Living Car Free - Jobs for the car-free cyclist

Now that I'm looking for my first job, I'd be very interested to read about your related experiences....


What jobs have you held both past and present?


Which of those were most compatible with a car-free lifestyle?


Has not owning a car ever affected a hiring decision (to your knowledge) or your continued employment?


Where have you "parked" your bike at your various job sites?

The job I'm hoping to get right now is perfect for the beginning commuter because it is walkable in emergencies and has a couple of low-traffic or employee-only rooms that could probably be used for bike storage. Location and parking are, thus, major factors in my job search right now. Too bad you can't let the potential employers know that! :rolleyes:

Telecommuting is easiest by far if you can find a job that is compatible with it. It means you don't have to "go" to work at all.

Just wake up and sit down at the computer and start working. There are many jobs like this, the toughest being any attempt to make it as an artist or writer, and probably the most industry-like being anything IT-related or medical transcription, the latter of which requires minimal training - but that employment ends up being piecework, like garment seamstresses at the turn of the 20th century: Pay per production, not flat hourly rate, and you'd better know how to compose a sentence and hear through the awful accents and speed-talkers.

On the plus side with any telecommuting job, you don't have to do it at home or at the same place ever. If you are in a city with good wifi, you can get a laptop, stow it in a pannier, go to the local cafe and start working, or just work in your jammies at home. Often these jobs allow you to set your own hours too.

What I do is similar, but very specialized. I work as a telecommuting medical editor on the one hand, and as a pretty in-demand local jazz piano teacher on the other (which means I can charge my students very high hourly fees compared to the traditional "old lady down the street" piano teacher). Combined, I do extremely well for myself money-wise, and it fits in very well with car-free because I never have to leave the house for any work I do and never have to deal with a boss hanging over my head ever, which I must say is the sweetest perk of all.

I had software engineering jobs of different flavors
starting in 1972. Very little public or customer contact, just me and the code. I was able to bike commute quite a bit, depending mostly on family responsibilities and the exact location of the job. I was always able to find something to chain a bike to, even if only a light pole.

Anything that involves being a techno-geek is good. The whole cycling thing that makes you 'different' in the workplace is actually a bonus. The non-technical people don't understand the technology, they also don't understand your choice of transport, they naturally tend to assume that you're so geeky that you must be an absolute guru with the technology.

All jobs are compatible with a car free lifestyle. It's only a way to get to work.

I usually have left my cycle locked up outside work, or inside if work provided bicycle parking or offered me a place to stash my bike.

All jobs are compatible with a car free lifestyle. It's only a way to get to work.

I usually have left my cycle locked up outside work, or inside if work provided bicycle parking or offered me a place to stash my bike.

My thoughts exactly. The only thing I can think of would be jobs that required you to travel using your own vehicle which are few. Heck, I drive a hundred miles a night and I still commute by bike.

I have a had whole range of jobs that were commutable. I worked in a hospital in the pharmacy storeroom, then in their maintenance department. I worked as a bartender. I worked for a smaller construction company where we always met at the office every morning. All of those jobs were commutable by bicycle. My current job is not:( But I hope to change that. Any job that is based in a fixed location has the potential.

Aaron:)

All jobs are compatible with a car free lifestyle. It's only a way to get to work.
Really? Know many salesmen who call on their customers in numerous locations; maybe even beyond the city limits?

Know any independent contractors who have to get to various job sites, maybe even beyond the city limits?

Believe it or don't, not every one works every day at the same location by the public transit stop, or close to home.

I was just thinking about this on my ride home last night. I do in-home social work and my agency requires me to drive around all day in one of their vehicles. I ride in and then oftentimes drive one of their cars for most of the day. I want to change that.

I was going to post my own separate question but why not coattail this one? What jobs out there do you all think are obtainable, in the helping profession, that would be a stay in one spot all day type of job?

I was just thinking about this on my ride home last night. I do in-home social work and my agency requires me to drive around all day in one of their vehicles. I ride in and then oftentimes drive one of their cars for most of the day. I want to change that.

I was going to post my own separate question but why not coattail this one? What jobs out there do you all think are obtainable, in the helping profession, that would be a stay in one spot all day type of job?
Anything clinic based, where the people come to you. I have been looking back to the medical support field as a "retirement" job.

