My Sweet 16 Bicycle

Isn't she a beauty. My parents gave me this bike on my sixteenth birthday. It was by far, the best bike I had ever owned. I realized immediately that I would have to enter some races and go on some long distance rides. It would be a shame not to. It is a Schwinn Superior with Campy parts - 12 speeds - super light - I love it. I declared then that I would never get rid of this bike. It would be a family heirloom.

This past summer a friend gave my old bike a new purpose. I needed a good commuter bike so we put on new pedals, handle bars and a seat. I have been riding an old 3 speed to work - from Arlington to the Back Bay. On the old bike, it would take me 1.25 hours to get to work. This past Friday I made it to work in 45 minutes. So 23 years after receiving this bike, I'm back on it and loving life.

Quality = Longevity

Boston Bikes & Builds Green

What a beautiful August morning in Boston! I met up with the Bike Friday convoy and biked with the crowd all the way to City Hall Plaza. The weather was perfect, I met lots of other bike enthusiasts and I enjoyed a free bagel, banana and coffee. My convoy started in Lexington and picked up people along the way. We were the largest convoy so we each won a T-shirt. What more could a girl ask for? Well, a photo with the Mayor of course.

Lorelei from D2E with Mayor Menino. I love this guy. Besides all the great work he is doing with Boston Bikes, he is working to make the urban affordable housing green as well. This guy is the real deal.


Erin Ailworth reports in today's Globe:

"The mayor is the leading mayor in the country in the creation of affordable housing," O'Connell said. "And now he has become the leading mayor in the country in the greening of affordable housing."

A big congrats to Nicole Freedman who is heading up Boston Bikes. She organized the event and we had a great turnout this morning. I'm still all pumped up on adrenalin and ready to conquer the work day.

Planet Tran

Last week I traveled to Colorado Springs. It was my first time traveling alone and had an early flight. I wanted to make sure I would reach the airport on time and have everything under control. My past experiences with cabs haven't been the greatest. Once my cab arrived late and nearly made me lose my flight. On another occasion my cab showed up in an SUV and had another passenger inside. Since this was my first time traveling alone I didn't want to anything to go wrong, I wanted to go with a vehicle that was reliable and eco-friendly (if there was such a thing) and there was...it's called Planet Tran!



Planet Tran uses Toyota Prius Gas Electric Hybrid vehicles as taxis. These cars rely on battery power when running at low speed or when the car is stopped for up to 15 minutes. Planet Tran's mission is to start a livery service based exclusively on the Hybrid electric gas Toyota Prius. With Oil prices on the rise these vehicles are the way to go. Planet Tran's vision is "an urban transportation infrastructure that utilizes the most efficient transportation technology available." If a cab drives on average 50.00 miles a year a driver could save $3.850 in gasoline costs per year by switing to a hybrid vehicle.

These fuel efficient cars look slick and are eco-friendly. The driver (Matt) was punctual to the minute, he was standing outside the car, greeted me, carried my luggage to the trunk, opened the door for me and was very courteous the entire drive to the airport. Apparently Planet Tran is known for having drivers that are pleasant and knowledgeable. Best of all their rates are reasonable considering the cost of the car. A Ford Crown Victoria costs $7,000-$10,000 while a Prius ranges between $21,500-$26,000.

A trip from Harvard Square to Logan Airport cost me $40, which is $5-$10 more than a regular cab that consumes more gas and carbon emissions. Think about this next time you need a ride to the airport.

Sustainably Yours
Nathalie Zegarra

Are the oil prices affecting you?

On my way to work this morning I stopped at a local gas station to put some air in my front bike tire (see photo above). I had to take a photo since the garage had a little moped in it instead of a car - sign of the times.

While there I got into a conversation with the station owner about the price of oil/gas. He had an interesting tip for those of us that heat our houses with oil: you can hook up your hot water heater with electricity so that you don't have to use any oil until the cold months come.

Obviously this is not a solution - but every little bit helps these days. Since I do not drive much, the price of gas does not make a big impact on my daily life. But my apartment is heated with oil and I felt the price increase this past spring when I had to re-fill the tank - OUCH! And like everyone else, I have felt the ripple effects with the increase in food costs and my vendors' fees.

Below are some excerpts from today's Globe article by Erin Ailworth.

The increase will have an especially dramatic impact on the nearly 1 million households that are heated with oil, which now sells for about $4.70 a gallon, up from $2.59 a year ago, according to the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources.

