“One does not leap a chasm by taking a series of small steps.”

I can’t remember who said this but it is immensely powerful knowledge.  That being said and understood, I am announcing today my intention not to drive to or from work for an entire month.  Instead I will make use of my employer-provided bus pass, my body and my bicycle.  Winter’s chill still abounds but that is no excuse.  The only exception that will be made is for the one day in the upcoming month that I have a daytime appointment outside of work.  This is next Tuesday.

Oh, hell.  Why just do it for a month?  I am trying to leap a chasm right?  I will use alternative transportation to and from work every day until at least October, 2010.  Again, of course excusing daytime appointments as required.  That is 8 months total or $1200 in savings, by a conservative estimate.  I will have to maintain insurance as I often plan to and do use my car for grocery shopping trips, evenings out and to get out of town for weekend activities.  I carpool when possible, of course.  Still, this is a huge boon to my finances and health and to the environment.  $1200 doesn’t seem like much but it will add up quickly.  By investing this money instead of burning it in my tank, in just a few years, I can earn enough residual income to fund my weekend excursions.

As a natural extension, I will strive to utilize alternate transportation during my non-commuting excursions.  For instance, I can bike to the store once the ice melts off the by-roads.  I may even invest some of my extra cash in a set of panniers and some other bike accessories that I have been drooling over for at least a year.

Of course, taking an extreme measure, I could just dump the car all together and save an additional $700 in annual insurance costs but, at this point in my life, I am not ready to part with this fanciful illusion of freedom.  Perhaps some day and maybe soon.

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