Question of the Week: Why are you or aren’t you biking to work?
Posted on May 12th, 2008 - 10:29 AMEach week we ask a question related to the environment. Please let us know your thoughts as comments. Feel free to respond to earlier comments or post new ideas. Previous questions.
To bike or not to bike - that is the question… It’s National Bike Week! Biking is healthy, it prevents air pollution, and it can even save you money (filled your tank recently?). So why aren’t you biking to work? Need more bike paths? Different policies from your employer? Government sponsorship or policies? Or are you just a couch potato?
Why are you or aren’t you biking to work?
If you ARE biking, tell us about your route and experiences!
Follow-up: Summary of the comments submitted for this blog entry.
Related: How far do you live from where you work or play? Why?
Tags: biking, Question of the Week
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May 12th, 2008 at 11:38 am
In the summer I bike the six miles to work along the Mississippi River from St. Paul to the University of Minnesota. In the winter and for much of the year I am not able to bike because time and the weather are factors. Still we need more bike paths, government sponsorships, etc!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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May 12th, 2008 at 12:42 pm
I live and work in the Baltimore metropolitan area, and would love to bike to work. However, I live 40 miles from my job! I also suffer from a lack of a good inter-county public transportation system in my area.
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May 12th, 2008 at 2:29 pm
I live near downtown DC and I’m lucky my federal agency offers a big bike room and shower & changing facilities for people who want to bike to work. Not all federal agencies do, however. My friend who works at FCC says she’d bike to work if she could shower off, but agency management says they can’t spend money on showers or locker rooms for employees because it’s not in the agency mandate.
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May 12th, 2008 at 2:32 pm
I don’t bike to work because I walk to work. (Actually the train does the 30 miles in the middle.) Also because my tires still need to be inflated for the spring and it’s a lot of work with a hand pump, and ‘cos I broke my toe and can’t ride my bike yet anyway. But commuting by bike is a fantastic idea.
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May 12th, 2008 at 2:44 pm
I work for a local government outside of Tampa and live six miles from work. Normally I try to bike twice a week year-round (thank you Florida sunshine). These last two weeks I’ve tossed the cover on the car and biked every day!
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May 12th, 2008 at 2:59 pm
Do you have any idea how much energy I expend just getting out of bed? I would expend more energy riding my bi-cycle for 40 miles, so I want to conserve my energy!!! Its all about conserving my energy.
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May 12th, 2008 at 3:56 pm
I do not bike to work because I take children to daycare first and then go to work. It would be too hard and too dangerous to bike with them during the morning and evening commutes. On the other hand, I would seriously consider doing it during nice weather if there were bike routes.
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May 12th, 2008 at 5:38 pm
I live close to work and occasionally bike but the risk imposed by heavy car traffic and the weather (especially rain) tend to keep me out of the saddle.
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May 13th, 2008 at 1:44 am
I don’t bike to work because work is 22 miles from home. I’m trying to get a job closer to home - about 7 miles away, and then I’ll bike when I can. 14 miles round trip is much less daunting than 44.
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May 13th, 2008 at 7:52 am
I bike to carpool, I bike to mass transit, I bike to my sons school. Used to bike all the way to work (18 miles) then I had kids and I stopped for two reasons, first was time (it takes me longer to bike then to carpool)so its less time I spend biking with my kids at the local park. Second and biggest reason was I now have a slight fear factor of city traffic. This never bothered me before and but the kid effect makes me feel like I need to be more cautious now. My commute is still 0 personal emissions but I do miss the carefree/carfree days of biking all the way in, plus I could do without the extra ten lbs.
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May 13th, 2008 at 8:32 am
It is simply too far for me to bike.
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May 13th, 2008 at 9:08 am
There is no safe route to bike to work. People tend to ignore traffic laws so even crossing the street from one building to the next is very dangerous!!!
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May 13th, 2008 at 12:00 pm
I think it is too dangerous to cross the GW parkway on my bike. I know there is a tunnel in crystal city but I live up near rt50 and that would take me pretty far out of my way.