Aaron:)

Anything clinic based, where the people come to you. I have been looking back to the medical support field as a "retirement" job.

Aaron:)
I know someone who gives special services to students and training to teachers all over the city by bike. This is an irregular schedule that varies week to week. I've helped load the bike trailer with training materials on occasion. So, its a false statement that you need a fixed location where clients come to you in order to deliver social services and be car free.

I know someone who gives special services to students and training to teachers all over the city by bike. This is an irregular schedule that varies week to week. I've helped load the bike trailer with training materials on occasion. So, its a false statement that you need a fixed location where clients come to you in order to deliver social services and be car free.

I did not say he HAD to be clinic based, it was just a suggestion. But when you work FOR someone else they quite often seem to think you need to meet their standards, and if they expect you to visit X number of people in a given day and they are scattered all over town a bicycle is probably not going to suffice, however there are always exceptions.

Aaron:)

I'm an IT Manager - heading towards car-free, not there yet.

- Noone cares how I get to work, as long as I get here
- I have access to all kinds of restricted areas so storing the bike is easy. I used to keep it in the server room, but have since changed to the UPS (power) room on the first floor because I can also change there.

Most computer jobs would be fine with bikes. Exceptions would be consulting positions and fast-response on-call jobs.

Really? Know many salesmen who call on their customers in numerous locations; maybe even beyond the city limits?

Know any independent contractors who have to get to various job sites, maybe even beyond the city limits?

Believe it or don't, not every one works every day at the same location by the public transit stop, or close to home.
Go find someone else to have your petty internet arguments with.

here is a kicker, I work in IS and for a hospital !!!

Best of both worlds ! HAHAHA

I was just thinking about this on my ride home last night. I do in-home social work and my agency requires me to drive around all day in one of their vehicles. I ride in and then oftentimes drive one of their cars for most of the day. I want to change that.

I was going to post my own separate question but why not coattail this one? What jobs out there do you all think are obtainable, in the helping profession, that would be a stay in one spot all day type of job?
I work in an inpatient psychiatric unit and I ride my bike to work.

All jobs are compatible with a car free lifestyle. It's only a way to get to work.

I usually have left my cycle locked up outside work, or inside if work provided bicycle parking or offered me a place to stash my bike.
I agree with you. Except for a few exceptions (which ILTB was kind enough to mention), your commuting style has no bearing on the job. Bikes are, if anything, more reliable than cars when it comes to getting to work on time. Bikes break down less, most cyclists have a backup bike or a Plan B, and we don't have to worry much about traffic jams.

Ziemas--welcome back. I haven't seen you posting much lately. Hope all is well with you.

Go find someone else to have your petty internet arguments with.
That'sa right, make any silly unsupported statement you like and don't put up wit no stinkin' backtalk! You said it, you believe it and that settles it, eh? You be da Simple Life Man!

What about seaonal work at national parks, where the lodging is provided? That would be fun, and some people could make the money from the summer last the rest of the year.

Go find someone else to have your petty internet arguments with.

:lol: About the best response possible. Succinct, to the point, pulls no punches about what he's here for, and wastes virtually no time on him.

:beer: for Ziemas.

Anyway...back to our regular scheduled programming and a little caveat to what I wrote earlier about telecommuting:

The telecommunicating thing is ideal not just for car-free, but for anyone. It occurred to me that it could be taken that I was implying in my post that it's good especially for car-free folk, but it's equally good for anyone as far as taking out part of the pain in the arse of the job - namely all the time you waste getting ready for being in public and all the time spent getting there, which for a cyclist may be the best part of the day, but I think it's generally better to save that time for later and ride where you want instead of to the same static spot (especially your job) and back every day.

In my work, except for weekends when I teach, I spend no time getting myself "ready" for work, I am usually up and working at 4:00 a.m., and I'm done by noon or 1:00 p.m. instead of doing a 9:00 to 5:00 or an all-nighter, which gives me the best part of the day (when the sun is shining!) to ride wherever I like at the end of my workday. I can think of no more ideal work schedule for a cycling fanatic. Speaking of which...

:lol: About the best response possible. Succinct, to the point, pulls no punches about what he's here for, and wastes virtually no time on him.

:beer: for Ziemas.

