I got a promotion and after some time trying to make it work, I've ended my time (for now) as a car-free Clevelander. With my new schedule, I tried a combination of cycling, bussing and Zipcar. My new sustainability related position has me attending meetings all over the place with very little travel time in between. I'd been leaving early and arriving late to everything which just "aint gonna fly" as my dad would say. The irony is not lost on me.
I've learned a lot from being car-free for 14 months in Cleveland. I've learned:
I've learned a lot from being car-free for 14 months in Cleveland. I've learned:
- you can live in Cleveland and have a good life sans automobile
- instant gratification is a lot harder without an auto, I spent less
- a "transit oriented lifestyle" is the inevitable result
- I like running into friends on RTA and in the bike lane
- empathy for families with little kids making complex transit journeys
- patience for standing outside in all kinds of weather
- the joy of cycling in winter
- how to smile at rude motorists
- how to be a rude cyclist
- that we need to have better transit network connections
and much more that I hope to apply in my new position. Someday I plan to be car-free again, but in the meantime I plan to have 2-3 car-free work days a week.
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2 comments:
Congratulations on your promotion!
I've been without a car in Cleveland for nearly five years. It's doable, but it's hard and it isn't getting easier, unfortunately. I think the hardest part is the fact that jobs are in the suburbs (my husband spends about 4 hours a day getting to/from work on RTA).
What are your big dreams as Chief of Sustainability?
One of my big dreams: Christine, you might be interested in some of the NEOSCC work that will be happening this year and next. It is a 12 county sustainability plan that will include taking a look at sprawl, transit, employment etc and hopefully the policy and incentives that have created the current system. Here is some more info: http://www.neoscc.org/
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