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May 13th, 2008 at 2:16 pm
I’m not too far from work, but a healthy fear of DC drivers’–particularly taxis–lack of respect for basic traffic conventions keeps me off the streets. Bike paths would certainly help, but I do walk several days a week, taking the bus the rest, when the weather permits. Better air quality would also make it more appealing.
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May 13th, 2008 at 2:19 pm
Wishful biker: it’s really not too bad. I come down from western Arlington and then downriver from Rosslyn. There’s only one point where I cross the parkway to get up to the Memorial Bridge, and then another crossing of the offramp. In both cases, I rarely wait more than a few seconds for a large opening in traffic.
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May 13th, 2008 at 2:37 pm
When I lived inside the beltway, I biked in most days. I really enjoyed it (except for the longgggg ride up through Arlington Cemetery). Now I live 70 miles from DC, so that’s out of the question. I’m in a vanpool but it’s not the same. Oh well.
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May 13th, 2008 at 3:06 pm
I live in Columbus, OH and my employer does not provide showers/locker rooms at work. This prevents a lot of people from biking to work.
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May 13th, 2008 at 3:08 pm
I used to ride my bicycle everywhere in Arizona, but now I live 20 miles from work in rural Missouri. They have no shoulders on most of the roads here - only ditches next to the pavement - so it’s very dangerous to ride in most places.
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May 13th, 2008 at 3:09 pm
It is over ten miles, some of it through a very bad neighborhood.
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May 13th, 2008 at 3:09 pm
I’d live to bike to work, but it’s way too far, and even if it wasn’t, it would be quite a dangerous ride.
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May 13th, 2008 at 3:10 pm
I live in Maumelle, AR and work in Little Rock. My employer does not provide showers/locker rooms at our workplace and like many, this prevents me from biking to work. Also, I am main person in the family that drops off our child to daycare each morning.
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May 13th, 2008 at 3:11 pm
I would absolutely love to bike to work!! However the route is along a highway feeder where, although the speed limit is 50 miles an hour, most people speed through!! I would be terrified. We have talked about a scooter though.
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May 13th, 2008 at 3:11 pm
too far (24 mi one way) and too humid in Houston. not to mention the drivers here. i take my life into my own hands driving in a car! did invest in a Prius this year… hope that helps. it has helped w/the gas bill. even on mostly all hwy to work, i am averaging 46mpg
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May 13th, 2008 at 3:11 pm
I very much would like to bike to work, but I don’t yet because I have to dress business formal and both biking in a suit and dressing at work are solutions that don’t appeal to me much.
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May 13th, 2008 at 3:11 pm
I would love to bike to work but my office is 21 miles from home, over the river and through the tunnel. Simply impossible time-wise and safety-wise. I use my bike for errands closer to home and going to the farmers market. I also telecommute from home once a week, so that allows me to reduce my carbon footprint a little.
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May 13th, 2008 at 3:12 pm
I would love to but live 20 miles from work and have no access to showers once I arrive. In our hot humid climate that would be ugly! I do walk or ride a bike to errrands on the weekends.
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May 13th, 2008 at 3:12 pm
I live 22 miles from where I work and live in south Florida. Because of the distance and heat, I am unable to bike to work. However, I bike and walk every where on the weekends.
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May 13th, 2008 at 3:13 pm
I bike to work every once in awhile. I have to plan my bike riding for days when i don’t have a meeting or public encounters due to the fact that my office has no shower (and yes my co-workers just have to deal with my B-O). It took about a week for certain cars to get use to my bike on a certain small but busy road (nothing like early morning honking to wake you up). Also, when it comes to cold weather I am a sissie so I almost never ride during the winter.
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May 13th, 2008 at 3:15 pm
It is too far (25 miles each way) and there is no safe route. I also am a single mom to 2 young children and need to be able to get to their school quickly if they are sick. But I would love to be able to use an alternative form of transportation. Congrats to those of you who do bike to work!