Anyway...back to our regular scheduled programming and a little caveat to what I wrote earlier about telecommuting:

The telecommunicating thing is ideal not just for car-free, but for anyone..
Regularly scheduled BS'ing ya mean don’t cha?

Not nearly everyone as some Simple Folk contend/daydream. Occasionally people who work in the real world may have to get from one place to another, even places off the beaten path and not on the regional rail line. Not everyone is living like yourself and Ziemas in a "regularly scheduled program" of cyber-space generalizing.

Not to worry, though. If you don't like reality; ignore it.

Not nearly everyone as some Simple Folk contend/daydream.

Occasionally people who work in the real world may have to get from one place to another, even places off the beaten path and not on the regional rail line. Not everyone is living like yourself and Ziemas in a "regularly scheduled program" of cyber-space generalizing.

:lol:

Nice logical leaps, Einstein, but I never said anything like "nobody has to drive," nor did I agree with what Ziemas originally said along those lines (though I definitely agree with what he said to you), so you're barking up the wrong tree.

To say that I feel something is an 'ideal job for anyone' isn't to say that I think that the world should be made up totally of people telecommuting or even that it is possible for that to happen or to suggest that nobody needs to drive in this world. Weak inferences, but nice try at logic with that simpleton brain of yours.

And learn the difference between 'anyone' and 'everyone' before you start transmuting one to the other, especially if you're going to go through the trouble of bolding it to make a point.


If you don't like reality; ignore it.

Yeah, reality - like making up syllogisms about a person's opinions with things they never said or implied.

By the way, this isn't making fun of you, but I would advise you to learn how to use a semicolon properly if you're going to use one at all.

Everyone's situation is different. Myself, I have been turned down for *many* jobs because they required a car, even jobs that I was otherwise qualified (or overqualified) for. It's at the point where the main thing I worry about in an interview is whether they'll ask if I have a reliable vehicle. I'm not in a profession where you can telecommute, and although we have decent public transportation in my area, it doesn't go everywhere.

IMO, you can certainly use a bike to commute to any job--but it's not always practically feasible. I think for a lot of people your choices are

a) restrict your job search to a relatively small geographic area
b) accept that it may take you 1-3 hours to get to work (one-way) through a combination of public transit and bike
c) move to an urban area.

But this, of course, depends entirely on where you live and what you do.

The telecommunicating thing is ideal not just for car-free, but for anyone.

I too work in IT and while I readily acknowledge the attractive benefits you mentioned I feel compelled to point of some of its drawbacks:
1) Social Isolation - for a lot of people work relationships are just as important as family ones.
2) Communication Difficulties - a lot of communication is non-verbal. How do you read body language or facial expressions via e-mail?
3) No clear boundary between work and home. When does the work day end?
4) The job you can telecommute to from 10 miles away at present pay is also the job your employer can outsource 6000 miles away for 1/10 of your present pay.

I believe that telecommuting will become more and more common as businesses strive to combat the ill effects of congested highways. But I'm also reminded to be careful for what you wish ... there may be an unexpected cost.

I too work in IT and while I readily acknowledge the attractive benefits you mentioned I feel compelled to point of some of its drawbacks:
1) Social Isolation - for a lot of people work relationships are just as important as family ones.
2) Communication Difficulties - a lot of communication is non-verbal. How do you read body language or facial expressions via e-mail?
3) No clear boundary between work and home. When does the work day end?
4) The job you can telecommute to from 10 miles away at present pay is also the job your employer can outsource 6000 miles away for 1/10 of your present pay.

I believe that telecommuting will become more and more common as businesses strive to combat the ill effects of congested highways. But I'm also reminded to be careful for what you wish ... there may be an unexpected cost.

Thoughtful reply. :)

Agreed on all points, or at least half-agreed. I can only put it all in context to my own empirical experience:

1. Social isolation is definitely tough if you value social interaction at work. I have two jobs at home, the latter of which fulfills that (piano teaching), and I have a wonderful girlfriend and other pals, so that's not so bad in my case. I can see where it could be terrible in another person's situation, particularly if they are socially isolated outside of work too. There are some who crave this, however - monk mentality or whatever you want to call it - so it could be a perk as much as a bane. A further point is that it's actually good for the at-home mother of a toddler, which is why the medical transcription field is primarily women. Other off-sets are the ability to work with whatever music you want in the background (unless you're doing transcription, where you need to listen through headphones) and being able to have a beer or eat at the job or being able to shout profanity as you see fit, fart unabashedly, work in the nude, etcetera...

