Three local families are enjoying a friendly competition to "Drive Less, Save More" - and keeping track of their experiences in this exclusive kgw.com "Going Green" blog. Check here daily for their latest entries.

Thomas Pfeifer

The Pfeifer Family

Tuesday, June 3, 2008

Tom - Rain this morning. Luckily I stayed over at a co-workers and only had an eight mile ride to work. Still got soaked!

Deb - Had to drive, a scheduled appointment. Will pick-up Tom from work since she will be in Vancouver and Tom will then ride the Connector and buses to work on the 4th.

Janaya - No driving again! Our hero! Drove a grand total of four miles this week.

Monday, June 2, 2008

Tom - Caught the afternoon Connector from La Center. I even got to go to the bank and deposited a check. My bank is on my bike ride to work from the 99th St transit. Started raining while I was at work. I contacted a co-worker and asked if I could spend the night. He said yes, so I only had an eight mile commute to his house and got to bed earlier as I have to return to work at 9 a.m. Those double backs are hard when biking.

Deb - I did not ask my wife if she car pooled or not today. I'll have to update this later.

Janaya - No driving once again.

Sunday, June 1st, 2008

Tom -

Well last night's weather turned cold, rainy, and windy. I got lucky, as my wife went out with a girlfriend last night and they decided to add a movie to their dinner out. So their movie ended at 10:10 p.m. and they called me to see if I would like to car pool home. My wife convinced me that I am out of shape and would probably die in the wind. I accepted the ride home from Deborah's girl friend.

Today, we drove to church, had lunch, and then my wife drove me to the 134th St. transit for C-Tran. This still saved me around 16 miles, but obviously not as many if I would have ridden my bicycle the whole way.

The plan is for me to ride my bicycle home tonight, rain or wind!

I have been pleasantly surprised with the C-Tran bus connections for my commute. I get off one bus #19, onto the other #32 and there is hardly any down time. I get to work with around 10 minutes to spare on the weekends.

Hopefully, I'll figure out the schedule for Monday swing shift and then the killer double back to Tuesday day shift.

Deb -

Car pool with Tom to Church - Approximately 18 miles total. Then drove Tom to C-Tran transit center off of 134th St. - Approximately 24 miles.

Janaya -

No miles - what a competitor.

Saturday, May 31, 2008

Tom -

Worked in the yard until I had to hop on my bicycle to ride to the 134th St. Park and ride an 11.7 mile ride to catch the C-Tran 19 bus to the 99th St terminal. From there the 32 bus to downtown Vancouver and a short three block ride to work! It was a great day to ride and the drivers today on the back roads were alert and helpful. Several slowed down to my speed waiting to get through the corners where they could see beyond and pass me. I averaged 12.8 miles per hour for my commute. I am a bit sore from starting to ride more, but I do think I will be able to ride through the pain.

Deb - Worked in the yard until dinner time. Went out to eat with a friend at a local La Center restaurant. Her friend picked her up on the way through and to the restaurant.

Janaya - Drove three miles to pick up items for Circle K. Circle K. is the college equivalent of Kiwanis. The money made at the fund raisers go to local needs and charities!

Friday, May 30, 2008

Tom -

Did not get into a vehicle at all today! Worked around the house doing projects for my wife.

Deb - No vehicle use today either! Deb also was smart as we were invited to a 55th birthday party for one of our neighbors. One of our friends from Vancouver was also invited and so she had her pick up some of the requested items on her way to the party, saving us a trip to the store! Now that's planning and cooperation from our friends!

Janaya - Walked around Cheney. No Vehicle use today!

Thursday, May 29, 2008

Tom -

A neighbor and I went fishing. The neighbor drove us. Total trip was about 41 miles. Not sure how this counts in the Drive Less Save More campaign but we had a great time. My neighbor Landed one Shad and then lost a Kokonie. I had one strike that was so powerful it broke my line taking a cows bell and all my equipment! Never experienced that before, but then again I never fished for Kookier before this either. Rest of the day worked in the yard. My wife has a project for me and it looks like the weather will cooperate with her wishes.