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May 13th, 2008 at 3:15 pm
I don’t ride to work because I walk to the commuter train station from home and walk from the station to my office at the other end. Also, in the summer I wear skirts and dresses (which are cooler than slacks) and as I have a boy’s bike I would have to change clothes at the end of the commute. I could ride my bike to the train and lock it up outside for 12 hours, but why risk its being stolen to save five minutes?
I do ride my bike around town to run errands, including light grocery shopping.
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May 13th, 2008 at 3:16 pm
I live in Appleton, WI. I bike everyday I can or about 180 days a year. My commute is about ten miles each way. We have no lockers or showers at work. If you ride easy all you need is a washcloth, towel and a sink to get cleaned up. No need to change either unless you push hard. If the weather is bad I use a rain suit or ride the bus. Commuting by bike is a matter of desire and looking at how to achieve the goal, not how the obstacles can stop you.
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May 13th, 2008 at 3:18 pm
My round trip commute is 74 miles!
I would love to bike to work if it were an option.
I live in a rural community with no bike path but would love it if there were one nearby for recreational purposes!
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May 13th, 2008 at 3:18 pm
I live too far - 14 miles away to be exact - from my work. With Miami traffic, it would be suicidal to bike that far. I’d really like ito be able to bike though - would make me feel like I get more of exercise in my day. I currently take the stairs up five flights at work, but that’s hardly enough.
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May 13th, 2008 at 3:18 pm
Don’t currently bike to work & it’s not because of the weather - no shower facility in our leased facility. Even if we had a shower facility, which employees could use, don’t necessarily wish to take a second shower within a few hours. Many employees are interested in biking, but we also don’t currently have a bike rack or storage area.
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May 13th, 2008 at 3:18 pm
Unfortunately…I live way too far from work. I used to bike to work every day–and I miss that. We as a culture just do not support this. That is, we could–if we wished to–accommodate more persons’ being able to do this, IF we would just adopt some flexibility/get away from the SUPER-RIGID, must be at work in that one building from 8 to 5 M-F mentality. Even in these days of technology, we insist on this rigid format. (Sorry; venting.)
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May 13th, 2008 at 3:19 pm
I start riding every year during Bike to Work month and then get out of the habit as the summer goes along. Then by fall, I find that I get home in the dark. Part of my decision to ride is the support I get from co-workers. During Bike to Work month, we have teams, we get supportive emails, there are even prizes. I should ride more…and maybe this year I will keep doing it.
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May 13th, 2008 at 3:19 pm
I live in Venice, CA and used to bike to work everyday when I worked in Santa Monica (just 3 miles from my job). There is a bike path along the beach and local roads that are safer to travel on. I have recently started a new job that is 20 miles away and involves traveling on major highways through downtown LA, CA. There is no way I can ride my bike now because of the distance and unsafe roads. Public transportation is not the best in LA either. I went from only using my car to move it to the other side of the street for street sweeping, to driving it everyday, in traffic, for 1 1/2 to 2 hours. I am looking into getting a hybrid!
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May 13th, 2008 at 3:20 pm
I bike to work, when I know for sure it is not going to rain. It’s about 3.5 miles one way. Cars get annoyed. There are no bike lanes on the route i take to work. Also the road is crumbling where i ride.. it’s very dangerous.
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May 13th, 2008 at 3:21 pm
I can’t bike to work. I am a newspaper editor, photographer and correspondant. I cover as many as 8 differendt event in one day and cover as many as 150 miles. There are no bike trails or safe rods to bike on and no regional transportation of any kind. they save those luxuries for the important areas of Lake County like Gary! I do drive a very fuel efficient vehicle and use bio fuel. i also route my trips to be as gas efficient as possible. I ‘m also a paperless office at least until you get the finished newspaper in your hands and then it is printed with water soluable ink on recylcled paper. It is the best I can do with the resources available.
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May 13th, 2008 at 3:21 pm
Unfortunately I live too far from my work place…although I would love to ride my bike to and from home…it is just not feasible. Also my employer does not provide us with showers/lockers.
