Jessica Meaney of Safe Routes to School in California

Basics: A 30-something who works in transportation policy for the national advocacy group Safe Routes to School National Partnership. Lives in Echo Park with “the cutest cat ever.” Child free.

Car free since: “pretty much always”

Blogging since: Oct. 2010.

Notable post: Support Complete Streets in California: “No more streets like … this foot path with a utility pole in the middle of the walkway!”
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On going car-free….

I had access to family car in high school but that was it. I moved to Los Angeles in 1997 and have never owned a car — except during one of the bus strikes when my very cool boss lent me an extra car her family had for a few weeks. I felt pretty lucky. Thankfully –- at the second bus strike, while I didn’t have a car –- I could catch Foothill Transit to go to school at Cal State LA –- as only the Metro buses were on strike. Those strikes were crazy long.

I think where you live and work are make or break deals in going car free. There’s a group in the OC that is working on making sure land use strategies and affordable housing policies include quality day care –- That is so rad. They are ahead of their time. One of the biggest barriers for parents being car free, I would guess, is getting kids to daycare and then to work on time and with ease. Having employer or neighborhood based quality childcare is so overlooked, it seems.

How she gets around

I get around mostly by public transit – but I walk and bike a ton too. I wear a pedometer and track my steps on an excel spreadsheet -– so I’m always consciously making an effort to make sure I’m hitting 10K steps a day. I work in the field of bicycle and pedestrian policy -– also called Active Transportation –- so I’m a bit more into this stuff than the average person, I would guess. But I highly recommend getting a pedometer –- It’s so much fun to keep track of how many steps you’re getting –- at least I found it has been.

In January 2010, I started working from home so my commute is pretty sweet! Before that I worked in downtown Los Angeles – which is about a 2-3 mile bike ride or half hour on the bus (door to door). I’ve definitely made lifestyle choices –- chosen to live in transit rich and walkable neighborhoods, and luckily –- have always been able to live close to where I work. I’ve been living in the Echo Park neighborhood of Los Angeles for almost 10 years –- love it. Some many things I want are right here in walking distance, the lake, the gold room, good places to eat and grab coffee, and more a great community with lots of other people out walking and biking. I love EP!

I have a driver’s license (with a super clean record – another perk of being car free) and rent a car for work and road trips when needed. Gotta figure out my membership in Zipcar -– as I heard there are some cars parked near Western –- in Hollywood. That’d be great. I wish there was car share in Echo Park –- That’d be super rad for work.

On the upsides and downsides

Being car-free seemed like the best thing I could do to live more lightly on the Earth. I’ve been an environmentalist since I was a kid (started recycling at my high school!) and went to environmentally oriented higher ed (Audubon Expedition Institute, Prescott College) -– I’ve always been interested in being a part of a movement that protected our natural resources more.

But also … I don’t really like driving –- I’ve been an in couple scary car accidents (one involved flying over the cliffs on PCH near Zuma; thankfully all were ok) and I’ve always been chicken about debt. I’ve never been terribly motivated to take out a huge car loan. I like the independence and financial freedom I have being car free. Don’t get me wrong –- It is not all sunshine and roses; there are some days that are rough –- but overall it’s been a good lifestyle choice for me. I’m not opposed to one day getting a car -– it may happen -– but for now I’m really happy with be car free. In fact -– I’d say it’s made my life better and increased my connection with my neighbors and community.

Down sides of being car free: The biggest one for me is hiking and backpacking –- access to green space -– or being able to get to the ocean quickly. When I dream about getting a car, it’s usually cause I want to go the beach more or get out of the city.

On car-dependent people.

When I first moved to LA in ’97 –- I sometimes kept it to myself that I was car free. There were times when I’d leave a party or event and I would walk down the street to a different bus stop -– not wanting to be seen sitting there. Our bus stops in LA sometimes make you feel not so hot or welcomed. Thankfully that has changed a ton over the years –- It’s way more normal now in LA –- and in some of the progressive transportation advocacy circles I hang out in, it’s actually something to be proud of. My mom –- who doesn’t live in LA -– loves to brag to people about it.