2. I don't particularly have problems with the communication issue. Though this isn't a catch-all for all telecommuting jobs, my primary editors are all excellent at expressing themselves (otherwise they wouldn't be editors - specialists in the English language), so there's almost never a loss of understanding between us. In a way, I value the loss of expression and emotion in a business relationship - it strips it down to business only and I think that's generally a plus (in my job at any rate).

3. As for the work day ending - again, personally speaking - I have that worked out as a system with my employers and try to adhere to it, and frankly I always meet my deadlines without difficulty. As for the boundary from work and home, this is something that is either plus or minus (or actually neither: I consider the two fused when I am actually at work), and I'm depending on technology to carry me through the minus part to turn it into a huge plus. I originally took my job with the knowledge that my thinking was ahead of current technology: I wanted (still do) to do bicycle touring with a microlaptop and a solar panel on the back of my bike while I ride through the sun to re-charge tomorrow's set of batteries, and work remotely while I did this in a tent or at some mountaintop, thus fusing work and my greatest pleasure together. Really remote connectivity is not here yet though (except with satellite dishes, which are huge, expensive, unreliable, and not bike-friendly), but I think it will eventually be what I want and envision. I really think the home/work aspect to remote work is by far its greatest benefit.

4. Off-shoring: Yep. Bad stuff, and true with many jobs in today's open business climate. I am lucky in that my job is very specialized: I am a specialist in both English language editing (grammar, lexicon, syntax, and construction) and in having a detailed medical knowledge - both of which are hard to off-shore without difficulties - but I couldn't claim the same for just any telecommuter. At the moment though, lots of things like this are up in the air, and at the moment I pronounce it as "ideal" still. Like all ideals, this is of course subjective opinion. One benefit for the employer is the lack of overhead in providing facilities to the telecommuter, so in certain fields it is a bit of a wash as to where it will go. India has a number of IT and transcription jobs already taking over, but their grasp of the English language tends to be less than pristine, so it's not all off-shored yet and frequently adds jobs in the QA/QC departments. EDIT: I am also lucky in that my 'second' job simply cannot be off-shored, since it's not technically telecommunicating and relies on my physical presence in the room, and also lucky because it is by far my biggest source of income at $50/hour.

I will add another bad thing:

5. If you are given total flexibility to work when you want and have a tendency to procrastinate, this can be very bad, as you find yourself scrambling at the end of the day to complete work or make a deadline.

Actually, one of the best jobs I had was the most compatible with my carfreedom. Part of the reason was that they were tolerant of my biking, but also because the place was a 12 minute ride from my home. Also, the people were wonderful people and I actually looked forward to going to work even though I cleaned up dog **** in a kennel.

Contrast that with a job that most people would describe as a "good job". I had a good wage at a respected clinic, but they were very intolerable once the fact got out that I rode my bike. Even though I held the job for nearly two months prior and they never had any problems with my work, suddenly I was having all these "complaints" about my work ethic, my hours, my commitment to my job, etc. I started getting a lot of comments from my co-workers about "Why don't you just get a car?" "It must be hard to get to work everyday." "Gas is $3.20 now! Aren't you glad you don't have to pay that!?" I quit shortly thereafter. I don't have to take that kind of abuse.

I suspect it does. I used to tell interviewers that I didn't have a car for years only to be told, "I'm not hiring you unless you have a car." "I'd like to see you get a car within two weeks if I'm going to hire you." Sigh. Even when the jobsite in question was not even 50ft from the nearest bus stop.

Now when asked, "Do you have transportation?" I respond, "Yes." I do not eleborate. As long as I show up on time ready to work it doesn't matter how I get there.

It depends on what the people at the job think of my bike riding. The first place I mentioned did not care, so I stored my bike in a backhallway. The second place I mentioned had bikeracks in the employee parking lot, so I tied my bike up there. (Hypocrites, aren't they?) I have since become discreet almost to the point of secrecy in my biking, often tying my bike to a pole or street sign a few blocks away and then walking to the job site.