Deb - Car pool day again! Nope, Susan was sick so Deborah had to drive to work again. Such is the ups and downs of trying not to drive.

Janaya - Walking to classes and around Cheney. She also drove 1 mile to pick-up some donated items for Kiwanis. Took the transit bus from Cheney to Spokane Mall. Shopped and enjoyed the day.

Wednesday, May 28, 2008

Tom -

I made it! I was able to catch the La Center Connector and get a ride to the 99th St terminal. Kelly Stoner with Drive Less Save More was there with KGW channel 8. I was interviewed and off I went to ride to work. A nice ride of about 5 miles, only one hard hill. After work I rode back to the 99th St. terminal and caught the Connector back to La Center. I was able to get off a bout a block from my house as the Connector will do front door pick up and drop off in the city limits. Someone else riding the bus lived near me so it worked out well. Saving me a good half of a mile of up hill riding!

Deb - Had an early morning meeting so car pooling did not work for her today. Deb came home and our oldest daughter, Jubilee Roth stopped by. She lives in Woodland, WA and is doing her student teaching internship in Ridgefield, WA. Jubilee will swing in Deb treated her to a burger at the local Gorilla Grill at the Chevron Station in La Center. Deb drove, putting on an extra two miles. My comment to her when I got home, "Why didn't you walk?" She stated, "I didn't think about it." It is hard to break the hop in the car convenience we are so use to doing.

Janaya - No vehicle use today.

Tuesday, May 27, 2008

Janaya was picked up by a couple of friends who she helped clean their apartment as they are moving. No miles for her, about 24 miles for her friends.

I have contacted my auto insurance company (PEMCO) and have found out that they do discount my insurance costs by the amount of days we drive per week. My wife's savings per month is $9.40. My savings will be a over $10.00 per month.

That will be a savings of close to $240.00 every year in insurance costs alone, not to mention saving on gas costs and wear and tear on my vehicles!

Well the big kick off day came and I had my turn around shift. I got off at 11 p.m. on Sunday night, got home, set my alarm to catch the C-Tran Connector and tried to sleep. I generally do not sleep well when a new event is coming up and sure enough I tossed and turned. I managed to get ready in time, got on my bicycle and down the hills I went.

I got to the Park and Ride pick up point on time and then realized I left my work keys at home. So I tried to ride up the hills to home, got the number for the La Center Connector Direct line to the driver and talked with him. He had just left La Center and could not wait.

Shows that you have to put a bit more planning in for making a new habit. So, I drove my car to work and I am making plans to be more successful tomorrow!

On the bright side. My wife and her car pool partner hooked up today and left on time. All went smooth for them!

--Tom

Monday, May 26, 2008

I am the type of person who likes challenges and I love to watch everything I spend and how it impacts my budget. When I read about the challenge on the Drive less-Save more e-mails I thought it would be a great way to further look at what I could do to drive less.

I have really bad working hours that do not match up well with the transit system and I wanted to see if the help offered could allow me to commute with my bicycle more.

I have been pleasantly surprised by what C-Tran has to offer in my area and the support I am getting from my co-workers for assistance in SUV/Truck-Bike pooling part way up my route to make the 19 mile one-way commute realistic for my age (soon to be 48) and the shape I am in (over weight).

Four of my co-workers live off of the 134th St. exit in Vancouver and will save me seven miles of biking when I get off work at 11 p.m.

My wife has been car pooling with a co-worker lately and this challenge is helping her to look at how they can actually car pool more, as well as, combining shopping trips with the work commute.

For my daughter, it is getting out of the car and utilizing the transit system in Cheney, WA where she attends Eastern Washington University.

She stated she will also car pool with her Circle K group now when they do their fundraiser events and go to the meetings.

--Tom