Advice for the car-free curious.

You can do it!

* Get a good (for reals, pay for the good one) granny cart (makes laundry and grocery shopping a total breeze)
* Get a Metro TAP card –- Put some cash on it
* Get a good bike and put some baskets on it (good criteria to keep in mind if buying a bike: do you feel good on it? Is it light? Can you carry it down stairs? Put it on a bus rack?)
* Hope that Metro get a GPS app for transit times
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green LA girl’s notes: Jessica’s not only car-free herself, but also works to help free other people from their cars through her job with Safe Routes to School National Partnership, “a very cool organization focused on supporting communities where kids and their family can walk and bike to school with ease,” according to Jessica. To find out more about the organization and its programs, email jessica@saferoutespartnership.org.

Photo courtesy of Jessica

>> At Afford Eco’s Cosmetics & Skin Care Event, you’ll hear from two eco-beauty companies about the potentially harmful chemicals in many conventional beauty products. The free event — which features vegan eats — happens Thurs., June 17 from 7 pm to 9:30 pm. RSVP online, or you’ll have to pay $5 at the door.

>> I’ve gotten some great free finds at clothing swap parties with friends; the Frugal Festival Summer Swap sounds like a bigger and better version of those parties. Go with a bag of no-longer-loved clothes and $5 (or empty-handed with $10) to swap clothes, accessories, home decor, books, music and movies. The fest happens Sat., June 19 at 10 am – 3 pm at the NoHo Performing Arts Center, 11020 Magnolia, North Hollywood.

>> Take a Folk Art Everywhere Bike Tour (PDF) and explore art and culture in Echo Park and Historic Filipinotown. This project of the Craft and Folk Art Museum will take you from a local gallery to shop to cafe to library to workers’ center. Meet up on Sat., June 19 from 11:30 am at Pilipino Workers Center, 153 Glendale Blvd., 2nd Fl., Los Angeles to start riding until around 2:30 pm.

>> Compete in Squirt! Bike Race & Scavenger Hunt, a.k.a. the 2-year anniversary party for Los Angeles Guerrilla Gardening. Race on your bike to water the gardens that LAGG’s planted in the last couple years — or join a pedestrian scavenger hunt — before meeting at the finish line to celebrate over drink specials and food. Festivities begin at 1 pm in Hollywood and end who knows when somewhere in downtown Los Angeles. The fun begins Sun., June 20 at 1 pm. Cost: $5 entry to either race.

>> Enjoy some eco-activism and beach fun on International Surfing Day when everyone from famous surfers to eco-artists to environmental activists to simple beachgoers will be surfing for a cause, cleaning up the beach, competing in paddle boat races, and more. Events are happening around the world, including in Santa Monica, Long Beach, Huntington Beach, Dana Point, and Ventura. Pick an event for Sun., June 20 and go spend a day at the beach!

>> Still haven’t seen Food, Inc. (review here)? A free screening of Food, Inc. happens Tues., June 22 starting at 7 pm at Fairview Branch Library, 2101 Ocean Park Blvd., Santa Monica.

Image via International Surfing Day’s Facebook page

>> Don’t forget it’s Bike Week L.A. means fun events on two-wheels all week for Angelenos, from the blessing of the bikes to bike to work day.

>> Bike Week Pasadena means rides, films, parties, and even a museum exhibition. There’s free nibbles and drinks at many of the events too! The fun happens all weekend, from May 20 to May 22, all over Pasadena. Glendale‘s celebrating bike week too.

>> Remember those environmentalists that kayaked down the L.A. River to prove it was navigable? Watch them on film at the preview screening of Rock The Boat — then hear from the kayakers themselves on Fri., May 21 from 7:30 pm to 10 pm at Los Angeles Eco-Village, 117 Bimini Pl., Los Angeles.

>> Santa Monica got the Bronze Award from the League of American Bicyclists a year ago, and now cyclists are planning to bike toward Platinum status with a Bronze Anniversary Ride. Meet on Sat., May 22 at 10 am at 1744 Pearl St., Santa Monica, to bike to the iCycle Event, an all day event with workshops on safety, repairs and maintenance — plus demos, entertainment, and more happening from 10 am – 4 pm at the Santa Monica Public Library, 601 Santa Monica Blvd., Santa Monica.