Heating costs are expected to keep rising, the report says. The state's average household oil bill next year could top $3,000, according to the report by the UMass Donahue Institute, a university think tank. All told, consumers can expect to spend $4.45 billion for gas and oil heat in 2009 - a $469 million increase from 2008.

....

"Maybe the people who are very, very wealthy won't bat an eyelash. But for the regular people who are working from paycheck to paycheck and week to week, and don't have anything in the bank account, this is devastating," said Joseph P. Kennedy II, chairman of Citizens Energy Corp., a Boston-based nonprofit. Kennedy's company provides discounted oil to low-income residents and senior citizens. To help reduce bills, he said, the state should create an energy bank to finance energy-efficient home improvements.

An energy bank - that is an interesting idea. I also like the carbon taxes. We have a lot of work to do - time to get busy!

As always, if you have any interesting programming ideas, please let us know. We are booking speakers and workshops for the April Down:2:Earth event.

Local Events Worth Noting

Thanks to the Harvest Coop e-mail newsletter, we are able to pass on the following local events.

1) Leave your car at home and reap the benefits with Go Green Streets
2) Join your community to help weatherize a neighbor's house
(yours could be next)
3) Jump on the bus and visit the Red Fire Farm Tomato Festival
4) Expose your kid to gardening at the Growing Center Playgroup
5) Put on your best bamboo shirt and attend the Boston Vegitarian Society Dinner

1) GO GREEN STREETS
Leave your car at home on August 29! WEAR GREEN and COMMUTE GREEN (walk, bike, bus, carpool)! Check out our website for this month's raffle items (including a $15 gift certificate at Harvest Coop) and discounts at other local businesses for those who participate! www.GoGreenStreets.org for more info or to sign up your company or school!

2) WEATHERIZATION BARN-RAISING
At the home of Steve Miller and Sally Benbasset
Sunday, August 10 3:00–6:00pm
92-96 Henry Street, Cambridge

If the federal government won't cut carbon, let's do it ourselves!
- Help to weatherize a neighbor's home (a skill you can take back to your own home), while you party with neighbors.
- Learn how to install pipe insulation, a programmable thermostat and more.
- Meet the brand-new CEO of Cambridge Energy Alliance in his first public appearance. Ask him about the direction of the Energy Alliance while drinking lime rickeys!
- Enjoy live music and pizza.

A group of Cambridge-area residents has come together to form an Energy Co-op. Our goal is to work together to make our neighborhoods more energy efficient. We are also exploring possibilities for district energy systems in which neighbors share renewable local energy.
We're looking for the next home to weatherize. You supply the materials and pizza. We do the work. Come talk to us about it.

For more information contact Steve Morr-Wineman at swineman@gis.net.

3) RED FIRE FARM TOMATO FESTIVAL
TOMATO FESTIVAL - Red Fire Farm has been putting on a tomato tasting for eight years now, and it's grown into a huge event on the farm with three live bands, four chefs, crafters, local producers with samples, food vendors, 75 tomato varieties to taste and lots more going on. A highly recommended time to visit the farm!

Saturday, August 23rd, 12-5pm
Barn Contradance (with some of the members of Wild Asparagus, I hear!) 7:30-10:30pm
Check out the Tomato Festival page of the website for more details.

4) GROWING CENTER PLAYGROUP
Every Friday through August 29 (except July 4); 10 am-noon
Play! Play! Play!...at our drop-in playgroup. For children age 0-5 years of age and their caretakers. For more information, contact Aileen Bellwood at 617-623-0097 or growingcenter@aol.com

5) BOSTON VEGETARIAN SOCIETY DINNER
Join the Boston Vegetarian Society at Veggie Planet for a delicious four-course vegan dinner among friends new and old.

MONDAY, AUGUST 4, 2008
Veggie Planet, 47 Palmer Street in Club Passim
Harvard Square, Cambridge

6:40 PM - Arrive, check-in, socialize
7:00 PM - Chef Amy Swanson introduces the menu
7:10 PM - Dinner begins

RESERVATIONS REQUIRED.
Please email Info@BostonVeg.org and give name(s).
"Plethora of Zucchini" MENU - using the freshest locally grown ingredients available.
- Salad of Zucchini and Yellow Squash Ribbons with a Fresh Herb Vinaigrette
- Chilled Zucchini Soup topped with Fried Basil Leaves
- Entrée of Baked Stuffed Zucchini with a White Bean, Local Bread and Herb Filling accompanied by a Farm Fresh Tomato Ragu
- Dessert of Chocolate Zucchini Cake and a Special Non-Zucchini Surprise

No animal ingredients
$25 includes tax and beverage. Service is extra. Pay on site after the meal. Cash or check (made out to Veggie Planet) only; No credit cards.

