As the cold weather creeps in, the getDowntown Program wanted to let downtown employees share their real experiences of year-round green commuting.  This is part of what we’re calling Conquer the Cold.  Here’s the first post from Jane Allen.

Hello, I am Jane Allen, a year-round walker. I moved to Ann Arbor from Salt Lake City, eight years ago and I work for the City of Ann Arbor. When I started working, I drove my car and parked in the Ann Ashley structure. A co-worker had determined that it is almost a mile from the bottom of the Ann Ashley structure to the top. I live in the “Water Hill” neighborhood (streets named Brooks, Fountain, Spring, not to mention the water treatment plant) which is 1.5 miles from work–it seemed idiotic to drive almost as far as the commute inside the parking structure, at five miles per hour, no less. At 5pm it takes so long to get out of the structure that it only takes me about 15 minutes longer to just walk home. I have a free go!pass for the bus that I receive from the City, on top of which, the bus stops just down the street from my house. Once 5th is open, the bus will once again drop me off right in front of City Hall. It can’t be more convenient.

Quickly running out of excuses, I also received an MP3 device as a gift, and at that point, it was time to start walking home from work. I still ride the bus in the morning, because my knees don’t like to go downhill. Often, I am carrying a large thermos filled with chai for the yoga class I teach at RussaYog®, but by afternoon, the chai thermos is empty and easier to carry home.

I am, I admit, kind of fixated on the equipment necessary to make year-round walking feasible. Without the right clothing, it is just downright unpleasant to be out all year. What a difference the right coat, shoes, gloves and hat can make! I will blog about this in future posts, because it is just about time to make those first equipment buys, so stay tuned.