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.

The Coomes Family

Tuesday, June 3, 2008

The last day of the challenge, we made it. It seemed like a grueling week but we made it through and it has taught us alot. We all think twice of what we are going to do walking out of our home. Today, Michelle took Jade to school and they walked. It was a cold morning but after a few steps, they were ready to go. Jade is still getting use to the cold mornings and the walk. She says walking home is the worse because of the hill but it is just something she needs to get use to.

Today was Michelle’s work from home day so she did not have to ride her bike. However, she is on her way out of town on a business trip. Instead of having Greg drive her, she carpooled with 2 other co-workers and had a car drive them. They made it there in time to eat dinner and sit down and relax. All in all this challenge really opened our eyes to how many things we can do to help the environment. With consolidating our errands, to riding a bike to work, to carpooling, the Coomes will try to make this their way of life.

The Coomes Family…… Signing off.

Saturday, May 31, 2008

Today, the Coomes family headed downtown for the Portland Saturday Market. They rode the MAX downtown. It is now a way of transportation for the Coomes. They were also able to visit different stores downtown using their all day MAX ticket. After the Portland Saturday Market, they stopped at Pioneer Square to see the shops. If they drove, they would have to find parking at the Portland Saturday Market and near Pioneer Square. By taking the MAX, they were able to hop on it and do a little shopping and save money on gas, parking, and save the on pollution.

They also ordered dinner from D-Dish to go. It was easy and took less time then it would have if they drove to the restaurant and ate there. They were able to do things around the house while waiting for dinner. Jade and Kailla did homework, and Michelle didn’t have to cook dinner. It was a great dinner and we didn’t have to drive anywhere.

More to come…

The Coomes Family

Friday, May 30, 2008

Today, was a bit different. Kailla had to be in school early due to a meeting. Michelle ended up driving to work so she could drop Kailla off to school. Although, this took away from her biking to work, she planned on doing errands right after work. She went to the bank and the grocery store.

Jade got to walk to and from school. On the way home, she walked with several friends and she told Michelle and Greg that walking to school isn’t so bad after all. She is hoping to start walking to and from school with her friends next year.

Greg is very conscious of how he does his errands. Everyday, he makes a list and maps the best route to get his errands done. He is always cautious about his left turns and tries to avoid it as much as possible. Kailla carpooled with a friend to an event at school. Her friend’s parents drove her and we picked them up.

More to come…

The Coomes Family

Thursday, May 29, 2008

What a morning! Michelle put on her bike gear and as she stepped out of the garage, it was raining. The scenario played in her head; I can just drive to work. It’s only 5 miles, how bad would that effect the environment?

Bad enough, she got on her bike and pedaled to work. Once she got there, she took all her muddy gear off and had to go wash her feet but she did her part in saving the environment.

Greg and Jade walked to school today and Jade is definitely getting use to the commute.

After school, Greg took one trip to go and pick up Kailla and her friend and took Jade to run her 1 mile today. Kailla and her friend stayed to watch which enabled Greg to take one trip. With Kailla’s choir concert tonight, carpool was inevitable which she did with her friend.

This contest has given us the know how to think about what we are going to do before walking out the door with our car keys. More to come…

--The Coomes Family

Wednesday, May 28, 2008

Our second day and the weather didn’t agree with us too well. Michelle’s ride to work was a bit cool but she made it okay. Not too many people on the road that morning and the ride went smoothly.

Jade and Greg took their walk to school today and Jade was okay. No complaints today. On the ride home, it started to rain and traffic was very bad. She made all her left turns, but her glasses were foggy and wet. She had some mud on her shoes but all in all she made it home okay.

Greg made a list today before he left the house for errands. He did all his errands in one shot and avoided left turns like the UPS guys do. He was happy getting all his errands done in one trip. More to come….

--The Coomes Family

Tuesday, May 27, 2008

What an exciting first day. Michelle got filmed by KGW news and was featured in the noon, 5, and 6 o’clock news about her first bike ride to work.

Also, Greg walked Jade to school today. It was a grueling experience according to Jade. ‘The hills are too steep,’ Jade said, ‘I need to clean out my back pack.’ Kailla walked home with Jade and both of them were struggling with the hill. We need to clarify that we live at 500ft elevation and Jade’s school is at the bottom of that hill. It will take getting use to but we think they will make it.

Greg and Michelle had to go into Portland today and took the MAX. The amount of the MAX tickets was equal to that of parking fees. So we saved gas money using the MAX.

All in all it was a good day. We are looking forward to tomorrow.

--The Coomes Family

Monday, May 26th, 2008

At the eve of my (Michelle’s) first bike ride, I am a bit nervous. It has been a long time since I have ridden a bike in traffic. I guess taking spinning classes at Nike doesn’t account for riding in the streets. Hal, from the Drive Less, Save More program, came over this past weekend to assess my bike. It seems ready to go and Hal is willing to come with me on my first ride.

Greg usually drives Jade to school but they are planning to walk to school in the morning. Jade seems apprehensive since she is driven everywhere.

We are all looking forward to the challenge and hope we can exceed our goals.