Meet others in BVS - never hesitate to arrive alone to a BVS dinner!

Love all the great things happening in our area!

Ride Bikes!

Today is officially BIKE FRIDAY! So I grabbed my bike at 7am and made my way from Arlington to City Hall Plaza where Nicole Freedman, Boston's Bicycle Tzar and head of Boston Bikes, met me with some great bike schwag and breakfast. It was a perfect morning for riding to work, and I was joined by hundreds of other Bostonians, Newtonians, Lexingtonians, etc.

Cities really are just a bunch of neighborhoods, and this event made me feel like I was part of a community. I loved it. I met the people from Greenstreets, a great grass roots organization that is promoting alternative forms of transportation. They were happy to see that I wore green and I was happy to support their cause.

The next Bike Friday event is August 22nd, but don't wait until then to get out your bike. It feels great to get into work with your adrenalin pumping. Ride bikes!


Zipcar was represented - we love Zipcar.

Bike Friday

One week from today - Friday July 25th - Boston will host an official BIKE FRIDAY! Tell all of your colleagues and choose your best bike/casual-Friday outfit for work. I am already thinking that my black and white checkered Sara Campbell dress (local designer) will be perfect with my circa 1970 red three speed (as long as my wrench husband can fix it next week since I rattled it a bit on my commute home the other day and had to McGiver it with one of my hair bands). The skirt is full so I can easily ride my bike with it, and it has spaghetti straps for these hot summer days.

Let's celebrate not using gas - exercising our bones - and good local fashion all in one day. Okay, not everyone has to wear a dress, but this is a great way to get into the habit of riding your bike to work. The website asks people to wear green - so I will have to look into my wardrobe to see what I have. I may end up with a green bow tied onto my black and white dress. Nobody's perfect.

I know you have been thinking about it, so you have one week to get the tires checked, grease the chain and make sure you can find your lock (I have no idea where I left my lock). If safety is your concern, we will be escorted by police! Do it just to feel like a president - it is an election year after all.

If you are riding from Lexington or Arlington, I will see you on the ride! Read the website for all the details - ride bikes!

Sustainably yours,
The D2E team

DIY is alive and well!

We had to share this great innovation that has been making it's way around the web. We discovered it on inhabitat, which is a great blog on sustainable innovation and design. They found in on flickr and unfortunately we do not know who created this wonderful contraption.

Spreading the love,

D2E team

Chocolate or Vanilla?

Unfortunately, or fortunately, most decisions in life are not simply about taste. When you decide what to put in your mouth, you are not only contemplating the flavor but also the nutritional value or the cost or the convenience... When you are making personal decisions you can decide what is best for you. Some people care about their weight, others care about energy level, others care about allergies and for some, it is merely about getting a morsel of food. When it comes to business, your decisions affect your brand.

When planning D2E we have to make decisions about what exhibitors we want to participate, what kind of sponsors we are looking for and of course the educational programming. Every decision we make will reflect upon us and send a message to the public. We can rationalize that a Hummer is green when it runs on vegetable oil. But is that the message we want to send to our kids?

Based on all that I have learned in my exploration to live a more sustainable life, I have come to realize that we need to re-think our American dream. This is not an easy task and I do not have the answer. But I am working to change my own habits, one at a time, and I am re-thinking my personal and professional goals.

Based on the previous blog entry, a friend contacted the Sierra Club to inquire about their criteria for endorsing products. Below is the response.

Thank you for contacting the Sierra Club.

We received a couple of emails about this and I got this reply from Carl Pope:
"The comments are accurate. My personal view is that no one needs an SUV -- if you need 4wd a Subaru will do, and if you are a serious rancher or plumber you need a pick-up. A mini-van will handle the soccer team more safely.

But there are no equivalent sized vehicles that get as good gas mileage, no hybrid subaru wagon or mini-van, so I think it was the best new car of this year."

Your support of the Sierra Club is greatly appreciated. Please let us know if you have any additional questions or concerns.

"Explore, Enjoy and Protect the Planet."

