Once the clocks changed last month, I suddenly realized that it was going to be time to go back to Two Wheels, Not Four on my daily commute. Biking is my method of choice for getting to and from work every day, as long as the weather cooperates for me; and for a city as hilly as Pittsburgh, there are a heck of a lot of us out there with our helmets on and the breeze in our faces. Bike Pittsburgh and Free Ride are just two advocacy organizations that can help you get on this carbon-footprint-free, healthy, economical bandwagon, by offering safe riding tips, a DIY repair shop with expert help, and low-cost bikes.
Of course, another alternative to car commuting is walking. Did you know that Pittsburgh was ranked among the top 10 most walkable cities in the U.S.? In my mind, that fact combines perfectly with our status in the top 10 most literate cities — walk and read at the same time!! Use one of our eAudio services, or if you don’t have an mp3 player, borrow a playaway! Gone are the days of an extra pound of equipment and multiple CDs per book, although if you really are stuck with the car commute, we have plenty of those, as well. (It doesn’t particularly relate to commuting, but you can calculate your neighborhood’s walkability at walkscore.com.)
One more obvious choice in car-free commuting is public transportation, again with the distinct advantage of being able to get in some quality reading time. But there are other options as well, which you can learn about at commuteinfo.org, a website for commuters and employers by the Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission.
So whether you cycle, hoof it, bus, carpool, or drive, just remember to watch out for each other and be safe!
-Kaarin
Eleventh Stack 