Real stories. Real people. Don't just take it from us. Here are some real people who have decided to be sustainable; taking the bus, carpooling, vanpooling, biking or walking instead of driving alone. Not only are they saving money (some of them lots of money), but they're making the air we all breathe cleaner. Give it a try. If they can do it - you can too. Scared to do it alone? Contact us and we'll match you up with someone to commute with, or at least give you the info you need to feel confident outside your car. Thank you Michelle, Peggy, Angela, Andrew, Mark and Louise for sharing your stories!		Don't forget to download and print posters & flyers for your office!
Michelle Walks -- download poster   (Get your I Walk button today!)		Workplace: REC Solar Mode: Walk Approximate Commute Cost Savings: $1,056 per year CO2 Emissions Reduced: 1,559 pounds per year Interview with Michelle: Rideshare (R): How far do you travel to work? Michelle (M): 3.1 miles R: Why do you choose to walk? M: I just like to walk. Also parking is limited at work and our company really encourages the use of alternative transportation. Walking is my exercise and therapy. It motivates me for the day and I feel energized when I get to work. R: How long have you been walking? M: I have always been a walker. I made sure to live downtown just so I could walk everywhere that I needed to go. I started this job in November and have been doing this walk ever since. R: Do you have any memorable moments or funny stories that have occurred while walking? M: I am “in the zone” when I walk and often times people will see me and wave and I wont see them. I’m in my own world. M: I was able to complete an adventure race without any training and I owe this accomplishment to walking. It gets me in shape without even knowing it because to me it’s just my mode of transportation..
Peggy Bikes --download poster   (Get your I Bike button today!)		Workplace: City of San Luis Obispo Mode: Bike Approximate Commute Cost Savings: $682 per year CO2 Emissions Reduced:  2,011.89 pounds per year Interview with Peggy: Rideshare (R): How far do you travel to work? Peggy (P): About two miles each way.  I am fortunate in that my commute takes me on both the Railroad Safety Trail and the Bill Roalman bicycle boulevard.  It is the perfect commute. R: Why do you choose to bike? P: I have several reasons: 1. It is a lot less stressful than driving my car down Johnson Avenue at the same time as the San Luis Obispo High School commute traffic. 2. It takes only a few minutes longer to ride my bike. 3. It is good for the environment and I am setting a good example. 4. I get a little exercise during my commute and feel energized once I get to work. 5. I save money on gas, maintenance, and insurance on my car. 6. Because the City of San Luis Obispo is a member of the Lucky Bucks program, I earn points for not driving alone to work that can be redeemed for gift certificates at local businesses such as Trader Joe’s. R: How long have you been riding your bike to work? P: I switched to bicycling as my main mode of transportation to work in San Luis Obispo in 2002 when the City Hall parking lot was closed for construction.  During construction, I tried out the other modes of transportation (walking, biking and taking the bus) and found that riding my bike was a really easy thing to do. R: Do you have any memorable moments or funny stories that have occurred while riding your bike? P: While working for the City of San Diego, I had an early morning meeting with a Councilman who told me he saw “quite a sight” on his way to work that morning.  He saw this woman with her skirt hiked up riding her bike to work.  I didn’t have the nerve to tell him, but that woman was me. P: I ride my bike to a lot of meetings in and around downtown San Luis Obispo.  At first people are surprised to see me ride my bike, but once I explain that I can get to my destination quicker because I don’t have to seek out parking, my commute choice suddenly makes sense.
Angela & Andrew Carpool -- download poster   (Get your I Carpool button today!)		Workplace: San Luis Obispo County Library Mode: Carpool Approximate Commute Cost Savings: $3,067 per year CO2 Emissions Reduced:  2,263 pounds per year Interview with Angela and Andrew: Rideshare (R): How far do you travel to work? Angela and Andrew (AA): 9 miles each way R: Why do you choose to carpool? AA: It’s cheaper! It saves wear and tear on the car- going up and down the grade everyday can be very hard on the car. It’s one way of doing my part to keep fuel and pollution consumption down. R: How long have you been carpooling? AA: 2 years R: What is one word that would describe your experience carpooling? AA: Convenient  AA:  I think some people do not want to car pool as they feel that they will loose their autonomy and that it will be inconvenient if they need to go home early or have an appointment after work. However, this has never really been a problem for me as my ride-share partner and I plan ahead. On the rare occasion that Andrew had to leave early it was easy to find an alternative means of transport as four other people live in the general direction of my home.
Mark Vanpools --download poster   (Get your I Vanpool button today!)		Workplace: Caltrans District 5, San Luis Obispo Mode: Bike/Vanpool Approximate Commute Cost Savings: $15,336 per year CO2 Emissions Reduced:  18,108 pounds per year Interview with Mark: Rideshare (R): How far do you travel to work?  Mark (M): About 45 miles one way. R: Why do you choose to vanpool? M: Cost savings, mostly.  Not only do we save fuel, maintenance and depreciation costs, on our personal vehicles, most insurance companies cut the cost of your premiums, if you report that you are vanpooling to work. R: How long have you been vanpooling?  M: I have been vanpooling off and on since 1999.  This particular vanpool has been running since 2006. R: Do you have any memorable moments or funny stories that have occurred while riding vanpooling?  M: The most memorable moment we have had on our vanpool has got to be the story about how we had this couple who met each other on our vanpool, fell in love and got married to each other.  Now we call our vanpool, “The Love Van.”  They are a great couple, and would never have met if it wasn’t for the vanpool. R: Funny stories?  M: Too many to mention.  The best thing about our vanpool is the humor.  There is no shortage of laughter on our vanpool.  One liners, puns, and humorous situations are flying all over in our van.  It is an excellent way to start the day and release the workday frustrations. R: What is one word that would describe your experience vanpooling?  M: Entertaining. M: Ride-On has been a great organization to work with.  They take care of all the maintenance, and even give us a replacement van if extensive work needs to be taken care of.  Ride-On also supplies fuel and van washes.  They even allowed us to install a bike rack on the van for multimodal commuters, allowing some of us to ride our bike to a vanpool meeting place, or using our bikes for lunch, errands and meetings.
Louise takes the Bus -- download the poster   (Get your I Bus button today!)		Workplace: County Assessor's Office, San Luis Obispo Mode: Bus Approximate Commute Cost Savings: $11,928 per year CO2 Emissions Reduced:  17,604.02 pounds per year Interview with Louise: Rideshare (R): How far do you travel to work? Louise (L): 35 miles R: Why do you choose to take the bus? L: 1. It gives me time to read –  I’m amazed at how many library books I’ve read since I started riding the bus. 2. It gives me time to knit and crochet. 3. I’ve made friends with fellow commuters – some are neighbors I wouldn’t have met otherwise. 4. I don’t have to fight traffic or fog. 5. I don’t have to look for parking. 6. I get to see the ocean every day. 7. Lucky Bucks – I have new Tevas paid for with Lucky Bucks. 8. I save $90 a month in gas alone. 9. I don’t put wear and tear on my cute little car that I love. 10. It’s an easy way to reduce my carbon footprint. R: How long have you been taking the bus?  L: 5 years R: Do you have any memorable moments or funny stories that have occurred while riding the bus? L: A group of us on route 10 sit together and crochet baby blankets for the adoption court.  A hand made blanket is given to the family at the adoption ceremony.  When we compare our work and talk about crocheting, the high school and college students roll their eyes.  After watching for awhile, a couple have asked us to teach them. L: It took time to get used to the extra time and the change in my routine that bus riding required. I had to put some effort into it.  Now I much prefer the convenience and stress free commute provided by the bus.