Best Regards,

David Perry
Sierra Club Information

I wonder if The Sierra Club realizes the power of their endorsement. They are telling people that this is a great vehicle to purchase and you can feel good about it. I think, and I hope, that there is someone out there that really needs this huge SUV. My husband drives a big truck, but he is in construction and he uses it to haul loads every week. So I understand the need for trucks. But I don't understand promoting it as a green option to the general public. I wonder if the Sierra Club is going to taint it's brand with these types of endorsements.

The Tahoe may be the best in it's class, but should we be promoting this class for the environment? Is this like promoting open toe high heels at a rodeo?

Greenwashing Galore

When Betty and I started talking about producing Down:2:Earth, it came from our desire to cut through all the bull. We are both skeptical consumers that want to support businesses that are conducting themselves in a way that is good for the community and the earth, as well as their pockets. We also wanted to learn how we could make a difference ourselves as individuals, as consumers and as small business owners. So we hired a young, enthusiastic environmental major from Tufts (Jennifer Baldwin) and we put together a list of criteria. We also enlisted a board of advisors that consists of some great local sustainable experts.

Considering how much hype the whole green movement has received it is hard to decipher between what is really making strides to improve our life and what is just marketing. So we were pleased to see Beth Daley's story in today's Globe. See excerpt below.

"Just how green should you feel driving the new Chevy Tahoe hybrid sport utility vehicle?

The eight-passenger vehicle is plastered with "hybrid" labels. An automobile magazine panel that included the executive director of The Sierra Club named it the "Green Car of the Year."

But the Tahoe gets only about 20 miles per gallon - not much better than the nonhybrid Honda Pilot SUV, which also seats eight. The celebrated Toyota Prius gets around 46 miles per gallon.

"How a 6,000-pound behemoth can be the green car of the year is beyond me," said David Champion, director of Consumer Reports Auto Test Division. "It's a marketing exercise rather than reality.""

Unfortunately this brings up another question to be answered. How is the Sierra Club determining which products to endorse and should we trust them? The Sierra Club has a great reputation, as far as I know, but now I wonder. Perhaps I am looking at this from the wrong angle. Some people really need powerful vehicles to climb over mountain passes in snowy conditions and haul heavy loads. So perhaps this is a great alternative for that person. This sounds like a job for our research intern. More info to come later.

In the meantime, we will continue navigating this great gray space working to set the bar high and promote the companies that are helping us move to a more sustainable future.

It's bike week in Boston

Boston is embracing the bike - and it is about time. (Above photo is from my bike commute to work yesterday. This is the traffic at Fresh Pond. I love riding past cars on my old three speed.)

I have never lived in such a car centered urban environment and I have lived in Washington DC, Budapest, Switzerland, NY NY and Portsmouth NH. Boston is the worst. I did not even need a car in any of the other cities. But when I moved to Boston it was a real challenge to go on job interviews in Watertown, Waltham, Boston and Cambridge without a car. The US in general makes it tough to live without a car, but that is a whole topic of it's own for another day.

Let's get back to the warm-and-fuzzy bike week celebrations. You can check out the Mass Bike Coalition site to keep up-to-date with all things bike in Massachusetts. I recommend becoming a member and getting on their mailing list. That is how I heard about the pancake breakfast this morning at Broadway Bikes. Unfortunately I could not attend the breakfast. My dog Lucy demanded that it was her turn to join me at work, so I took the bus. But tomorrow I bike!

Definitely read today's article in the Globe - you have to see Mayor Menino in his track suit riding with all the other enthusiasts. It really is a sight to behold. He bought a Trek last year and has been focused on making Boston a bike friendly city every since. We love that!

"In July, the city plans to unveil its first designated bike lanes, on Commonwealth Avenue between the Boston University Bridge and Kenmore Square. The city may also add bike lanes to Massachusetts Avenue between Albany Street and Huntington Avenue, Tremont Street along Boston Common, and on American Legion Highway, which runs past Franklin Park.

By year's end, officials plan to install 250 bike racks across the city and 750 over the next three years."

Wohooo! Beat traffic - get in shape - arrive to work in a great mood -
GET ON A BIKE!

I have been trying to bike to work 1-3 days a week. I will admit, I am a fair weather bicycle commuter. I don't like to arrive to work with a mud stripe down my back. And Lucy, my dog, likes to accompany me to work at least 2-3 days a week. So I split my days between the bike and the bus/dog. But one day, my handy husband Ted will make a customized dog trailer for me so that Lucy can come to the office when I bike to work. Ahhhh... that will be sweet and I will be in great shape.

Beantown = Greentown?

