I’m a GenXer well into my second decade as a career planner. I’ve preached over the years about carpooling, taking transit, bicycling, and walking. All of these travel modes lessen congestion impacts, make cities more vibrant, and improve health. I believe that. No need to go into all of the stats, articles, blogs, and research that repeat driving alone in a car is not our only future here in America. More people want more choices in how they get around.

I’ve challenged myself to become more multimodal by logging all of my transportation trips—walking, biking, driving, and taking the bus. Similar to someone trying to lose weight by logging their meals, it’s holding me accountable. I started this in June, and for the most part, I’ve driven my car and biked here and there to get to work over the years; however, I’m surprised that logging my trips makes me choose more ways to get around. This will be a place for me to discuss my trips into more multimodalism.

I want to figure out what works for me in getting around Nashville and what I like. My suburban childhood taught me to drive everywhere. I was dropped off at school, got my learner’s permit at 15, and drove around Hendersonville when I had nothing better to do. There were no sidewalks, no transit, and the only people that biked were kids in the middle of the street. It’s freeing to leave the car in the driveway some mornings to bike or to take the bus. Biking helps me clear my head, and I feel productive arriving at work having biked 5.5 miles. I manage to get there earlier, too. The bus lets me check Facebook, catch up on NPR, and hear fascinating conversations like someone’s black cat with a flat head causing sinus problems. I have a black cat, too, so it peaked my interest. I’m also realistic that for now, I need a car. I don’t think cars are evil, but they have dominated cities and shaped our lives for a century now. The car gives us independence, but it burdens us with gas fill-ups and monthly insurance premiums. Options! My foray into logging my trips is opening my eyes to options. It’s freeing.

It’s about options!

So here are my stats below by absolute number of trips and miles and percentage of trips and miles by mode. My June trips were challenged by two things. I had a horrible sinus infection the second week in the month, and I house/dog-sat my brother’s place which is about 15 miles north of here for a week. I’ll talk more about what’s behind these numbers with further posts and provide a perspective from Nashville on transportation issues. Thank you for joining me on this journey.