The biggest issues for me are:
-How far away is the job site from my home
-How compatible the people are with a bike rider

The job can vary, but I've found the best ones compatible for bikers are jobs where you work very little with people.

Any job where you feel comfortable riding to it, and where they accept your riding lifestyle (heck even if they don't accept it!)
I now live close enough to work that I don't really have to worry (that much) about commuting. I would definitely say to pick something close to where you live, trust me. You will live to hate the days that are pouring, days you get flats, days you have to take the poverty wagon(city bus) :D
Just do your homework, research the people you'll potentially be working for.

[....] It's at the point where the main thing I worry about in an interview is whether they'll ask if I have a reliable vehicle. [....]

If they asked me that, I'd just say "Yes". A bike is a reliable vehicle. Actually, when you tinnk about it, more reliable than a car. I've never missed work or been tardy, but very few of my car-addicted colleagues could say the same.


IMO, you can certainly use a bike to commute to any job--but it's not always practically feasible.

Of course. There are certain people in certain places who can't bike commute. They exist and I feel sorry for them. But most people could bike commute, they just don't want to. I feel sorry for them too, but not so much.

I suspect it does. I used to tell interviewers that I didn't have a car for years only to be told, "I'm not hiring you unless you have a car." "I'd like to see you get a car within two weeks if I'm going to hire you." Sigh. Even when the jobsite in question was not even 50ft from the nearest bus stop.
Is this just prejudice on the part of the employer or did they actually have a somewhat legitimate reason for wanting you to have a car (hauling stuff/people, quick deliveries)?


Now when asked, "Do you have transportation?" I respond, "Yes." I do not eleborate. As long as I show up on time ready to work it doesn't matter how I get there.
I'm not sure I could feel comfortable just saying "Yes" in this case, because I would always assume that the employer has in mind some of the above mentioned tasks that I wouldn't necessarily be able to do.

There's a theoretical problem with using a personal car for company business. Personal auto insurance usually excludes coverage for business use of a car. On the other hand, the company's auto liability policy may not automatically cover you either unless specific conditions are met, such as you being a named and rated driver on the company policy. If a company will require you to drive for their purposes, it would be most advisable from a legal point of view to ask about their insurance coverage while you are driving for them. Unfortunately, whoever is doing the job interview probably won't have a clue about their insurance situation and asking questions like that might mark you as a trouble maker.

What jobs have you held both past and present? In no particular order: general labourer, graduate student, researcher, teaching assistant, tutor, cycling instructor, camp councillor, bike courier. Nothing to do with the corporate world, that's for sure, for I rather loath it and would not survive it. :)


Which of those were most compatible with a car-free lifestyle? They all were compatible with my car-free lifestyle. If I wanted to be an in-home tutor, I'd have to pick students close to home, but I would not do that kind of tutoring anyway: too much time and money is wasted going from one student to another even (especially!) if you have a car.


Has not owning a car ever affected a hiring decision (to your knowledge) or your continued employment? It could've affected it positively in some cases. A bike courier who drives to work - that's just uncouth.... :D But seriously, not to my knowledge. I know people for whom it did though, despite being irrelevant.


Where have you "parked" your bike at your various job sites?

General labourer: just outside the building.
Grad student: my office.
Camp councillor: inside our base
Bike courier: various locations outside, but nowhere for too long ;)


The job I'm hoping to get right now is perfect for the beginning commuter because it is walkable in emergencies and has a couple of low-traffic or employee-only rooms that could probably be used for bike storage. Good luck. :)

Of course. There are certain people in certain places who can't bike commute. They exist and I feel sorry for them. But most people could bike commute, they just don't want to. I feel sorry for them too, but not so much.
Exactly. Are you listening I-Like-To-Bike? For the vast majority of jobs out there commuting without a car is a perfectly viable option. Yes, there are a few jobs for which this isn't a viable option, but they are exceptions.

IMO, commuting to work is the easiest part of being car free because public transportation is best during rush hours. Trying to get home on Saturday night when the trains/buses aren't running is the hard part.



I'm not sure I could feel comfortable just saying "Yes" in this case, because I would always assume that the employer has in mind some of the above mentioned tasks that I wouldn't necessarily be able to do.
I wouldn't assume that the employer has the above mentioned tasks in mind. I would assume that the employer has in mind tasks which he believes you wouldn't be able to do without a car, which for most people means traveling more than a few blocks.