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May 13th, 2008 at 3:22 pm
Ive been biking to work for 25 yrs-commute ranging from 20-35mi rnd trip including into the heart of downtown boston, 11 months of the yr. What stops most people: #1: they think they need a bike path,#2:they need a safe place to lock the bike #3 they worry about showers and clothes at work.lots of other excuses/reasons. id say fear of traffic is by far the biggest issue.
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May 13th, 2008 at 3:23 pm
I am a year-round bike commuter, despite living in the northeast, the land of snow and ice. I live five miles from Providence, where I work. The roads have a good shoulder, and traffic is generally very courteous. However, offices and other public work places do not have facilities to house bikes, especially in inclement weather. If bike racks were routinely provided INDOORS, I am sure it would encourage more people to ride.
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May 13th, 2008 at 3:23 pm
In Fort Atkinson, WI, we have a bike path that goes about halfway through town. It could be expanded to the surrounding area (Jefferson, Whitewater, etc.) for recreational biking, but is convienent for local businesses if employees live in town. I started biking to work about two weeks ago. I only live two miles away.
The problem is, many people I work with commute from the Madison or Milwaukee area, and aren’t able to bike the 40-60+ miles. But, many do carpool.
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May 13th, 2008 at 3:26 pm
I commute to work across two counties and several cities and towns. Its all highway and it takes 45 minutes to an hour going 70 mph. The commute by car takes away too much personal time. I can’t imagine how long it might take by bicycle. Plus, I don’t know what route I’d take. Its probably a country road and I might get run off it into corn fields. I also can’t figure out how I’d drop off kids at school or pick them up from daycare on my bicycle.
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May 13th, 2008 at 3:27 pm
I know it’s vane but I really don’t like getting sweaty before and after work…and there is a huge hill between my house and work… if I could shower at work it might make a difference.
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May 13th, 2008 at 3:27 pm
WOW- A lot of people who have very good reasons not to bike to work. I would like to see more of us who do ride. I live in alexandria, va, and work in DC. My bike commute is about 20 miles each way, and I try to ride at least once a week, all year long. On cold days (below 25 degrees) which I love, I try to think about the hot days (over 80 degrees at 7:00 am, but at least its humid). When I don’t ride I drive to metro and take the train in, takes about an hour door-to-door. When I do ride its takes about 70-80 minutes door to door. I find that the days I ride are the most productive at work in the morning and the evening cince I feel so good for having ridden in, and in the afternoon, I have a nice ride to look forward to. Guess I’m just lucky!
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May 13th, 2008 at 3:28 pm
I don’t ride my bike b/c I am about 36 miles from home. We could use some more bike paths and public trans that accomodates bikes.
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May 13th, 2008 at 3:28 pm
I started walking to work when gas reached $3.25 per gallon. I arrive at work just before 6am, and these days (on the East coast) the early morning twilight is delightful. And the afternoon (5pm) hike is great too. It’s amazing how many things you can see, at 4 mph, that were never noticed before.
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May 13th, 2008 at 3:29 pm
I live 42 miles from work. I do bike on occassion. I ride my Harley every chance I get. Unfortunately, my work requires me to leave my office and visit clients and it is not quite acceptable to arrive on a bike sometimes.
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May 13th, 2008 at 3:30 pm
I can’t because I live 65 miles from work. But our company is pushing the green initiative and we will be installing more bike racks for those who do live close enough.
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May 13th, 2008 at 3:30 pm
Well, have to meet my child’s bus & drive for 25 minutes. If there were affordable housing close to my work, (I work in a suburb, live in the country) I would love to be able to do this.
Our area definitely needs biketrails, etc. and a more environmental focus. I will work for this and help as I can.
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May 13th, 2008 at 3:31 pm
It’s too dangerous. I live close to where I work but the only way to ride a bike (without adding 10 extra miles) is on a heavily traveled narrow two lane road. The morning commute would be before daybreak which would increase the chills and thrills.
