Living Car Free - My name is Al and I have a problem...

I've been living car free for about 8 years now. I live in the inner suburbs and use a bike to commute and public transport for everything else. I don't have a driving license. Even though I've been meaning to register for a driving test I still haven't gotten around to doing the paperwork. I have never "needed" a car for anything.

When I started my job I calculated the cost of running a car and figured out that I could take public transport everyday, and take 3x $30 taxi fares every week and still be well under what a car would cost (mainly due to insane insurance premiums for males under 30). Yep, I'm young and unmarried and things will change eventually, but for the moment I'm happy not to pay tax, insurance and Shell Corp for the privelege of polluting the skies.

Cheers,
Al.

What can I say?...Congratulations! If more people thought the way you do maybe the planet wouldn't be warming up like it is right now.

Ricardo

so what's the problem??

(you're my hero, btw.)

Problem? Well I won't be getting company car benefit any time soon :)

This forum reminded me a bit of BruceW's blog where he mentioned the Sierra Club meeting where they all drove in in SUVs to discuss environmental issues :)

Sounds like what Bill Clinton would call a "high class problem." :)

Does anyone work for a company that provides them with a company bike?

Now that would be progressive :)

Lance Armstrong got a company bike. ;)

I work for Big Oil in Houston (really Big Oil), and I keep a beater bike locked up in the building, and ride it from building to building over a 5 square mile area.

They don't pay me for it (I never asked). But I don't care, I'm just tickled that I can ride my bike for work!



Does anyone work for a company that provides them with a company bike?

Now that would be progressive :)

Yeah, well, when everyone is looking at each other, and arguing over who has to drive their personal car downtown and try to find a parking spot to drop off a deposit at the bank, or pick up a certified check, or whatever, I grab it, hop on my bike and go.

The first time they were shocked, and I asked them why? They know damn well that I can get downtown, buy and eat lunch, and get back to work in less than an hour, why would they think it's beyond my abilities to run a package downtown??? Takes me 10 minutes each way, plus I don't have to look for or pay for a parking spot.

Right -On!!!!!
Bikes Rule!!!!!!!!!!!!

I did a long term construction project for a certain large chemical company...and they provided bikes as did the people I worked for...basically cruisers...and of course there were the obligatory golf carts and similar vehichles everywhere...I used to keep my MTB in my office which was offsite a couple of miles and rode to the site at least twice a day. I even gave up a golf cart.

If I had a buisness in an area where bikes were encouraged...I'd definately be willing to provide a so called company bike or be willing to contibute to the cost of getting an employee a sensible bike for commuting on....

I don't get a free bike or anything like that but my company does support my choice. I'm given an area in a secured building to park my bikes and they provide me with a free 30 day bus pass every month. They've talked about maybe doing something to help increase alternative transportation but nothing has happened yet. I'll wait till spring comes and then launch a big "Hey it's nice out, ride your bike!!" campaign and am planning to write a small booklet that will help people get started with commuting by bike. I think a small book that covers types of bikes, gear, maintenance, safety, routes, and a few other things would come in handy to someone thinking about giving it a try.

Does anyone work for a company that provides them with a company bike?
No, but I was told last year that my company probably would not pay for bike rental in place of car rental while on a business trip, since they don't pay for motorcycles and probably would consider bicycles in the same category. I didn't press too hard, though. It also didn't help that most of the bike stores I contacted wanted to charge as much for a multi-day rental as a car rental would be! :mad:

AL what's the prolem.I'm 36 and don't drive I don't want a car. I'm happy too ride where ever i need to go. I bike 12 miles one way to work.and thats on a single speed bike. a few years ago when every one here was in a panic about the gas. It was funny to me cars would be lined up at the pumps for about a block or two. all hours 3am cars lined up . and all i do is just ride by them and say if you rode a bike you whould not have to worry about the gas prolems. then i LOL! and just keep riding some people got real mad.

No, but I was told last year that my company probably would not pay for bike rental in place of car rental while on a business trip, since they don't pay for motorcycles and probably would consider bicycles in the same category. I didn't press too hard, though. It also didn't help that most of the bike stores I contacted wanted to charge as much for a multi-day rental as a car rental would be! :mad:
John,
I know a guy that his company to front him his rental car money as part of a per diem package...he used the money to buy a Bike Friday and uses mass transit:D His jobs must be in good areas, there is no way I could use mass transit to get to and from most of my jobsites...I always check tho...

Aaron:)