The point is that you can't leave it up to the employer whether or not the job is feasible without a car because the employer probably has no idea what can be accomplished without a car. You have to decide for yourself whether or not you can complete the job with your mode of transportation. When the employer asks you if you have transportation then say yes and ask how long are the distances that need to be traveled. If the employer asks you why you are asking then simply say that gas is expensive and it would be foolish to accept a job without being aware of all the costs. Once you know the distances you can make an informed decision about whether or not you are able and willing to travel those distances with your mode of transportation. The only other information that might be relevant is how much stuff you might have to carry, but you should be aware of this regardless of what mode of transportation you plan on using.

I don't understand why some people are so concerned about employers asking if you have transportation. If you don't view your own bike as transportation then how can you expect your employer to view it as transportation? More importantly, if you don't view your own bike as transportation then how can you expect to commute with it? I know I wouldn't hire someone who wasn't absolutely sure whether or not they had reliable transportation, regardless of what kind of vehicle they had in mind. Saying "I'm not sure whether or not my vehicle counts" means "I'm not sure whether or not I can get the job done."

When the employer asks you if you have transportation then say yes and ask how long are the distances that need to be traveled. If the employer asks you why you are asking then simply say that gas is expensive and it would be foolish to accept a job without being aware of all the costs. And then he says "Don't worry, we reimburse for gas." :p I guess you can try to mention something about vehicle wear and depreciation...

And then he says "Don't worry, we reimburse for gas." :p I guess you can try to mention something about vehicle wear and depreciation...

In that case I would find a local gas station that would be willing to bundle carbon offsets with gas purchases before ordering a nice new hummer...but I guess some of you are more hardcore about being car free than myself. As my girlfriend always says, "You really don't care about the environment. It's just an excuse for you to be cheap." :)

Is this just prejudice on the part of the employer or did they actually have a somewhat legitimate reason for wanting you to have a car (hauling stuff/people, quick deliveries)?.

One job I interviewed with was for an office job. Come to work, stay in office all day, go home. No hauling or car necessary on any job duties.

Another was for a job in a lab, playing with chemicals all day. They even had bike racks outside the back of the lab!

A third job interview was for a college library that was right off the bus stop! Which, as a college, had buses leaving every 20 minutes. Yet they told me they wanted me to have a car and pay the parking fee right out of my pocket.

None of these jobs required a car for any job related duties or travel and even though they were years ago, I still ponder why they wanted me to have a car.

If I wanted a job bad enough I'd just smile and nod and say whatever they wanted me to. I'm not putting my car loan and registration on display, so who cares what you tell them and what you do after you're hired? If you're a good employee and arrive on time I doubt any company is going to ask "Where is your car" The interviewer is probably just reading from a list of questions his higher-ups created. Any objection to the standard litany automatically labels you as a contrarian. And if you're arguing about transportation then you're probably going to be disagreeable about other things.

I think the general anwer is "Say what they want to hear" if you want the job. If it doesn't seem like your type of job and they make a big deal of it? Then thanks but no thanks.

Another tidbit to consider is that once you're credible and established in your field or profession it makes less of a difference how you get to work (in the eyes of employers). They're hiring YOU for your brain, skills, or handicraft. It's already demonstrated and proven that you're a capable person and getting to your desk it's considered a basic function of your day.

Low wage and less than respectful employers are hiring a BODY to work, and make it their business to inquire deeper into your personal logistics. (Drug testing, bag searches and the car ownership). aka Wal-Mart. (Don't get me started on empowering workers for a better end result).

I've been in my industry for eight years. Should I ever be interviewing and they steer (best pun of the day?) the interview towards something in my personal life irrelevant to my work responsibilities I'd laugh and politely end the interview. That and it'd be an obvious sign of micromanaging me.

If Stephen Hawking was interviewing at Lucent I doubt anyone would ask what method he'd use to arrive at his desk each day.

What jobs have you held both past and present?

Was a waiter as a teenager, then all of my other jobs have been in videogame development, as a programmer mostly.



Which of those were most compatible with a car-free lifestyle?

never had any compatibility issues.



Has not owning a car ever affected a hiring decision (to your knowledge) or your continued employment?

never been an issue.