>> Watch a screening of the eco-documentary Your Environmental Road Trip — about a “one-year, 50-state video documentary road trip to explore and personalize sustainability across the United States” — and hear the filmmaker Mark Dixon afterwards — then enjoy a wine and cheese reception. The presentation begins Sat., May 22 from 3 pm at Occidental College, Johnson Hall 200, 1600 Campus Rd., Los Angeles, followed by the reception begins at 5 pm. Cost: $20. RSVP required online using ID (1355189) and Password (greenlagirl).

>> Save the whales with Greenpeace, who’ll be protesting the proposal to allow commercial whaling to resume. Join the rally on Sun., May 23 at 11 am at Palisades Park, on Ocean Avenue, by the Santa Monica Pier, in Santa Monica.

>> Don’t miss The Last-Hurrah Malibu Public Beaches Safaris — because they’re free, and you don’t even have to RSVP! Find out how to to find and use the the 20 miles of public beaches that are lined with private development. Pick from one of three mini tours happening Sun. May 23 — at 9 am, 11:30 am, and 2 pm, then get thee to the public beach accessway between 22140-22126 Pacific Coast Highway. Earlier: Malibu Public Beach Safaris: Why activists should chill on the beach this summer.

Image via metro.net

First, the fruity news: Echo Park residents (yes, you must be an Echo Park resident) get free fruit trees tomorrow! According to Eric Garcetti’s blog, apple, peach, plum, apricot, nectarine and orange trees will be given out between 2 pm – 5 pm at Delilah Bakery, 1665 Echo Park Ave.

Reserve a tree now by emailing  EPIAmail@yahoo.com or by calling 323.882.4835 with your name, phone number, and desired tree type — or just show up and hope unreserved trees are left for your taking.

Second: Fungi news! Mushroom lovers can head over to the Machine Project for the kickoff event for FungiFest 2010, whose fun activities and yummies include:

Mushroom collecting tutorial, screening of mushroom-themed short films, mushroom flavored gelato from Scoops, chanterelle schnapps, slime mold racing and more!

The event begins at 8 pm at the Machine Project, 1200 D N. Alvarado, Los Angeles. I just called the Machine Project to confirm that reservations aren’t necessary, though would-be fungi eaters are advised to arrive early as seats will very likely run out.

FungiFest events will continue all week, with mushroom dancing, mushroom music, mushroom films, mushroom walks, mushroom mystery guests, and more happening across the city. At all events you’re welcome, but not required, to bring foraged mushrooms. Get more details at the Machine Project’s FungiFest page.

And don’t forget about all the other fun green events happening this weekend!

Photo via the Machine Project

There are over 20 closed stairways in Los Angeles; a few may have been legitimately shuttered, but others have clearly been appropriated by private individuals….

I’ve been asked – several times – why simply going up to one of these stairways and opening it DIY-style isn’t an option. The answer is simple: legally, stairs are public streets in Los Angeles. They should be maintained and respected the same as any street. The city has a responsibility to keep these thoroughfares open, and prevent them from being taken private, just as it does any residential street that happens – by quirk of fate and history – to also accommodate non-pedestrian traffic.

L.A. City Council President Eric Garcetti’s office is investigating this gate issue; contact his office to press the case to free the staircase for the public.

>> Silver Lake Neighborhood Council’s taking on the draft L.A. Bicycle Master Plan, discussing a motion to ask for a more bike-friendly bike plan. Get the details at LAist, then get to the meeting TONIGHT at 7 pm at the Micheltorena School Auditorium, 1511 Micheltorena St., Los Angeles. Earlier: L.A. Bicycle Master Plan.

>> You now have until January to submit your comments about the L.A. Bicycle Plan, BTW. Not sure where to start? Here’s what the L.A. County Bicycle Coalition had to say about the plan.

Photo by Dan Koeppel