Make 2012 the year you keep your New Years resolutions
Jan 4, 2012 at 11:30 AM 0 Comments | Add a Comment
Use getting around to achieve your 2012 resolutions
It's January 5th and hopefully most of us have not given up on our 2012 resolutions yet.
Your transportation choices can be an excellent way to achieve your New Years Resolutions. Let's look at some of the most popular New Years Resolutions and see how transportation can provide a roadmap to success:
*Improve Health (get fit/lose weight, stop smoking and quit drinking): Your commute choice probably won't help you quit drinking or smoking, but it can definitely help you lose weight. In fact, an article the Journal of Medicine and Science in Sports found that men who drove less lived longer.
If you want to lose weight or become more active, you can go to the gym, but between 37% and 80% of Americans quickly stop going. Instead of creating something else you need to do during the day, why not just change something - going to work - that you're already doing?
A study published in the American Journal of American Medicine found that those in Charlotte who began riding light rail lost weight. And if you really want a cardio workout, try biking to work (contact us for a free bike route plan).
*Get out of debt/save money: The average American drives 13,476 miles a year. According to the American Automobile Association's 2010 Your Driving Costs report, that translates to $13,058 a year. You could save over $12,000 by switching to TriMet (TriMet's All Zone Annual Pass costs $1012), not to mention the money you'd pocket by selling your car. Portland has Zipcar and Getaround for hourly rentals when you really need it. Not ready to give up your car? No problem. At over $3.75 a gallon, every drive-alone car trip you switch is cash in your pocket.
*Enjoy Life: Most of us do not find being stuck in traffic to be a life affirming experience. What if your commute involved reading a book, walking through your neigborhood or catching up with a neighbor? Transit and walking offer you that choice. You never know, you might even find love.
*More time with family: Walking, biking and riding transit with your loved ones is a great way to spend quality time together. Try shopping and going out to neighborhood spots that don't require a car trip. Watch this video for a little inspiration.