Jeanne Van Lengen-Taylor
Sometimes people just need a little nudge to become a regular active transportation commuter. For Jeanne Van Lengen-Taylor, an Adult Education Literacy/ESL Teacher, the inspiration was PedNet’s No Car Diet Challenge.
The “No Car Diet” asks people to try to go one whole month using only biking, walking, or the city bus to fulfill all transportation needs. “For some time I had been thinking, ‘I could live without a car,’ so this challenge was an opportunity for me to see if I could really do it,” she said. “One month turned into one year.”
Jeanne now walks to and from her job daily. Her walking commute is about one mile round trip, but Jeanne also walks on the weekends. “I walk most places I go,” she explained.
She said that the more she walks the better she feels. “Another reason I walk as much as possible is convenience. I don't have to find a parking space, feed parking meters, or stop to put gas in my car.”
Jeanne said that since she never drives to work, she is always prepared for bad weather with a big umbrella and appropriate clothing. “When there is ice, I walk slowly,” she joked.
She doesn't really see any downside to walking everyday. “Instead of pouring money into my gas tank, I'm wearing really nice shoes these days; I can afford them!”
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