Where have you "parked" your bike at your various job sites?[/list]

resteraunt: right outside.
every professional job ive had: inside somewhere, either at my desk or somewhere nearby at the office.



Too bad you can't let the potential employers know that! :rolleyes:

at my jobs ive been open with wanting to bike commute, and they've always seen it as a positive.

Geez, peace_piper, that sounds pretty bad. Maybe they wanted a car driver because they had the attitude about adult cyclists? You know, that we're either too poor to drive, or we have too many DUI's to hold down a driver's license :rolleyes:

Or in the case of the college at the bus stop, maybe they want to pull back money off your paycheck back to the college campus to build up their infrastructure? I know the parking fees at my school (almost $150/semester now) are almost all put into building more parking spaces for the students' cars.

You know what, I'm surprised that this is such a big issue with most employers. I mean, most jobs that the car-free types gravitate to don't have you actually driving around, lugging equipment using your own personal automobile, do they?

Really? Know many salesmen who call on their customers in numerous locations; maybe even beyond the city limits?

Know any independent contractors who have to get to various job sites, maybe even beyond the city limits?

Believe it or don't, not every one works every day at the same location by the public transit stop, or close to home.



I'm "plant guy" I work for an interior landscaping firm in MA. I go from Braintree to Cambridge to Malden, occasionally to Burlington, and Concord. I initially drove everywhere but noticed everything I do is on the T. I live north of every account I have and take the train into town, and my fixy to the train. For the summer I'm gonna get an English 3 speed for the Cambridge/Boston stuff. I don't need a car and my boss saves on mileage pay that I dumped into a machine I hated anyways. My clients got used to their plant guy showing up covered in snow, or frozen or soaked. But my quality improved 'cuz I am happier to work now, so everyone wins. I can see how sometimes you'ld need the car: cable guy, in home nursing, landscaping, etc.

Though now I'm gonna try for bike mileage checks come spring :D


jim

I'm a UNIX sysadmin. I can work from home, but I choose to commute instead because the office is 20 minutes away by bike. I park in my cube. I don't think it gets much better than that :)

You know what, I'm surprised that this is such a big issue with most employers. I mean, most jobs that the car-free types gravitate to don't have you actually driving around, lugging equipment using your own personal automobile, do they?

So am I, actually. It seems that lately in the past 4-5 years since I've become chronically un- or underemployed that employers want to nitpick every detail. At many of my old jobs I never let on that I was a bike rider until after I'd been there a while and already established my credibility as reliable.

I find it very ironic that the places that were most invasive about knowing my transportation were the places that were right off the busline (not even 50-100ft away) or had bike racks right outside the worksite. Hmm. A case of do as I say, not as I do? Maybe.

Or that I just have bad luck with jobs. I think it's that.

Really? Know many salesmen who call on their customers in numerous locations; maybe even beyond the city limits?

Know any independent contractors who have to get to various job sites, maybe even beyond the city limits?

Believe it or don't, not every one works every day at the same location by the public transit stop, or close to home.


OMG I actually agree with ILTB?

Yes, the statement by Ziemas


All jobs are compatible with a car free lifestyle. It's only a way to get to work.

Is not entirely accurate.

My job is not compatible with a car free lifestyle. I do IT consulting. I have clients ranging from MD, DE, Southeastern PA, Northern VA, washington DC. There is no way I could get around to where they all are except by car.

That being said, the rest of the time I work from home.

-D

Actually, I just thought about it, and Im pretty sure every person without kids at my work is car-free. And every person with kids has a car. Not a single person at my office drives to work, they all take the train (a very few bike in the summer). I dont think anyone at my office would ever label themselves as car-free, or even as an environmentalist probably, its just part of living in Chicago.

And Im in software, so its not like these guys cant afford one ..

Being into software development is usually pretty good for being car-free for some reason. I run into more programmers who are bike commuters than any other profession. Not sure why. You'd think any desk job would be the same, but I have never met a car-free accountant or business analyst.... at least, not yet.

What jobs have you held both past and present?

During my first attempt at college I worked as a security guard. This was entirely incompatible with a car free lifestyle as I was required to demonstrate that I had a car in order to get the job.

