[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Lynn Adams faces the usual commute challenges that prevent many people from taking an alternate type of transportation. She needs a car during the day for work trips, and has to take her teenage daughter to after school activities. Despite these obstacles, Lynn has committed to changing her commute to be more sustainable.
“I tried to find solutions to my schedule so I could turn my commute upside down and be more sustainable,” said Lynn, a Nurse Educator with Visiting Nurse Health System. “What I came up with is that Wednesdays are my office days, I don’t schedule any field visits to patients. So I take MARTA that day. And Fridays I telework.”
This multi-modal commuter walks to the Avondale MARTA Station, catches the train to Medical Center Station, and takes the office property shuttle to her worksite on Glenridge Dr. “I enjoy taking MARTA in the morning. Everyone is busy heading to work. The trains are full, but not too crowded.” Lynn’s transit commute takes about an hour door to door, only a few minutes longer than if she drove. She spends her commute time reading, listening to music, or catching up on work emails.
Lynn chose to change her commute because of her strong commitment to living a sustainable lifestyle. “I am trying to do my part to reduce congestion and pollution, even if I can only take transit once or twice a week.” Lynn is also forming a Green Committee at her office, and was instrumental in getting recycling bins placed at the tennis courts where she plays several times per week.
Last week, Lynn drove her car to work on Tuesday morning, left it in her office parking lot, and took MARTA for the rest of the week. This yielded an unexpected benefit – more family time. “Because our family was down to one car, we reduced unnecessary trips. We enjoyed watching movies together and just chilling. It really wasn’t hard to do.”[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]