Last week Popular Science Magazine came out with a list of “America’s 50 Greenest Cities,” and Boston ranked #3, with Cambridge right behind at #6.

I have to say I’m surprised. There are a bunch of rankings out there about the Greenest Cities, from more devoted sources (like Grist, SustainLane, and The Green Guide), as well as less devoted sources (who knew Forbes magazine had one?). The criteria are always subjective. Popular Science lists “Green Living” as one of their criteria . . . what does that really mean?

New York City always seems to get short shrift, no matter what the list. Even though more than half of its population commutes on its public transportation system, the best in the US, it came out 20th behind green powerhouses Honolulu, Hawaii, and Huntsville, Alabama. Whuh?

It seems like Boston’s high ranking is mostly based on “preliminary plans” for a power plant to convert grass clippings and other yard waste into electricity and fertilizer. Hopefully that project won’t go the way of Cape Wind. Maybe we got extra credit for the Green Monster and the Celtics . . .

I guess what matters most is not making it to the top of the lists and chillaxing, or arguing over minutia, but using the spirit of competition to encourage all cities and their citizens to move "greenward."

Now a Zipster

I recently took my first trip in a Zipcar. Right after signing up for the Boston-based car-sharing service at Altwheels, I won $100 of free driving on the Zipcar prize wheel, and decided to use it to visit a friend in Connecticut.

I reserved a Nissan Versa online, like a library book, and after my reservation time started, the car unlocked for my Zipcard, like a fob. The person who used the car before me left the tank on empty, so I had to figure out how to use their gas card to refuel at 6am. It was so cold! But it was pretty easy. I swiped the debit-like gas card, and since Zipcar pays for gas, there was no need to search for the cheapest price, I just went to the gas station near my apartment.

After not driving for 6 months, it was definitely weird stepping into a car I had never driven and traveling such a long distance, in steady rain. I had to mentally restrain myself from signaling with my arm when I wanted to turn, like I do on my bike!

I returned home, parked, and removed all my belongings, right before my reservation ended at midnight on a Friday. But as soon as I had locked the car, I heard hissing coming from the back right tire. I called Zipcar and spoke with a friendly woman who recorded the issue and said, “you’re all set!” I couldn’t imagine having to deal with changing a tire at midnight after a long day trip. Thank you, Zipcar!

I’m really excited to be a Zipster, and I’m looking forward to my next trip. Next, I'll reserve a mini-Coop or a Prius for a little more fun.

Taking the bus to work

I used to drive my car to work each day. This past August I started taking the bus. Since I like to bring my dog Lucy to work, this was a big change for me. The MBTA does allow dogs on the bus, as long as it is not during busy hours with crowded buses. This means I have to leave home at 6:30am so that we can catch the 7am bus at Harvard Square. Buses after 7am start to get crowded, and I don't want to risk not getting on the bus, especially in the cold weather.

So far, most of our public transportation experiences have been great. Some of the bus drivers really love having Lucy on the bus. She is a great dog - and she brings a little something special to everyone's day. We have made a few friends on the bus - people that are on the same schedule and love dogs. The dog lovers always join us in the back of the bus.

The ride home is more difficult as the buses stay crowded for longer periods of time. So when Lucy comes to work with me, Ted picks us up after work and we carpool home together. So, unfortunately taking your pet on public transportation is not a sure thing. You need to have a back-up plan. But fortunately, it is possible and 95% of the time there are no problems.

Below are some warm and fuzzy stats that make my painfully early departure more bearable. It is worth the effort - and I have to admit - I love the extra reading time I get each day.
• Buses emit one fifth the carbon monoxide per mile that is emitted by a single occupant vehicle per mile. For more information
• A household with two cars that swaps one vehicle for public transportation for daily commutes would save about $6,200 a year even after paying transit fares. For more information

. . . from the results of an American Public Transportation Association study that were released September 26, 2007

The research shows that when compared to other household actions that limit carbon dioxide (CO2,), taking public transportation can be more than ten times greater in reducing this harmful greenhouse gas. It takes one solo commuter of a household to switch their daily driving to using public transportation and he or she can reduce their household carbon footprint by 10 percent. If one household’s driver gives up that second car and switches to public transit, a household can reduce its carbon emissions up to 30 percent. For more information.

