Creative Commuting
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TFS works hard to protect our environment, decrease our carbon footprint, and support the health and well-being of our staff. We proudly encourage alternative commuting methods for TFS employees and co-owners. There are various, meaningful ways we support staff in these endeavors, like providing indoor and outdoor bike storage options, reimbursement for bike related expenses, TFS bikes for staff use, etc. But it turns out, the most interesting piece of our commuting story is the creativity of our staff and the fun, low carbon ways they get to and from work.

Check out some of their inspiring stories below.
 
 
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Alyssa: Public Transit

"I love riding the bus because I can reduce my carbon footprint AND ride in climate-controlled comfort, no matter the weather outside. The ride home is a great time to decompress from the day and stay in touch with the goings-on around Tucson. Plus, it's inexpensive and the bus routes cover the entire city, so I can get anywhere I need to go with my bus pass and my bike. I'm looking forward to Tucson adding electric buses to their fleet, so my commute can be even closer to carbon-free!"
Brandon: Bicycle

"I bike to work primarily as a way to consume less fossil fuels, but also I like the exercise. I definitely ride more now than I did before working here. TFS supports my bike commuting through the reimbursement on parts and repairs and influences my riding because so many of my co-workers ride to work and love bikes."

Rafael: Electric Motorcycle

"My wife and I have worked hard to reduce our personal carbon footprint. I used to bike to work, but now that we live farther away, that’s not a viable option. But my desire to have a clean commute hasn’t changed. The all electric motorcycle can be charged on my home solar energy system, and runs entirely on solar electrons. The cost was significantly less than an electric car and there is a 10% tax credit that further reduces the price. I'm back to a no-carbon commute!"
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Matt: Electric Vehicle

"My car is an electric vehicle (EV), a Chevrolet Spark. I drive an EV because it allows me to reduce my carbon emissions and save money! And it's fun; it's the quickest car I've ever owned. I was asked how working at TFS has influenced my ideas about commuting. But I think it is the other way around: the way I think about transportation and commuting is part of why I wanted to work at TFS, a place where others are exploring alternatives, too. And, since I started working at TFS, I've had many interesting and fruitful conversations about the future of transportation."
 
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Jenn F: Walking

"I used to bike seven miles to work at TFS. When I moved closer to the office, the one mile ride felt too short. I'm a cyclist and love time on my bike, but I needed more time- I couldn't even get through two songs on my commute! Now I walk each way. Walking to work connects me to my city. It allows me to really notice the things around me- the people, the ones that are thriving and the ones that are struggling; the shop owners; the dogs. The pace of walking allows for attention to detail that other forms of transportation miss. At the end of the day, it's good for my body, my soul, and the earth. The culture at TFS supports walking, biking, and even rollerblading to work! At my last job, I was an oddball coming into work with alternative transportation methods, changing my clothes, etc, but here I feel supported and in good company."
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Tony: Rollerblades

"Why do I rollerblade to and from work? 1) I try not to drive much to cut down on emissions 2) I spent all of last year walking to work (logged over 600 miles to and from work in 2019!) 3) Rollerblading helps me stay in shape 4) It also helps me to warm up in the morning before my long day of physical work. Rollerblading takes me less than half the time walking does, takes just minutes more than driving and doesn't have the carbon footprint of car travel."