So how have I been doing this year....
Yearly totals through July...
Car Miles Saved: 1,670.60
Gallons of Gas Saved: 49.76
Gas Money Saved: $176.71
Bike Commute Round Trips: 50
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Breakin' the Law...
I've been using a bicycle for at least part of my commute for over a year now. During that time I've seen all sorts of things from my fellow commuters. Here are some of my favorites.
"I don't stop at red lights." A quote from fellow bike commuter after I showed him a short cut through Annapolis traffic and stopped at a red light at the end of the short cut. Of course he kept going. There are bicyclists that stop at red lights and those that don't.
The pedestrian who was attempting to cross mainstreet behind the stopped cars I was coming up to, who decided to stop and retreat back to sidewalk when he saw me coming. I was actually stopping at my place in line. Confused him so much he didn't know what to do. "I thought you were going to blow by on the right."
The car that decided to take a right at a stop light this morning. By going around the car that was already stopped in the lane he was in. So the car crossed the double yellow lines after I started to turn left into the lane, following a green left turn arrow. Being in a car with headlights on did not make me more visible.
The bicylist that I passed on the trail that I saw later going the wrong way on the road and also going through a red light.
The cars that refuse to stop for me on the crosswalks when the trail intersects a road.
"I don't stop at red lights." A quote from fellow bike commuter after I showed him a short cut through Annapolis traffic and stopped at a red light at the end of the short cut. Of course he kept going. There are bicyclists that stop at red lights and those that don't.
The pedestrian who was attempting to cross mainstreet behind the stopped cars I was coming up to, who decided to stop and retreat back to sidewalk when he saw me coming. I was actually stopping at my place in line. Confused him so much he didn't know what to do. "I thought you were going to blow by on the right."
The car that decided to take a right at a stop light this morning. By going around the car that was already stopped in the lane he was in. So the car crossed the double yellow lines after I started to turn left into the lane, following a green left turn arrow. Being in a car with headlights on did not make me more visible.
The bicylist that I passed on the trail that I saw later going the wrong way on the road and also going through a red light.
The cars that refuse to stop for me on the crosswalks when the trail intersects a road.
Monday, July 28, 2008
Googling and heartrate monitor
I figured out how to maintain my current stats on the blog using a widget on my google spreadsheets. So less work to maintain my summary.
I also have been compiling my heart rate data. I think maybe I need to back off a bit some days. My average heart rate on the trips in and home is between 85% and 90% of max on the last two segments of each trip.
I also have been compiling my heart rate data. I think maybe I need to back off a bit some days. My average heart rate on the trips in and home is between 85% and 90% of max on the last two segments of each trip.
Monday, July 21, 2008
Win a free Trek...
Just in case you happen to be looking for a new commuter bike, check out the Go By Bike Challenge. I've embedded their widget in the side bar.
Thursday, July 10, 2008
Squeaky Chains...
I finally took the time to clean and lube the squeaky chain. It needed it.
There are more cyclists on the B & A Trail now. Some are friendly, some not so much. I really appreciate the pairs that decide to ride on both sides of the trail so you can't pass them easily and when you annouce passing left, they get all confused. Oh well. At least they are out there pedaling.
When I was stopped at a light tonight, there was a motorcyclist on a Yamaha model that I didn't recognize. Had a good chat, we both have to watch out for cagers. At some point I want to buy a motorcycle, already have the license and the MSF safety class.
I just missed every light on the way home after the trail. Added 4 minutes to that part of the trip.
There are more cyclists on the B & A Trail now. Some are friendly, some not so much. I really appreciate the pairs that decide to ride on both sides of the trail so you can't pass them easily and when you annouce passing left, they get all confused. Oh well. At least they are out there pedaling.
When I was stopped at a light tonight, there was a motorcyclist on a Yamaha model that I didn't recognize. Had a good chat, we both have to watch out for cagers. At some point I want to buy a motorcycle, already have the license and the MSF safety class.
I just missed every light on the way home after the trail. Added 4 minutes to that part of the trip.
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
Cost saving tips car commuting.
I've been a little focused on the bike commutes so far. Hey it's still new to me. Cut me a little slack. I understand that not everyone can commute by bicycle, so some other lessons I've learned for saving gas. The 1994 Geo Prizm that I am replacing is rated to get a combined city/highway MPG of 26. I get 36 MPG driving and I'm rarely driving highway miles.
Having a car get 36 miles instead of 26 means I use 1.6 less gallons of gas when I drive 5 days a week (about 155 miles).
Over the course of the year, I'll use about 80 less gallons of gas commuting. This means more jewelry and flowers for my wife. Which might help me get more time to commute by bike, leading to more jewelry and flowers. Not too bad of a cycle, don't you think?
I calculate the MPG for my car every time I fill up the tank. That way I can tell if my driving habits are slipping or if things are working, or the car needs some attention. There are a number of websites where you can learn to calculate MPG.
I keep the tires inflated to at least the recommended psi value, but not above the maximum tire pressure. I try to check it weekly.