More than 3 million people commute each day in Massachusetts, and more than 73 percent of them drive to work alone (Census 2000 Supplementary Survey)

The average Boston rush hour commuter spends 54 hours stuck in gridlock each year. (Texas Transportation Institute Urban mobility Study 2004)

The average Bostonian household spends over $6,000 annually on transportation - 16% of its income - and spends more on transportation than it does on food. (Surface Transportation Policy Project, 2001)

For more information

Taking old Bessie to work

I have an old three speed that has been my bike of choice for tooling around town. I love late night urban adventures and riding it to dinner or a bar. Recently I decided to ride it to work - from Arlington Heights to the Back Bay. I figured it would take me about 45 minutes and I could ride the bike path for most of the way.

Issues to deal with when riding your bike to work:
1. weather - smart layers are key to success in New England
2. sweat - since I am going to work, I don't want to arrive all sweaty
3. baggage - I had a laptop, my coffee mug, and my book bag
4. cars - riding a bike in traffic is dangerous
5. no dog - I was not able to put Lucy on the handlebars




Benefits of riding your bike to work:
1. exercise - I felt energized and alive when I arrived to work
2. no carbon emissions
3. happiness - the ride definitely had a positive affect on my mood

So, what did I learn from my experience?
It takes me 1.5 hours to ride old Bessie to work. Slow and steady was my pace to minimize sweat. If I were to start riding a bike to work on a regular basis, which is very appealing, I should invest in a nice urban commuter bike. Old Bessie is fun for tooling around town, but she was not the most efficient ride. So I am going to start test riding all these great commuter bikes that I am reading about. Single speeds seem really cool - but I am not sure if I am that cool. But for sure I will test ride one.

SAFETY FIRST - You have to realize that you are vulnerable when riding in traffic. Not all drivers are aware of bicyclists or motorcyclists. So you have to be extra aware and ready to react. This is why I love the bike path. The more time I spend away from the cars, the better.

Lights are important and you have to make sure they are secure on you and your bike. Clip on lights can easily fall off, so I recommend having a front and back light that are fixed to your bike, then you can have extra lights on your bag and your helmut.

The best set-up would be to have a gym membership near my office so I can bike to the gym and shower. But it would be expensive to join a gym merely for the shower, so I am going to think about this. Normally I get my exercise outside, I am not a gym person. I heard Mayor Menino is planning to install some public showers in Boston. I'll see what I can learn about that.

And in closing, I loved my commute. I do normally like to bring my dog to work, so if I do purchase a shiny new bike I will probably only use it 2 or 3 days a week so that Lucy can come on the other days. But riding a bike to work exceeded my expectations and put a big smile on my face. If your commute can become such a positive experience in your life it can only be a good thing. I would even venture to say that it could lower your stress level and increase your happiness.

Get out and ride!

Dashboard Confessional: Breaking the Oil Addiction

Where I grew up, deep in the ever-expanding sprawl of Boston, a car meant freedom and individuality. The car was a predecessor of the avatar, customizable with bumper stickers, accessories, bass-boosted speakers, and the peculiar mix of junk in the backseat – all of which represented the individual cruising the web of suburban streets and parking lots.

But each time I drove to college, soccer games, malls, mountains, apartments, and jobs over the years, too often in a great deal of traffic, I was burning foreign oil and adding carbon dioxide and asthma-causing particulate matter to the Boston area air. No one wants that!

So I’m working on my oil addiction. My biggest step, and the hardest, has been giving up my car, and the perceived freedom and success it once represented to me.

The transition is going really well, so far! I decided to only take a job on public transportation, so now I take the subway or the bus to work. I’m getting a lot more exercise and fresh air walking and biking to the grocery store and carrying home my purchases. Despite my mom’s concerns, I feel pretty safe biking in traffic, since Cambridge has decent bike lanes, and I quickly got used to watching for taxis swerving in front of me and for drivers opening their doors. I carry everything I need in a backpack, including the stuff I once stored in my trunk, like shoes, extra layers of clothing, and rain gear. When I want to visit my parents in Suburbia, they pick me up at the commuter rail.

I definitely miss being able to head to the mountains or the beach on a whim. But these trips are still possible, they just take a little more planning (and a friend with a car, which is more fun anyway!).

I can’t say I will never get another car. I could be swayed if Tesla Motors comes up with an affordable Roadster charged by solar power and built of 100% recycled materials (Motor Trend Car of the Year, 2012?). But every early morning that I wake up to the blaring street sweeping megaphone announcement and no longer have to rush downstairs in my pajamas to move my car before being ticketed or towed, I’m really grateful I don’t have a car.