cars


Be Green. Be Healthy. Save Money. Ride a Bike
May 19th, 2011 | Comments
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Exactly one year ago today as oil spilled into the Gulf we wrote this piece and thought it timely to share again. Do good for your body. Do good for the environment. Do good for your budget. Ride a bike.


Now that the weather is warmer we are back to cruising around town on our bike. This morning, as we took our life in our hands on a busy urban street dodging buses, car doors and other cyclists, we pedaled past a local service station and noticed for the first time the BP sign. Like most people we usually pay closer attention to the price per gallon on top of the pump than to the name of the gas supplier.

The contrast between the eco-sunny sentiment of the green and yellow BP logo, and the sludgy reality of what is happening in the Gulf made us feel positively hostile. Well, our uncomfortable bike pants, getting cut off by a taxi and the looming mountains ahead of us – okay, more like a series of hills – didn’t help. Anyway, it’s amazing how fury can fuel you, and we swished up and down the hills with ease; by the end of the ride our exercising endorphins had kicked in and calm reason briefly prevailed.

In those few moments of clarity, we decided it’s all too easy to vilify BP and their suppliers. Yes, those responsible for this mess must be held accountable, but is this not just another wake-up call in a long series of wake-up calls? The geo-political-eco-drill-baby-drill-pain caused by our gas guzzling ways is just being driven closer to home. We can’t live forever having our needs met in someone else’s back yard and we can’t continue consuming more than our share of fossil fuels. (more…)






How Do You Roll?
October 4th, 2010 | Comments
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A bitch gets around… town, that is.

Chapter 6 (A Bitch on Wheels Knows Her Limits) is devoted to the good, the bad, and the ugly of transportation. It’s all about managing your expenses (and mastering your look) when it comes to car-buying, carpooling, public transport, and two-wheelers. How to be green without giving up convenience? What kind of bike should you invest in? Can car-sharing work for you?

Here’s a taste from our book:

The first rule of car buying is to remember that you are a woman. Your car is not an anatomical extension of your body. You do not have a … and therefore have no need to proclaim to the world that yours is the biggest!….The second rule of car buying is to beat the assholes at their own game. You know the ones we’re talking about – the guys using more hair product than you, who talk directly to your breasts as they ask when your husband or father will be joining you. Don’t they know that women pay the bills and influence the majority of car buying decisions?

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And for the wild ones among you, we’ve got info about hogs and Vespas. Vroom vroom, bitches—see you in the fast lane.

Bitches on a Budget is published by the New American Library division of Penguin Books.






A Bitch on Wheels Knows Her Limits
July 19th, 2010 | Comments
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A Bitch on Wheels Knows Her Limits is the title of the chapter in our book about cars, bikes, scooters, blades, trains, shopping carts…basically, all rolling transport.

Since a new car is ghastly expensive when you factor in the cost of the vehicle, sales taxes, excise taxes, and insurance, we advise holding your hand when it comes to car purchases:

“Cars are not a fashion accessory. Get a grip and resist the auto industry’s new-model cycle.  Beware that new-car smell luring you into “premature purchase”.  Most cars should last at least eight to ten years before very costly repairs are necessary.”

That said, eventually the old beast runs out of gas and you need to invest in a new one. We offer guidance and smart resources for a gal looking for a car. We think buying used is one of the smartest ways to save since depreciation on a new vehicle is shockingly high, shockingly fast — 45% in the first 3 years of ownership. Just make sure you do your homework: buy from a dependable source and have it checked out by a hot mechanic with good hands. (Ok, you just need a good mechanic.)

How you finance your car purchase, whether it’s new or used, is important.  We advocate for careful saving in advance to avoid leasing and loans, but we know that’s not always possible.  So, before you go shopping for your car, head over to your own bank or credit union so you can go in armed to purchase with your own financing in place.  While there are loads of upright dealer citizens, we know of too many stories where unscrupulous dealers play games with contracts and make excess profit off financing plans.

For more on all things that roll–including the ultimate in ‘to die for’ shopping trolleys–check out  Bitches on a Budget!

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