What's your story?

It's official. Having thought about it and spoken about it for years, I've finally sold my car. We're a car free household!

It's been an interesting journey. In the last few years it has been very rare indeed that I ever drove alone, and on those occasions that I did use my car it was for trips into the country for mountain biking, bushwalking, rogaining and the odd interstate trip, and usually with others in the car too. Trips around town were essentially by bike, even the grocery shopping at the central markets, and the times that it was inconvenient to pedal I car pooled.

JP and I have set ourselves up marvelously for a car free lifestyle. We live at Linden Park, across the road from the shops, library and cinema. It's an easy bike ride to work, even easier to town. The swimming pool is up the road, and the Adelaide hills easily accessible for walks and runs in Chambers and Waterfall Gully. We don't even have a tv, but there is never a boring moment. Life is too busy to watch telly anyway!

And so I would pay registration and comprehensive insurance for my 1991 VN Lexcen to basically take up space in our garage. 15 years old, and less than 140000km on the clock. I'd done less than 10000km over the last two years, and that included a trip to Melbourne via Sydney and Canberra, and numerous highway jaunts for my recreational pursuits. There are a lot of fond memories in that car, and so I was a little emotional to let it go. Funny, coming from someone who lives and breathes bicycles and so openly encourages others to ditch the car and bike instead.

I'm not sure how many times I exclaimed "I've sold my car. I've sold my car" during those first two days after letting it go. I took my driving test in that car 10 years ago, almost to the date. Living in western Sydney back then you 'needed' a car. I would commute 3 hours each day, a trip that included the train and a bus, but to get to the train I had to drive. With those long days as a science undergrad at UNSW it was impossible catch the bus between home and the train station, especially since they stopped running at 6pm and were notorious for not turning up at all. It was almost worth moving out of home, except I would have to spend all those saved hours working to pay for exorbitant Sydney rent.

And so I was presented with a panacea on arriving in Adelaide. Cheap rent. Great food. A compact, flat city and relatively uncongested roads. Wow. It was actually conceivable to ride my bike to uni. How novel. And I fell in love with it. I've gotten to the point that I start to feel sick sitting in a car around town. And I feel like a wreck if I don't get that daily pedal, even though it's only 15 minutes each way. And so it was a surprise when I found myself confused, uncertain, and very insecure when I watched the new owners drive away in MY car.

I've settled down now. And am starting to like the idea of all that extra space in the garage. My lifestyle hasn't actually changed all that much since I was so unreliant on the car in the first place. No doubt I will start to appreciate not having to fork out for insurance and rego soon too. I must confess that I do have a backup. My partner has a car and it seems that most places I ever go that I couldn't really pedal, she's going there too, so it is a bit easier for me than it should be. Nonetheless, it was a big step, and one which I will not regret - even though that Lexcen has been very good to me over the years.

What's your story?

It's very refreshing and encouraging to hear what people are doing to reduce their reliance on cars. As the BUG co-ordinator I get to hear a lot of these stories. It's a real boost, highly motivating and I think we should be sharing them. Just yesterday morning a BUG member told me that not only did he ride to work, but his wife and three kids rode too! And a new cyclist from our first car-free breakfast is turning into a repeat offender - fantastic news!

Please email the BUG or me directly with your story, and I will post it. Or else click on 'comment' below, use the anonymous option and type to your heart's content.

Cheers
Ryan

October BikeFriday

Just a few drops of moisture and a very pleasant ride along Brownhill Creek Rd. 6 of us found a lovely spot down off the road next to the creek for a very pleasant lunch.

We'll do the same next month, weather permitting, so put it in your diaries.

10% off accessories at Bicycle Express

In support of Ride2Work day, the Bicycle Express city store gave us a heap of key rings giving a 10% discount on accessories.

Send an email to waitebug@gmail.com to organise your key ring. First in best dressed.

Cycle Parking

A rudimentary calculation of a 5% p.a. return on investment on the Urbrae real estate taken up by a parking space is around $300-$600 per year. Using basic bicycle parking (a metal rack) you can easily park 6 bicycles (up to 12 using hanging facilities) in the same area - so we are looking at $50 - $100 per year.

Should motorists be paying the difference? If not, should cyclists, public transport users and pedestrians get a $250-$500 bonus in their pay packets each year?

Fat chance. But we should at least have appropriate facilities to store our bikes. It is evident that the Holmes bike racks are near capacity, and the number of bikes in offices and chained to posts and fences around the place is increasing.

It is no coincidence that 3 people have independently suggested that the Cornish Undercroft carpark be converted to a secure lock up for bicycles (thanks to Marc and Kerryn!). This is a brilliant idea. All it would require is 3 sides of fencing, some racks, and a gate with swipe card access. Throw in a few hooks for wet weather gear on a rainy day and we have solved some of the biggest obstacles to bicycle commuting at this site.


What are your thoughts?

Ride2Work success

We had around 40 people join us for breakfast. It was great to see some non-regular cyclists giving it a go, despite the hot weather. All particpants recieved a key ring giving them 10% off accessories at Bicycle Express.

We raised $160 for Camp Quality, courtesy of a raffle for two vouchers from Bicycle Express. A great effort.

A big thanks to JP for once again cooking some choice French Toast. Kerryn McEwan and her 'girls' provided home-grown organic eggs. Thanks also to Marc Praulins and the health promotion committee for supporting this event.

I suspect next year will be bigger and better, with the local cycling associations playing a bigger role in promoting Ride2Work day.

Until then, keep up the good work and push those pedals as much as you possibly can.

Happy cycling!