Seventh Week Statistics

Dates: August 8 - 14

Here are the statistics for the week:

• Gas in Olympia, WA this week: $4.08 per gallon
• Total distance for each mode of car-free transportation
• Walking: 14.99 miles
• Bicycle: 30.80 miles
• Bus: 151.81 miles

• Total car-free miles: 197.6
• Gallons of gas saved: 7.9
• Gas expense saved: 32.25
• Total transit fares: $14.50
• Total miles driven: 0 miles
• Gallons of gas used: 0
• Cost of gas used: $0.00

Back to a week without using the car! This week also included a trip to Seattle by bus for Maurie.
Mark

Let's go Hiking!

Being avid outdoors people, a challenge that Maurie and I have found with this project is how to get out and go hiking without taking our car.

We found that we can get from Olympia to Lake Quinault or up to Pt. Angeles by bus. We can hike right out of Quinault, but from Pt. Angeles there's still the issue of how to get to the trailheads in the National Park.

To my joy, we've found some information to help with going hiking via public transit.

Hiking shuttle to Snoqualmie Pass

Hiking the Wonderland without a car This article not only has information on getting to Mt. Rainier National Park by transit, but also has some good information about some special deals Zipcar has for Washington Trails Association members, and a link to a site dedicated to hiking by bus.

Sixth Week Statistics

Dates: August 1-7

Here are the statistics for the week:

• Gas in Olympia, WA this week: $4.18 per gallon
• Total distance for each mode of car-free transportation
• Walking: 6.51
• Bicycle: 21.86
  
• Bus: 2.4

• Total car-free miles: 30.27
• Gallons of gas saved: 1.21
• Gas expense saved: $5.06
• Total transit fares: $0.00
• Total miles driven: 0
• Gallons of gas used: 0
• Cost of gas used: $0.00

Mark

A step backward for understanding between cyclists and motorists

On July 25^th, Maurie and I witnessed Critical Mass ride down 1^st Ave in Seattle. As we watched, we talked a bit about the rides and how our opinion about them has changed a bit. We used to see them as trying to anger people, but after seeing this group rolling at a decent rate, with riders “corking” intersections to allow the rest of the group to pass safely, I had different feelings about the group. Maybe it was the lack of overtly angry motorists we saw waiting for the riders to pass.

Then I saw this article in the Seattle Times on Tuesday, July 29.

Now, I don’t know all the details about this incident, and it saddens me to see it happen. For several years I’ve commuted by bicycle. I have tried to follow all the rules of the road and be a good representative of the cycling community. Nonetheless, I’ve heard all manner of negative comments about cyclists. Those who know I ride would often add, as an afterthought, something along the lines of “but I know you’re not like that.”

Sadly, when I ride around town and see some other riders, I feel like I’m in the minority. I see so many cyclists who don’t bother to follow traffic laws; riding through stop lights and signs; weaving between cars and riding against traffic. I know that many cyclists around Olympia do follow traffic laws and try to help improve our reputation, but I don’t seem to remember them as easily. I’m afraid that many motorists feel the same way.

I want to encourage those who cycle to pay attention to the rules of the road, no matter where or when you ride. The moment our bicycle tires hit the road, we become traffic and are subject to those rules as well. Show drivers the courtesy we ask of them and try to help them remember the responsible cyclists more than the scofflaws who happen to ride bikes. Remember, a smile and wave goes a long ways to helping ease tensions.

Some Bicycle Commuting Resources

Cascade Bicycle Club Commuter Resources

League of American Bicyclists Tips for Commuters

Bicycle Alliance of Washington Transportation and Commuting

Bicycle Commute Guide

Mark

First Month (plus) Statistics

Dates: June 27 – July 31

Well, it’s been just over a month on this project, and time to look back at how we’ve done. Here are the numbers for the first month (plus):

• Average cost of gas in Olympia: $4.39 per gallon
• Total distance for each mode of car-free transportation
• Walking: 60.23 miles
• Bicycle: 106.39 miles
• Bus: 234 miles

• Total car-free miles: 400.62
• Gallons of gas saved: 16.02
• Gas expense saved: $70.02
• Total transit fares: $36.50
• Total miles driven: 146
• Gallons of gas used: 5.84
• Cost of gas used: $25.74

The total car-free miles really blew me away when I looked at the monthly total. Like everything, you don’t really realize how the “little things” do add up. Our total transportation expense for the month was actually cut by more than half, but what’s truly exciting is that our gas expense was to about one sixth of what we normally budget and spend on it!

Mark

Fifth Week Statistics

Dates:July 25 – July 31

Here are the statistics for the week:

• Gas in Olympia, WA this week: $4.30 per gallon
• Total distance for each mode of car-free transportation
• Walking: 8.42
• Bicycle: 16.9
• Bus: 144.7

• Total car-free miles: 170.9
• Gallons of gas saved: 6.8
• Gas expense saved: $29.26
• Total transit fares: $22.00
• Total miles driven: 26
• Gallons of gas used: 1.04
• Cost of gas used: $4.47

This was a big week. On the 25^th, we took a day trip to Seattle, all by bus and foot. We also decided to join South Sound Area Kayakers for a paddle up McAllister creek, resulting in a 26-Mile round trip drive to the launch site.

Mark