Steve Ma
washingtondc
I am Board President and GEO (Green Executive Officer) of Live Green, an innovative membership organization that makes eco-friendly living easier and more affordable. I am expanding DC's green economy by offering all sorts of great green deals such as $50 off a Zipcar membership. In addition to my work with Live Green, I serve on the Board of Directors for Investors Without Borders (www.investorswithoutborders.net), Tabby's Place(www.tabbysplace.org) , a sanctuary for cats, and advise for the United States Hispanic Advocacy Association (http://ushaa.com).
Additionally, I have worked with various non-profits including AARP and the Public interest Research Groups. I also ran a campaign called the Walk for Reform in which I actually walked more than 1,500 miles to reduce the influence of money in politics. AsianWeek (www.asianweek.com/) named me their 2001 Asian-American of the Year in recognition of my walk and my efforts that led to the passage of a landmark Clean Elections law. While I am not planning to trek 1,500 miles in DC, I'm not too worried about living without a car for a month.
08/12/2009
Ok, I am taking the plunge. I have decided to get rid of my car. I was searching the Internet for tips on getting groceries without a car and have decided to get a rear rack and panniers for my bike. I hadn't heard the word "panniers" before tonight -- basically, they are bags that you can sling over a bike's rear rack to hold groceries and such. I have a dog and two cats and was dreading the thought of having to carry 20 lbs bags of dog food and kitty litter back home. But the pannier solution for my bike solves that problem. And so, with that in mind, I am getting rid of my car and will rely on my bike, mass transit, Zipcar, and my own two feet to get me around. I may lose some conveniences without my car, but I'll save money, have a lower carbon footprint, and will no longer have to deal with car repairs, finding parking spots, and dealing with the DMV. Wahoo!!
08/07/2009
I have not driven my car since the start of the Low-Car Diet, but I have now had 3 other people borrow my car. When I was first considering getting rid of my car, somebody told me, "you don't need your own car because there's always a friend that you can borrow a car from." Now I am realizing that I'm the friend with the car. I am wondering if I should start my own car-sharing service. Only thing is, I don't have Zipcar's fancy technology or 24-hour support line. I suppose what I should do is sell my call and just tell all of my friends to join Zipcar. That would make life much easier for me and plus, I'd get a bunch of free driving credit. :-)
08/05/2009
All I did was quit using my car for a little while and it got me on TV. If you haven't seen it yet, check out ABC's coverage of us Low-Car Dieters. I am pretty excited that my dog got on TV too. I always thought she had some star quality.
Oh, and I used Costales (the Honda Civic hybrid near my apartment) again last night. My reservation was for 3 hours but they only charged me $12.25 because of the late hours. Apparently, the rate between 12AM and 6AM is only $3.50/hour. Seems like quite a steal.
07/17/2009
Just reserved my first Zipcar today. I had to drive my girfriend, Elli, to the airport so I took Costales out for a spin. He's a Honda Civic Hybrid. I absolutely love that Zipcar charges LESS for hybrids. Most rental car companies charge a premium for fuel-effcient cars but Zipcar only charged me $7/hour for Costales, instead of the regular $9+ price.
Plus, whenever you go to traditional rental places, the price that you pay is always more than the quote because of taxes, fees and insurance. However, I just checked my Zipcar bill and for the 2 hours that I rented Costales, I was only charged $12.25. I am not sure why, but that's actually $1.75 lower than the quoted price. Costales should be called Low-cost-ales. Get it? I know, it's a terrible pun. I just couldn't help myself.
07/15/2009
The oppressive heat in this place is making the simple task of walking nearly unbearable. My unrelenting thirst is starting to drive me mad. It has been more than 3 hours without my car and I believe my reasoning skills are waning. I fear that life without a car is a burden that I will not be able to bear. Just kidding! After leaving the Zipcar Low-Car Diet Kickoff event, I took a great bike ride up to Adams Morgan, picked up my dog, and walked into work. It's another beautiful day in DC and I am thrilled to have given up my car for a month. Thanks to Zipcar for the metro card, WABA membership, and Live Green membership (even though I already have one). I don't think this diet will be too tough given how easy it is to get around this town sans automobile.