LETTER FROM NOLA ~ SUMMER 2008

CAR-LESS IN PORTLAND, PART 2

No car, more money
Eight years ago I began a five year stint without a car.  (I guess I was a little ahead of my time!)  Three years ago I bought a car (to get through the winters), and at that time made a personal commitment to drive 5,000 miles a year or less, and to especially avoid using the car for short in town trips (which sadly make up 95% of all vehicle use in the U.S.).

Less driving, more money
After 3 years, my car now has 16,000 miles on it, so I kept pretty close to my commitment.  Plus, I am now so “driving averse” that I literally think of every other option possible before I click open my door lock on the Subaru.

Until you have done it, you don’t think it’s even possible.  But, I now feel freer and more confident about getting where I need to go, whether I have a car with me or not.  This is because I keep bicycles at both my home and office, I keep bike gear in both locations, I use public transportation and have done it enough to know its strengths and weaknesses, and I am not afraid to hitch a ride with business colleagues or clients after meetings.  In fact, not having a car to drive has made me more relaxed, more connected with others, more fit, and more in touch with the physical world (which really helps when you sit at a desk all day!).

Tax breaks, more money
From a tax perspective, there are a number of incentives for employers and business when it comes to encouraging alternative forms of transportation.  Employers can provide, tax free to their employees, qualified transportation benefits which include bus passes, car pooling, and/or parking passes.  Oregon, through its Business Energy Tax Credit program, offers tax credits for alternative commuting options such as providing bus passes,  bicycles, bike storage, and related equipment provided to employees.  Tri-Met, through Oregon’s DEQ, allows certain employers to apply for lower cost bus passes for employees by showing the reduction in commuting anticipated by the employer’s work force.

If you have to drive you can purchase a hybrid and qualify for both federal and Oregon credits (check first to be sure your vehicle qualifies), or you can convert your diesel vehicle to biodiesel, and get tax credits based on the amount of fuel you consume.  This helps offset the higher cost of biodiesel.

More money, more happy
So, what’s my favorite mode of transportation?  It all depends:  for fast commuting through gnarly traffic, there’s nothing better than a nimble road bike; for grocery getting and relaxed weekends – a charming old 3 speed bicycle cannot be beat; for attending crowded events downtown – get on the bus; and for more complex trips with greater distances, a bus/bike combination, or hitching a ride with a colleague is perfect. Get out of your car and give it a try!

More pompous, more happy?