After that I worked as a Truck Driver. This was quite compatible with a car free lifestyle and I was surprised to see how many truck drivers did not have a car. (Left because I got hated being treated like an illiterate and I really despised all of the hassling by the police)

I then worked as a copier repairman for about 9years for two different companies. I will go into more detail in my answer to the next question. (Left because of severe knee pain)

Novel and SCO system administrator followed by being an IT manager for a county Mental Health department. (Left because I was stupid enough to let HR convince me that I needed to finish my BA, and then the industry crashed while I was in school)

I went back to fixing copiers (I left it because the same health problem cropped up)

I worked as a county social worker until I got laid off

I am now teaching English at a college in China (And yes, I am concerned that when I return to America I will still be, basically, unemployable)


Which of those were most compatible with a car-free lifestyle?

I think it is cheating to answer this by naming my current job, teaching English in China.

I will say that the first place I worked on copiers (Ray Morgan Company in Chico, CA) was the most compatible. I was assigned a company car for all of my duties that required me to drive anywhere and I was expected to drive the car home. Thus, several of the technicians, me included, did not even bother owning a car. For personal transportation I used my bicycle.

The second place I worked (IKON in Medford, OR) required me to use my own car for work transportation, a bicycle would not have been possible, and it was common to cover several hundred miles in a day, traveling between job sites. I also had to carry several hundred pounds of parts and tools. However, I still considered myself to be car free as the van was a tool used at work, not a part of my life.

Working as a sys admin and IT manager was also very compatible; however, there were times I had to use my personal car for trips (There were typically trips of 75 to 100 miles and public transportation was not an option as there was no public transportation service between where I worked and the nearest airport, which is where I needed to go)

Has not owning a car ever affected a hiring decision (to your knowledge) or your continued employment?

Working as a guard, it was clearly stated that if I did not have a car I would not be hired and it was a condition of continued employment (interesting that it was also the only minimum wage job on the list)

Where have you "parked" your bike at your various job sites?[/list]

Trucking, next to the company barracks
Copier, at home
IT in the hallway outside my office
Social worker, I walked
Teacher, in the bicycle parking area at the building I teach at (there are no bike racks, I have not seen any bike racks in China)

OMG I actually agree with ILTB?

Yes, the statement by Ziemas



Is not entirely accurate.

My job is not compatible with a car free lifestyle. I do IT consulting. I have clients ranging from MD, DE, Southeastern PA, Northern VA, washington DC. There is no way I could get around to where they all are except by car.

That being said, the rest of the time I work from home.

-D
I assumed that jobs which rely on cars as a necessary part of the working day were not part of the equation as this is the Car Free section of BF.....

I assumed that jobs which rely on cars as a necessary part of the working day were not part of the equation as this is the Car Free section of BF.....
Well, we all have our assumptions: I assume that Dumpster Diving for Food is not part of the Car Free equation either; other apparently do.

Believe it or don't - others make major lifestyle decisions about where to live, choose a mate, raise a family,earn a living, recreate, etc, on considerations/priorities besides maintaining a specific transportation mode.

Believe it or don't - others make major lifestyle decisions about where to live, choose a mate, raise a family,earn a living, recreate, etc, on considerations/priorities besides maintaining a specific transportation mode.
Many people see a carfree lifestyle as a political statement. The unfortunate thing is that most of those folks think that walking or biking to work is also a political statement. They think you are becoming a "green" or something if you do.

I think this is the way many of my work colleagues view me.

Consequently, they wouldn't use a bike a transportation because it doesn't fit their lifestyle or politics. Which is a real pity!

A side effect of all this is that sometimes I begin to feel like a "green" -- or at least something outside the norm. That's also too bad.. I'm really the same as everyone else, just that I like to ride a bicycle and I do have some concerns about the state of the planet...

But, come on, ILTB, you've got to admit that dumpster diving is the real fun :)

Well, we all have our assumptions: I assume that Dumpster Diving for Food is not part of the Car Free equation either; other apparently do.

Believe it or don't - others make major lifestyle decisions about where to live, choose a mate, raise a family,earn a living, recreate, etc, on considerations/priorities besides maintaining a specific transportation mode.
DUH! :rolleyes:

You have immense talent for overstating the obvious and making pointless points.

Have you considered that since this is a Carfree forum, "maintaining a specific transportation" is a priority for most people here? Actually, that's kinda the whole point of this subforum - believe it or don't.