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May 13th, 2008 at 3:33 pm
I would love to bike to work, but there are no safe routes from the suburbs into the city. Until the fat-cats decide to stop throwing money at the trafic congestion problem, thus encouraging more driving, and put more money into alternative transportation, the bike commute option will not materialize for me. YeeHaa - when will it be drive your truck to work day? Oh-yeah, that’s every day in Texas!
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May 13th, 2008 at 3:33 pm
I currently vanpool & have for almost 4 yrs. I would love to ride my bike but it’s about 76 miles round trip to work & back home. Within Pinal County (AZ) you have minimal bike routes as well as bike lanes. There is no public transportation. So it’s either carpool, drive yourself, or vanpool if your employer contributes financially as Pinal County does. More people would ride their bikes if it was safe to do so. But currently it’s taking your life in your hands. There is no safe place to leave your bike during the day. Hopefully one day our county will be bicycle oriented.
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May 13th, 2008 at 3:33 pm
I live to far away around 50 miles one way from work. I live in Kansas and it would be to dangerous on the highway and the speed limit is 70 mph.
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May 13th, 2008 at 3:34 pm
I live only 9 miles from the federal agency where I am employed. I would love to bike to work but can’t because of an unnecessary no later than 900 am arrival time rule (need to take son to school first).
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May 13th, 2008 at 3:35 pm
No, I don’t bike to work, 25 miles one way, down I85 don’t think you can ride your bike on interstates. I would if I could because its much more safe than riding on the country roads where I live. Its dangerous out there. Drivers have no respect for you and in some cases try to run you off the road. We do have nice bike trails in our area however, which we may take advantage of and some of our roads have bike trails along the road, but that is in the city, not in the country although there are roads designated for biking, but still dangerous. So, I’m chicken. Biking is wonderful exercise its fun and its wonderful time with the family and or friends. Thanks.
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May 13th, 2008 at 3:42 pm
I’m retired so don’t have to go to work. But, three years ago I
started riding a motor scooter around town and now ride a
motor cycle getting 62 MPG!
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May 13th, 2008 at 3:43 pm
I do not bike to work because there is no safe road between my home and work… also, I am horribly out of shape and would probably die! Also, it would add 2 hours to my commute time.
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May 13th, 2008 at 3:44 pm
I used to bike to work and it was fantastic… but we moved to the ‘burbs and now I live too far. Easy access to mass transit was THE factor in deciding our new home. I don’t understand how anyone can sit in an idling car - yuck.
Thank goodness for HOV lanes and the DC grassroots phenomenon: Slugging!
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May 13th, 2008 at 3:44 pm
1) I walk to Metro and take it in. I don’t use the car at all, except the mile to the Metro on really stormy days.
2) It’s really too far to practically bike every day.
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May 13th, 2008 at 3:44 pm
I commute 40 miles to work at the moment because i do not live in the area.
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May 13th, 2008 at 3:51 pm
I only live a mile and a half from work and would love to ride my bike to work, but I use my vehicle to call on customers.
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May 13th, 2008 at 3:56 pm
I don’t bike to work because my office is in my home.
It would be too hard to maneuver around the furniture, through the tight turns, and down the narrow halls.
My previous job required a commute of 45 freeway miles each way, much to far to bike.
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May 13th, 2008 at 3:57 pm
I bike to work because it is the only exercise I get all day. It is 9 miles each way. I really miss it when I can’t ride. The only problem is that bikes are high maintenance items. I would like a bike which did not get as many flats, broken spokes, worn gears, chains etc. It costs me about 15 to 20 cents a mile in repairs!!!
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May 13th, 2008 at 3:59 pm
I love the fact that I’m able to bike to work, in our winters, because to attempt it in the summer is suicide at 110* out side. Oh would love to come to work dripping wet.
But no matter how much I love it, the roads scare me, I’ve been pushed off the bike paths by motorists, had things thrown at me by kids in they’re trucks and have had someome in a car play bumper tag with my bike fender.
