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Jun 4, 2008 7:36 pm US/Central
Woman Gives Up Car For Public Transit
DALLAS (CBS 11 / TXA 21) ―
In both Dallas and Fort Worth, AAA officials say the average price for a gallon of regular unleaded gasoline is $3.86.
Those high gas prices may have some people wishing they could get rid of their car. One North Texas commuter gave it a try with surprising success.
To get to her job at Richland College, Tonya McMillion takes two buses, a couple of transfers and a train ride. That's all before she hops on her bicycle for the last leg of the trip.
"I'm healthier; I'm happier; I'm more relaxed," said McMillion. "I can feel good when I come to work."
After a recent car crash, McMillion decided that a new lifestyle was in order, not another car. So she didn't replace it. The rising gasoline prices also influenced her decision.
"It's outrageous how expensive it is," said McMillion. "It costs $50 to get a bus/ rail pass and that's about as much as it costs for me to fill up my tank in one week."
On the downside, her daily commute now is almost an hour longer, and navigating traffic on just two wheels demands extra care.
"Dallas drivers make me nervous," she said. "I know when I was driving I wasn't looking out for cyclists, so I know that drivers aren't looking out for me."
But she's willing to risk it and the occasional bad weather for a very worthy cause.
"If everybody could go green for one day, that would be a great contribution to the world," she said. "I'm loving this and saving money."
When was the last time you survived rush hour smiling?
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