% cleaner than a car or truck running on regular unleaded. When I explain why I drive the little CNG car, clients usually think… that’s cool.
- Art Brothers, Branch Broker, RealtiCorp PC
A lovely thing happened the other day when I was taking TRAX instead of driving my car home late in the evening. I sat across from a woman wearing very cool glittery purple sneakers. I pointed to the shoes and said I liked them. She clearly didn’t speak English, but she nodded and we exchanged smiles. When she got off the train she looked up at me from the platform and gave me a big wave and another big smile. A new friend – all be it one short encounter. Not only did it help the environment, it reminded me of my humanity and to slow down and savor the moment. That and a smaller carbon footprint – What more can you ask for?
- Mary De La Mare-Schaefer, Assistant Director, SLC Community and Economic Development
I love driving. It relaxes me. However, after the Challenge began I started to think. I hate waste. I despise the air quality of this most beautiful of places (SLC) and want my kids to grow up without “Red” days.
When I recall the time I have spent abroad I remember how much I enjoyed walking and taking mass-transit through those places. Transportation in those international cities is a very organic and memorable part of those places to me.
Inspiration hit. I have options. The week before the Challenge I mapped out my bus/Trax route. Then I thought through a few bike routes to get around. It’s like a switch flipped for me. Now, even when it’s raining, I am thinking about alternatives to getting in the car – novel concepts for a girl inconsiderate of the many alternatives before this challenge. Now I just need to learn bike etiquette and road rules, and get myself a bike of my own.
Amidst the new blisters are tradeoffs – I am hearing the birds on the way to work and my stronger legs are thanking me. Well worth it.
- Anonymous Challenge Participant