So until the roads are safe for all bikers, I am back to riding in my car.
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May 13th, 2008 at 4:03 pm
I do not ride my bike to work because I have to take my child to Daycare that is 15 miles away from my house then drive another 15 miles to work. Almost all of the drive is highway and that would be risky plus I have to be at work at 7:30 am I think I would have to leave my house way to early!!!
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May 13th, 2008 at 4:05 pm
I bike/commute every day, no matter the weather, from Evanston to Chicago, a 26 miles round trip, year round. What started out as a way to work out and not cut into any work or family time has turned into a passion.
My old commute via the CTA was 45minutes at best and 2 on a bad day. I can now set the pace and find that I am nearly as fast as the best CTA time (shower included) @ 1 hour. I can’t imagine wasting my time waiting for the train or bus when I could be riding.
Chicago has a great bike locker/facility downtown and trials/roads to ride making the commute that much better.
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May 13th, 2008 at 4:06 pm
I just started biking to work to show my fellow employees that it can be done. I live 19.2 miles away. The only problem is that my employer does not have shower facilties. I make arrangements with an adjacent business.
The ride is great. I have a lot less stress when get to work and alot less stress when I get home at night. For me, that alone makes the commute by bike worth the time and effort.
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May 13th, 2008 at 4:07 pm
You can come up with all the excuses you want….and that is what they are EXCUSES! I bike to work because it is fun. Endorfins are wonderful things. My route takes me around a one horse town, past the goose farm, across a US route, past several water hazards, around dead man’s curve, by the big dog, on the rails to trails bike path, past the club, through town, around the potholes, across the tracks and into the secret storage room.
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May 13th, 2008 at 4:12 pm
I have a 90 mile commute round trip. I do ride a VanPool.
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May 13th, 2008 at 4:14 pm
I bike commute 3 to 4 days a week using a bus - bike combination.
Although San Diego can be a nice place to ride, most of the roads outside the city are not set up for bicycle commuting. I need to put my bike on a bus to get near my office, not because of the distance, but because there is no safe way for me to cross to the freeway to the north side of Mission Valley from where I live and no way safely back up a realatively minor hill to get home because of the risk from high speed freeway traffic.
Fortunately all SD buses have bike racks and I put my bike on the bus and ride past the dangerous parts of my route and bike the rest. The total mileage is about 16 but only about 8 of it is actually ridable. My company has a trasnporation reimbursement plan so I get a monthly bus pass that is good for all busses and the trolley. It’s a good combination.
When I used to work in the city itself I rode both ways easily and it was 15 minutes faster than driving and $125 per month less than paying to park at the office.
More needs to be done to have safe routes that extend to more areas outside san Diego and other cities too.
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May 13th, 2008 at 4:28 pm
I commute 50+ miles round trip.
SC summers are WAY too hot.
Traffic too dangerous. I travel Interstate to work.
Don’t own a bike.
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May 13th, 2008 at 4:34 pm
I bike the 5 miles to work as often as the weather’s nice, which here in WI means April thru Oct, though the higher the cost of gas, the nicer the days seem to become (for biking, that is). It’d be nice to have more bike paths, but I’d settle for some decent shoulders to get away from traffic abit. Some drivers are considerate in those sections, some aren’t; always was, probably always will be.
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May 13th, 2008 at 4:37 pm
I would love to bike to work, but I have a disabled 2 year old I need to get to daycare and medical appointments (7+ a week). And I live up a very large hill (the Oakland hills) which there’s no way I could bike up! Those that can bike to work are very lucky.
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May 13th, 2008 at 4:47 pm
I would love to bike to work, however I drop my son off at school before heading to work. I would love to bike, I’m not sure I’m physically up to it yet. However, if my sons school would have bike racks like they did when I was a kid. I would venture to bike to his school and then head to work. I do ride-share though!
