Clean Air Commuter Champion
12-03-13 | 04:54 PM
#1
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 15,278
Likes: 342
From: Alpharetta, GA
Bikes: Nashbar Road
Clean Air Commuter Champion
I just found out that I've been anointed a Commuter Champion by the Clean Air Campaign, for keeping 25,000 pounds of pollution out of the air. Yay me. BUT - and this is one reason why I'm writing about it (other than bragging of course) - I had to inquire why the award when my records only showed 14,000 pounds removed?? I'd actually been figuring that it would take another five years or so, and thus eventually be quite an achievement. They told me that they scaled it to the commute, so that people aren't penalized for choosing a shorter commute, as I did this year. It sort of makes sense, but sort of more feels phony. I guess if you work from home you'd be a commuting champion in a year.
Anyway, I appreciate the champion coffee mug. The CAC does a great job, but don't be too impressed by the Champion numbers you sometimes see ...
Anyway, I appreciate the champion coffee mug. The CAC does a great job, but don't be too impressed by the Champion numbers you sometimes see ...
12-03-13 | 05:11 PM
#3
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 22,676
Likes: 2,642
From: CID
Bikes: 1991 Bianchi Eros, 1964 Armstrong, 1988 Diamondback Ascent, 1988 Bianchi Premio, 1987 Bianchi Sport SX, 1980s Raleigh mixte (hers), All-City Space Horse (hers)
12-03-13 | 07:23 PM
#4
Not quite there yet
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 999
Likes: 2
From: Monkey Bottom, NC
Bikes: A bunch of old steel bikes + an ICE trike
Congrats. Enjoy the attention.
My employer has a lot of similar team-based sustainability promotions, but I have always been a bit skeptical about the way they tally things up. I do find that coworkers seem to like me on their teams. The fact is that I commute by bike for two reasons: 1. I enjoy it very much. and 2. I am too cheap to pay for a parking pass for a motor vehicle. My employer does offer bike commuters a limited number of free parking passes (which I rarely use). The odd thing about it though is that for before I commuted by bike, I walked to work; however they would not offer me free parking passes as a foot commuter.
My employer has a lot of similar team-based sustainability promotions, but I have always been a bit skeptical about the way they tally things up. I do find that coworkers seem to like me on their teams. The fact is that I commute by bike for two reasons: 1. I enjoy it very much. and 2. I am too cheap to pay for a parking pass for a motor vehicle. My employer does offer bike commuters a limited number of free parking passes (which I rarely use). The odd thing about it though is that for before I commuted by bike, I walked to work; however they would not offer me free parking passes as a foot commuter.
12-04-13 | 01:52 PM
#7
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 1,965
Likes: 6
From: Falls City, OR
Bikes: 2012 Salsa Fargo 2, Rocky Mountain Fusion, circa '93
I participated in the local Driveless challenge, and they gave you credit for telecommuting, which I did one day during that period. That's a hundred miles I didn't drive.
12-08-13 | 03:13 PM
#10
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 15,278
Likes: 342
From: Alpharetta, GA
Bikes: Nashbar Road
I had one of those commutes as a young man, 48 miles each way. I lasted about a month before renting an apartment near work, about $200/month it was cheaper and a young single could move instantly in one carload. Those were the days ... moving 3 miles this year was a nightmare and rent is ridiculous in comparison.
