Diamond-Cut Life » transportation

Adventures of Eco-Warrior Chick, Part I

Alison — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 14:43:48 +0000

This emerging series is brought to us by an alter-ego of mine who calls herself Eco-Warrior Chick. She’s kind of edgy and out there. If she offends anyone, well, take it up with her in the Comments section. I hate gear. Anything with moving parts that isn’t in the human, plant or animal kingdom tends [...]Similar Posts:

Christina’s Confession: I Take Cuts

Alison — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 14:29:57 +0000

This is a guest post from my friend Christina, she of joy-riding fame. What makes a neighborhood delightful, a place we want to be, that urban planners’ favorite word: “livable”? My own lovely neighborhood on the west flank of Mt. Tabor here in Portland, Oregon, has been grappling with a problem. The city has a plum [...]Similar Posts:

The Connoisseur of Commuting Returns To Carpooling

Alison — Fri, 29 Jul 2011 14:59:20 +0000

What are the best and worst commutes you’ve ever had? I’ve noticed that while pretty much everyone prefers work (or school) they can feel passionate about*, our daily commutes can also be a make or break in our quality of life. My friend Christina got hundreds of hits earlier this month when she guest-posted about [...]Similar Posts:

Who You Calling A Hippie?

Alison — Tue, 07 Jun 2011 14:45:34 +0000

Today’s post is on the lighter side. A reader in Arizona has suggested that I am a hippie. Or, to be more specific, he wrote I am “definitely much more of a hippie” than he himself is. Hmm.

Catalina State Park, Tucson, AZ

[/caption] His tone was friendly enough, but I’ve been pondering this hippie [...]Similar Posts:

How To Save Money On Gas, 2011

Alison — Sun, 05 Jun 2011 20:01:45 +0000

The bad news is that gas is back to $4/gallon. But the good news is that we have choices: we can spend less on gas by changing the way we drive. This is an updated version of my much-visited 2008 post. Happily, we reduce our carbon emissions when we drive less, inch closer to energy [...]Similar Posts:

Stephanie Millar And Creative Problem-Solving

Alison — Mon, 27 Dec 2010 14:05:32 +0000

Our communities all have problems that need solutions, whether it’s unemployment, broken relationships, or broken bus benches. The people I respect the most are the ones who craft solutions to the problems, especially those who creatively stretch limited resources. Stephanie Lawson Millar, author of today’s guest post, is such a person. Stephanie is a fellow [...]Similar Posts:

Transportation’s Version Of The San Diego Padres

Alison — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 16:51:23 +0000

I grew up near Los Angeles in a baseball-loving family. We bled Dodger blue, went to games at Chavez Ravine and thrilled to Tommy LaSorda’s passionate leadership of his team. Like most people in the L.A. basin, I drove everywhere, usually by myself, on congested freeways. I hated the way congestion wasted my time, and [...]Similar Posts:

My New Approach To Climate Change

Alison — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 14:33:47 +0000

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has announced there will be no climate change bill this year. Many of us are disappointed, and outrage better describes the reaction of many who’d let themselves hold hope of responsible leadership concerning climate. I just read the Grist article and comments on this topic. I respect those willing to keep [...]Similar Posts:

Back On The Bike

Alison — Thu, 03 Jun 2010 14:56:25 +0000

I’m sipping coffee at Seven Virtues* Coffeehouse on NE Glisan and 60th here in Portland, Oregon. Neil Young’s plaintive song Sugar Mountain is playing on the sound system. I suspect he’s referring to how I drink my coffee. I’m Seven Virtues’ first customer, having bicycled briskly over in the sharply slanted light of early morning. I [...]Similar Posts:

We’ve Found Our New House

Alison — Wed, 19 May 2010 13:32:12 +0000

Besides working on my novel, called Revelle, and my day job in transportation options being intense this spring, the other reason for infrequent posts this year has been Thor’s and my time-consuming search for a new house. The kind that has more than one bathroom, and is built to better earthquake and energy efficiency codes [...]Similar Posts: