Sampling of Stories from Undriver Surveys
New Patterns established as a result of Undriving program:
• The biggest thing is being much more willing to bike in the rain – got good rain gear and got over the idea that it was too uncomfortable.
• I am now busing to work everyday. We leave our car parked for five days a week. It’s fun on days when I have activities after work to bus to them, and then listen to everyone complaining about traffic and parking.
• Being able to access Internet on bus to Eastside helped form a time-saving pattern.
• Taking the bus is more relaxing and easier than I expected.
• When my husband and I both walk to the store we can actually carry quite a bit in our backpacks. And we get to walk the dog at the same time!
• It’s nice having my car become more of a stranger. I only drove when I had a passenger. Motorcycling is like skiing during an errand, which means I don’t need to drive for recreation – I incorporated it into my day.
• No more driving my daughter to school – it’s only 1/3 of a mile!)
• Biggest benefit is more time with my kid. Living the example I’d like her to see.
• Felt like we were given permission to raise the issue with others.
• I like to encourage others to re-think their car-loving ways. You really can run errands, go to work, get around town much better (quicker, happier, healthier) on a bike than in a dinosaur machine (fossil-fuel guzzling car).
• My five-year-old wears his Undriver License on his backpack everywhere he goes. He likes to tell people he’s reducing global warming!
• Before I received my Undriver’s license, my children and I often walked to the store, the park, the beach and nearby restaurants. I didn’t make the time, however, to walk the kids to their preschool classes. It seemed like it was too far, or we just ran out of time. I decided to take the pledge and I adjusted our schedule to allow time to get to and from classes. We love it! A 5 minute driving trip (one way) turned into a 30 minute walk (one way)–but the benefits are tremendous. Less time in the car, buckling into and out of car seats. We use less gas and enjoy the benefits of exercise. We take time to stop and smell the flowers, marveling at the gardens in the neighborhood. The girls are learning to identify many species of plants, as well as birds.
No commentsTowards Carfree Cities Conference in Portland
For the first time, the annual “Towards Carfree Cities” international conference is being held in the US - in Portland, June 16-20. Check out the stellar lineup of speakers, programs, and experiences on wheels. Many presentations will be webcast!
Here’s a great article on the conference in the Portland Tribune:
Summit Drives Home Reasons to Curb Cars
We’ll be there with the Undriver Licensing Station and will also present on a panel on June 18, on Encouraging Sustainable Transportation Behavior.
No commentsWake Up, America. We’re Driving Toward Disaster.
In case we aren’t convinced, James Kunstler’s piece in the Washington Post paints a compelling picture of why Undriving matters.
Wake Up, America. We’re Driving Toward Disaster
No commentsUNDRIVING - we and the Earth are worth it
We got this message from an enthusiastic Undriver who got licensed at Sustainable West Seattle’s Festival:
Hey all,
I’m writing to report what a success Undriving has been for me! It is so helpful to have made the pledge to walk all places possible in my West Seattle neighborhood. Each day, I consider where I can walk instead of drive, and push myself to walk just a little further.
This recent gorgeous Saturday, I found myself walking to my Yoga class at the gym (about an hour there and back). It felt so good in so many ways and complimented my workout beautifully. I LOVE UNDRIVING!
I’ve even extended undriving into other neighborhoods. For instance, while visiting my Family in Ballard a couple of weeks ago, I got the whole fam (me, Mom and Bro) to walk for groceries and produce instead of drive as we always Have. It’s 8 blocks at most! Wow…the places we drive!
My 11 year old brother enjoyed being our strong helper carrying our goods back to the house. My Mom and I enjoyed the time and talk as a family.
Thanks for the motivation and the foundation on which to build new and healthy habits for me and this awesome planet.
I hope everyone else is getting as much out of Undriving!
Good luck, and keep up the good work. We and the Earth are worth it!
Sincerely,
Amelia
Article on METRO mini-vacations
With gas prices so high, there’s a rush of interest in getting around without a car. Here’s an article from the Seattle Times on getting out and adventuring on King County METRO: http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/outdoors/2004429781_nwwtransittour220.html
No commentsGet to the mountains by bus!
Here’s a great article in the Seattle P-I on using public transportation to get to hiking destinations and more. Undriving to go hiking IS possible! See you on the bus….
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/366558_bustravel11.html
No commentsAir Cars
At the launch of EcoApril Alignment Month last week at City Hall, we met Callum, a 14-year-old Undriving enthusiast and student at Einstein Middle School. He told us about Air Cars, and sent us the following info to peruse:
Hey this is Callum!
Turns out there’s been a whole bunch of developments on the air powered car since the last time I checked. Now there are two inventors, one who made the first air powered engine, and a new guy who made a powerful air powered engine, that weighs five pounds, and is slightly bigger than your hand!
Here are some links that I found:
• Beyond Tomorrow video
• the Air Car
• Popular Mechanics article
And My dad said that there is a new Photosynthesizing Car, I couldn’t find a link on the actual car, but i found a link on making energy that way:
And another on hydrogen cars:
Thanks a lot, hope this helps,
Callum
New discovery: busing at night
Margaret Kitchell got her Undriver License at Focus the Nation at the UW on January 31. She participated in our follow-up survey, and was chosen at random to receive our prize, a $100 gift certificate to Enlighten!
Margaret reported that she established a new pattern from her Undriving pledge:
“I already walk and use the bus a lot. However, I was in the habit of driving at night, thinking it would save me time. Because of the program I had additional reasons to take the bus at night, and found the buses were frequent and convenient, and I could use the time on the bus to prepare for the meeting, or visit afterwards, so my time was used better.” -Margaret Kitchell
“My feet and the bus are my best friends!”
An Undriver licensed at the Sustainable Ballard Festival last October sent us this report - thanks, Scott!
“I really never drive any more, my feet and the bus are my best friends! At this point I am trying to encourage my friends who have cars to make walks when they are doable. -Scott Davis
P.S. thanks for the undriving license”
No commentsA Licensed Undriver given license to try again
This just in from Angela, an Undriving team member who helped with the Undriver Licensing Station at Focus the Nation:I was on the 44 this morning and a man I noticed came up to me and said: “so, if I did not fulfill my pledge, do I need to give my undrivers license back?” I said:“no, that is not necessary” (with a smile) I just told him, “things happen and come up in life and he can just try again this month” He is one of those people I see on the bus all the time, and he is at all the “events.” We proceed to have a spotty conversation and then it was off to work … :-)
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