Taking the Bus

Although I lead a low-carbon life, I am taking even more steps to lessen my carbon footprint.

For decades, I have shopped at thrift stores and yard sales. In addition to adding funkiness and uniqueness to my possessions, this saves a whole lot of energy and resources. The items have already been manufactured, so no additional energy or natural resources are expended to furnish me with a a blouse or a pot or a book. Then the transportation costs are greatly diminished. Instead of something being transported all the way from China, the only transportation is the few miles the original owner drove to the thrift store to make the donation and I drove to make the purchase.

And since 1985, I have not commuted to work. Except for two classes that I taught at Cal State Fullerton and a few short-term ad-agency gigs in Orange County, I have lived in the same city in which I work. And much of the time I work from home, conducting business by phone and by email.

Now I want to go a step further. This semester I plan to take the city bus or bicycle to my Tuesday-Thursday classes at Cal State. I made a trial run this morning. The bus picked me up a few steps from my apartment building and dropped me off about two football fields away from the department office. This is much closer than I can usually park. Also I just have to show my Cal State ID card and my passage is free through the end of September. After that, it's less than $2 round trip.

My friend Bob is letting me borrow his second bicycle, but it is a real chore. I have ridden it a few times and it is like pedaling through molasses. I asked my son to give it a whirl, and this healthy, strong 22-year-old said he had the same impression. Perhaps I will give the bike back to Bob and spend the money necessary to purchase a good bike. But for now, I am satisfied with the bus.