I decided to chronicle my family’s journey—literal and metaphorical—of trying to survive with one car. But after one day of mass transit and bike, I’m not sure there will be much of a journey before I cave and buy a new car. Maybe it can be my journey to be less car dependent or something like that, something much less grandiose or important. I can imagine if I wrote one of those books about how I did something for a month or a year (do these kinds of books/documentaries make up a particular genre?), mine would be entitled “How a family of five kinda sort of went without two cars for awhile.” I’ll never quite reach the status of my one-car heroes with one kid, Dr. Write and Middlebrow, and my no-car hero, Signifying Nothing.
After my Kia Rio engine was internally destroyed and the red carcass was sold for junk, I immediately started to resent having to buy a new car. Certainly not something in our budget or plans. My mind tried to find a way out (read I started to obsess). Kids adjusted ok: youngest son thought it an adventure to ride his bike to his friends house a mile away; daughter was less convinced, as she called after a party,
"Are you coming to get me?" (long pause)
"No, that's why we had you ride your bike"
"Oh, ok."
And oldest son has been biking to drum lessons already. Still, not sure how we'd negotiate soccer/dance Saturday with multiple games and dance practices at a variety of locals, sometimes at the same time. But first things first: how the hell do I get to work?
Yesterday I left home at 8:15 am on my road bike and rode two miles to the new Frontrunner station—a mere 6 minute ride at 20mph. I boarded where there was a bike symbol, but a bike was already in the designated spot so I just leaned it against my seat which worked out fine. Looking the seasoned pro, I put on some classical music to block out the talk from the couple across from me and started to read the Tortilla Curtain by T.C. Boyle—how often do I get to put 30 minutes into a book for fun during the morning of a work day? Never.
Frontrunner ride was smooth, fast, and air-conditioned. Next, transition central station at 6th west and 250 south. From here I biked down 6th west and then turned at 8th south, which has a great bike lane, the plan being to head west to Redwood road. But I was tempted by the Jordan Parkway, so I traveled its circuitous route from 8th south to 33rd south—a nice detour even if it add a couple of miles and a few hills. At Redwood campus by 9:50 am, bike computer read 11.5 miles and about 35 minutes.
Only major unexpected, as I took off my son’s back pack, a completely and utterly sopping wet back. Luckily I’d brought my cycling shirt (thinking I might cycle all the way home in the evening which I ultimately decided against) which I changed into so I could dry out my shirt. Shirt never completely dried, but hey it didn’t stink.
After a day of teaching in my casual wear, including cycling socks with skulls on them, I left Redwood at 6:55 in order to catch the 7:25pm train. I knew this would be cutting it a bit close but I also knew Redwood slanted somewhat downhill to the north; unfortunately, I had moderate headwind most of the way. Not wanting to wait for the 8:25 train, I put the foot to the pedal, rarely letting my speed dip below 20mph and cranking up to 27mph on several occasions. All was going well until I hit the last train crossing on a 8th south, just blocks away from the station: I should have made a run for it as the UP train was going slow as molasses but I decided to be safe and wait. I made Frontrunner with a minute or so to spare.
Exerting such effort was quite invigorating but also made me sweat: after having situated myself, I peered to my left and scanned behind me, then made a mad rush to take off my damp cycling shirt and put on my now finally dry regular shirt. Maybe there’s a bathroom where I could have changed; certainly the woman to my left, exposed to my brilliant white hairless concave chest, was wishing I’d scouted one out.
Journey #1 done. Tomorrow, Journey #2 with a couple of twists: I will take my mountain bike, which is much slower on the roads so I will make a transfer to Trax even though it will take me almost as long to get from the Frontrunner station to the Trax Fireclay station at 47th South as it will take me to get from Layton to SLC. But then it’s only a 3, instead of 8, mile ride to Redwood campus—must save the legs as I’m going to mountain bike the Bobsled trail with a friend that evening. Now if I can figure out how to fit everything I need into my small mountain bike pack so that I can pop out just before City Creek at the end of our ride and, without returning to my friend’s house, descend to the Frontrunner station for my ride home. Good thing it’s the last day of classes so no need for silly fat books I make students buy and since student turn in work electronically no big bag of papers.
I’m never going to make it without a car; maybe, though, I can learn something and do the train 2-3 times a week while the weather is good. I even considered buying a junker car and parking it at the SLC Frontrunner station so I could drive it from there to Redwood each day and then drive it home on Friday. But I assume it would get ticketed or maybe even stolen.
Soooooooo desperately not wanting to buy a car.
5 comments:
Count yourself fortunate that you even have the option to use a bike or mass transit to get to work.
Around these parts, you are likely to get shot, stabbed, or otherwise semi-assaulted on a train or bus. Of course, we only have one train, which serves as not much more than a shuttle for ghetto folks to go back and forth to the suburban malls.
I have a 40 mile commute one-way to work. On school days, I drive 120 miles and spend 3 hours total in the car.
I am very thankful that Darci's little 4-cylinder Civic gets 35 miles to the gallon.
I don't count myself too virtuous since my commute to the South campus is an 18 minute walk (or 5 minute bus ride) and my commute to Redwood is a 35-45 bus/trax ride, and I'm dropped off right on campus.
Still, I'm rooting for you! And I love the idea of a book about a family of five living with one car. At least an article in Real Simple or Mother Earth News.
I too am rooting for you. Maybe you could get a Prius? Used? Or a Honda Fit?
In any case, you are more virtuous because you biked.
The key to biking is showering at school and leaving outfits in your office. Trust me. I know.
Wow. I'm so very impressed. I'd read a whole book about the adventures of all the transportation of the intermountain west. The Frontrunner is ingenious. Was it crowded? do people use it wisely? My mom took her grandkids on the Trax, then the bus to the Frontrunner and then did it all the way back. Just for fun. Good luck!
I am so impressed and also proud to know you. I think Dr. Write probably gives you the best advice, from what I remember back in the day (way, way back) when I rode my bike to school sometimes.
I'm cheering you on, no matter what you decide, because I remember the days of only one car, lots of kids, soccer games . . . and it required split-second timing and a spread sheet, not to mention a sense of humor, which I admit sometimes was more than I could muster.
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