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| Terri Elioff, woman who gave up her car |
Podcast of interview with Bike Commuter, Terri Elioff
Terri Elioff gets from home to the office on a bike. She goes everywhere on her bike, even to gala evening events -- in heels.
Her decision to give up driving a car benefited more than just the charity who received her vehicle as a gift, it also had a positive impact on Elioff's pocketbook. By her calculations, Elioff says she saves thousands of dollars by not owning a car.
"I found myself driving to the community center to work out, and I thought to myself, why? Wouldn’t I get a better benefit if I walked to the community center, or if I rode my bicycle to the community center?" Elioff says. "So, I ride my bike to work every day and I ride it home, and if I do nothing else, I’ve gotten an hour of exercise.”
Elioff was quick to note, she has not given up cars completely. Her friends have cars, and her daughter shares a car with her when needed. In addition, Elioff is a routine Zipster through the car sharing service Zipcar, which lets her use a car for about $10 per hour. Occasionally, she will rent a car, taking advantage of rental specials from commercial agencies that can be as low as $9 a day.
She traverses the city on one of three bikes, including a Mixte Bike, and is sometimes seen pulling a trailer or using saddle bags. “You’d be amazed what you can carry on a bicycle,” says Elioff.
For those considering becoming a bike commuter, Elioff suggests looking for an alternate route to get from home to work that might be the most bike friendly. She suggests weekends or any non-work day as the best time to try out a new route. “Plan your route when you don’t have to be somewhere at a certain time,” Elioff said.
Elioff bikes no matter what. She’s even tried biking in ice -- something she says is not very pleasant. When inclement northwest weather hits, Elioff recommends bike fenders that can be permanently attached to the bike or just snapped-on when needed. Her last piece of advice? “Have a good rain coat.”
And what does Terri Elioff do with all that money she saves? Why, she eats well, of course.
How do you get to work?
