Green Commuting: A Cop's Story

Kurt Braunsroth’s commute to work allows him to get in his workout, enjoy his hobby and have reliable transportation.

Sure, he sits at traffic lights, uses turn signals before changing lanes, and occasionally shifts gears during his morning commute. Only, his gears are the bicycle variety; and while he may not have blinkers, an extended arm does the job.
Braunsroth, an Atlanta Police Department investigator, takes advantage of his six mile Decatur-to-Midtown commute by riding his bike to work every day. For the last two years, come rain or shine, he has pedaled.

He gets up at 6:30 a.m., loads his saddlebags with his police gear (26-layer Kevlar bulletproof vest, ammunition and weapon included) and enjoys a cup of coffee with his wife, Kim – a personal chef who specializes in customizing meals for athletes. By 7:15 a.m., he’s off on his Cyclocross bike for the 40-minute ride to City Hall East.

Before the bike commute, he would go home from work and take a leisurely ride, combining a workout and hobby; now, he has more time to spend with his family at the end of the day. At 47, he doesn’t have to worry too much about what he eats. Braunsroth is able to keep up with his 5-year old son, Kyle, and enjoy the camaraderie and sense of community with other bikers he encounters.

Perhaps the most compelling change for the Braunsroth family has been the money they are able to save. According to the American Auto Association, the average American putting 15,000 miles on their car in a year is paying 52.2 cents per mile, or $7,834 annually. Once, the Braunsroths decided to ditch one of their cars, they wound up going from roughly 35,000 miles a year in two vehicles, to 8,000 a year on one.
"One day I looked down in our garage and there were cobwebs growing all over the second car because it had been sitting for so long," he said.

As a result, they have been able to use the money they would have spent on auto repairs, gas and insurance for home improvements, while taking advantage of tax deductions. The Braunsroths are able to do this by planning in advance, using MARTA, and equipping the bike to transport Kyle, if necessary. "Decatur has many options and everything is so close," Braunsroth said.

What most people don’t realize is that the cost of driving is not limited to the cost of gasoline –†not to mention the impact it has on the environment. Cycling is Braunsroth’s own effort towards living a more environmentally responsible life.
While Braunsroth admitted driving his car would save him about 10 minutes in commuting time, ultimately he enjoys the satisfaction of knowing his ride is always consistent and dependable. "I’m just taking advantage of a really good idea," he said. "And it’s way better and way easier than most people think."