I accelerate slowly up to my steady traveling speed. This isn't always the speed limit, but remember the more you speed, the worse your gas mileage is going to be.
I take my foot of the gas and coast when I am approaching a light that is or will be red before I'd get there. Extreme hyper milers will shut the car off.
I coast going down hills. On the way into work, if lights are in my favor, I can coast almost 3 miles out of 15 without slowing up traffic.
I commute during off peak times whenever possible. This varies throughout the year. If I leave my house by 7:20 I spend less time wasting gas sitting at red lights. If I can leave work before 4:30 then the traffic out of Annapolis isn't too bad. The commute time winds up being shorter, so I can spend more time during things I like to do.
I only use air conditioning when it is really hot. On most days the vents and windows are sufficient. When I lived in Florida, my car didn't have AC and I survived, it's not any hotter here.
During the warmer months, I park my car so it has been in the shade for at least an hour when I leave work. I also use sunshades. This means I don't need to use the AC to cool of the car when I start out home.
There are other tips to increase your car's MPG out there.
To save on commuting costs either increase the MPG of your commuting vehicle or reduce the number of miles you drive. Some ideas for this are to use mass transit, carpool, ride a bike, walk, run, kayak, telecommute, or work a compressed work week. This is by no means a comprehensive list, feel free to use your imagination or google.
Having a car get 36 miles instead of 26 means I use 1.6 less gallons of gas when I drive 5 days a week (about 155 miles).
Over the course of the year, I'll use about 80 less gallons of gas commuting. This means more jewelry and flowers for my wife. Which might help me get more time to commute by bike, leading to more jewelry and flowers. Not too bad of a cycle, don't you think?
I calculate the MPG for my car every time I fill up the tank. That way I can tell if my driving habits are slipping or if things are working, or the car needs some attention. There are a number of websites where you can learn to calculate MPG.
I keep the tires inflated to at least the recommended psi value, but not above the maximum tire pressure. I try to check it weekly.
I accelerate slowly up to my steady traveling speed. This isn't always the speed limit, but remember the more you speed, the worse your gas mileage is going to be.
I take my foot of the gas and coast when I am approaching a light that is or will be red before I'd get there. Extreme hyper milers will shut the car off.
I coast going down hills. On the way into work, if lights are in my favor, I can coast almost 3 miles out of 15 without slowing up traffic.
I commute during off peak times whenever possible. This varies throughout the year. If I leave my house by 7:20 I spend less time wasting gas sitting at red lights. If I can leave work before 4:30 then the traffic out of Annapolis isn't too bad. The commute time winds up being shorter, so I can spend more time during things I like to do.
I only use air conditioning when it is really hot. On most days the vents and windows are sufficient. When I lived in Florida, my car didn't have AC and I survived, it's not any hotter here.
During the warmer months, I park my car so it has been in the shade for at least an hour when I leave work. I also use sunshades. This means I don't need to use the AC to cool of the car when I start out home.
There are other tips to increase your car's MPG out there.
To save on commuting costs either increase the MPG of your commuting vehicle or reduce the number of miles you drive. Some ideas for this are to use mass transit, carpool, ride a bike, walk, run, kayak, telecommute, or work a compressed work week. This is by no means a comprehensive list, feel free to use your imagination or google.
Friday, July 4, 2008
Poplar Trail
I found this one commuting into Annapolis from Anne Arundel Medical Center. Take a left on Poplar avenue just before you come to West Street on Admiral Drive. It takes you to the Police Station. If you are a bit braver, you can take the parking area across the road from the police station all the way to the Loews hotel.
This was a pleasant surprise, I thought I'd be dealing with mid day traffic on West Street. Not my favorite thing to do.
This was a pleasant surprise, I thought I'd be dealing with mid day traffic on West Street. Not my favorite thing to do.
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
June wrap up.
New to me car has been inherited. 2002 Ford Escort. So far I'm seeing about 35 MPG on the highway running without AC. My old car will be up for sale soon, the Geo has been my primary car for 11 years.
In June, I managed to commute by bicycle 13 times. This paid off the new tube and the Bontrager Race Lite Hardcase tire that has fought off rear flats all month. Thank you Bike Doctor! I've decided to keep the rack on the Trek with the new tire, but I have not yet found the time to install the fenders on the Quest.
While I was looking for a map which shows the various bike trails in the area, I found out that Annapolis has a Bicycle Transportation Committee I was not able to find the map, but I did find out that they want to publish one.
Totals for the year:
$134.50 not spent on gas.
39.09 gallons of gas not bought.
39 commuting round trips
In June, I managed to commute by bicycle 13 times. This paid off the new tube and the Bontrager Race Lite Hardcase tire that has fought off rear flats all month. Thank you Bike Doctor! I've decided to keep the rack on the Trek with the new tire, but I have not yet found the time to install the fenders on the Quest.
While I was looking for a map which shows the various bike trails in the area, I found out that Annapolis has a Bicycle Transportation Committee I was not able to find the map, but I did find out that they want to publish one.
Totals for the year:
$134.50 not spent on gas.
39.09 gallons of gas not bought.
39 commuting round trips
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