Mark, I can really sympathize with your situation. I got a layoff notice Nov 3rd along with the rest of the scientific staff at the small biotech company I worked at. One of the things that came to mind is whether I was going to be able to bike to my next job, indeed, whether I might have to move out of the area. Fortunately, I found a job in Middleton and I can still bike to work but it is a 13.4 mile round trip instead of 3 miles.
However, I am not about to judge someone who takes a job but can no longer can bike to work. I would hope everyone on this list would realize that American society as a whole is not very bike friendly and that the Madison area is an exception to that generalization. It is why we have email lists like this to discuss the bike unfriendliness of American society and to come up with ways to try to begin to remedy the situation. Instead of looking at your situation as a betrayal of your principals, look at it as American Society failing to offer real transportation options. If we truly had a multi-modal transportation system, another green option would be readily available. I think Paul had a good idea to investigate ride-sharing, car-pooling, or van pooling. My dad was in a carpool for 40 plus years for his job 30 miles from home in a time before environmental concerns were discussed. He did it to save the family money. Even if you can't find a carpool, you can be green in other ways such as the amount of electricity you use or maybe you can bike one day a week as part of a fitness program. And who knows, down the road you might find another job again within bike commuting distance. Most of all, in this economy, do what you have to do to get another job. Keep your chin up and good luck. Mark On Sun, Feb 5, 2012 at 6:13 PM, Mark Evans <[email protected]> wrote: > I reckon I'm preaching to the converted, but I'm curious... > I was laid off and been out of work for some time. As I search for a job, > I always scope out the location and ability to bike to that location. > Obviously, this eliminates things like jobs in Ft. Atkinson or Mt. Horeb > or Oregon or whatever. > It's getting tough and my partner - who has been very understanding - > floated the idea of getting a second car (I sold mine and chose > ped/bike/bus commute options) several years ago. Part of me feels like I > want to remain committed to a greener, bike friendly lifestyle. By taking > some job with a 20-30 mile commute one way feels like I've abandoned that > green choice. By choosing a gas-powered vehicle over a bus/bike option I > feel like I'd be viewing cycling as more of a hobby than a lifestyle choice. > > Obviously tough times demand tough choices... but I'm curious about how > others feel. > Have you made employment choices based on the ability to reach work via > sustainable methods? > > MArk Evans > -- > Follow Wheels for Winners on > FACEBOOK<http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=734289628&v=wall&ref=profile#%21/pages/Wheels-for-Winners/168983346461729> > > Papa Wheelie's > Prints<http://personalpages.tds.net/%7Emstuartev/MSEvans_Prints/Papa_Wheelies_Print_Shop.html> > Check out My Prints for Sale At Etsy <http://www.etsy.com/shop/mstuartev> > > _______________________________________________ > Bikies mailing list > [email protected] > http://lists.danenet.org/listinfo.cgi/bikies-danenet.org > > -- Mark N. Shahan ------ __o 607 Piper Drive ------- _`\<,_ Madison, WI 53711-1338 ---- (*)/ (*) (608) 274-9367 [email protected]
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