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May 13th, 2008 at 4:50 pm
I live 50 miles away from where I work
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May 13th, 2008 at 4:58 pm
NO, I am nopt a couch potato. Do not bike to work, because unfortunately, I am retired. As for biking I would love to, but I do not have a sense of balance, so hats off to all that ca.
Besides being green friendly, we are also watching our wallets, with the gas prices.
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May 13th, 2008 at 5:14 pm
I live in Greenpoint Brooklyn. I don’t work, but I attend alot of community meetings. I wish I could bike there but I’m just not sure of my biking skills. Especially with all the new traffic. I wish there were more signage, more safety measures, more outreach. Perhaps even classes to make folks more comfortable about biking.
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May 13th, 2008 at 5:20 pm
I’m a fair weather fan and bike in to work many days of the year. I live in DC where there is access to some pretty good bike paths, but the roads are not very bike friendly. I zip down Rock Creek Parkway and LOVE passing cars stuck in traffic… SUCKAHS!
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May 13th, 2008 at 5:28 pm
I dont ride my bike to work because I take my son to school on my way to work. Right now I dont feel comfortable having my son ride 2 miles on his own bike through city traffic, hes 8 and not quite ready yet. But things are going to change soon though! I’m currently looking for a nice used tandem so we can ride together.
I’m so tired of my car. Tired of the isolation most of all. I feel like I’m an active member of my community when I’m ridin!
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May 13th, 2008 at 5:31 pm
I bike to work a few days each week about 8 miles one way when the weather is nice. Here in Greenville, SC, the weather is nice for most of the year, so it works out pretty well. I could say I do it for the environment, for my health, or too save money, but none of those reasons would be true. Those are nice byproducts of my commute, but the real reason I do it is because it is fun. I love riding my bike, but with family and work obligations my time to ride is limited. By replacing the time I would otherwise spend in a car, it is like I am getting free riding time for myself.
I hope that as gas prices continue to rise, we will start to see the average size of vehicles on the road gradually decline. Sharing the road with SUV drivers who are on the phone is one thing that I never had to contend with 20 years ago when I started commuting by bike.
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May 13th, 2008 at 6:09 pm
I would love to ride my bike to work considering I live only a few miles from work in Sacramento, CA, but there is no safe bike path….and I don’t want to die.
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May 13th, 2008 at 6:23 pm
It would be great to bike to work, unfortunately I live over 40 miles from work.
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May 13th, 2008 at 6:24 pm
I have been biking to work, most days, since 1993. Reviewing the many comments from those who do not bike to work makes be grateful for the fact that it is relatively easy for me to do so. I live a little over 5 miles from my Seattle EPA office. It is rarely too cold (as in icy) and never too hot or too humid. There are dedicated bike lanes most of the way. I have a secure place to park my bike and there are locker rooms and showers in the building. During rush hour, I can still get home faster on my bike than I could any other way, but if I don’t feel like riding all the way, the busses here have bike racks. So really, I have no excuse NOT to bike–though most of my similarly situated colleagues somehow manage to find one.
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May 13th, 2008 at 6:26 pm
Unfortunately, no, I cannot ride to work as my southern locale continues to be subject to severe urban sprawl. It is common here to live in one of 3 towns/cities in this area and commute to another for work. Planners here have focused primarily on linking them by interstate. Each city has it’s own bus system. A light rail referendum failed 2 years ago, but perhaps it fair better now.
I am unaware of any planned expansion or enforced sharing of the local roads here to accommodate bicycles, although there are many bicycle clubs that ride regularly at great risk to life and limb.
And a big factor for families is the issue that many parents must take time off to handle planned and unplanned doctor visits, school appts, and other issues not permiting one to go without a car as there is generally no alternative or backup parent/grandparent readily available at the drop of a hat.
Until there has been a major mind and economic shift in my area we will not be able to fully enjoy the health and economic benefits of riding a bicycle to work. Thanks for asking.
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May 13th, 2008 at 6:31 pm
I do not bike to work as it is on a high traffic route and there are no bike paths on which to ride. However, I do bike to my gym for my workout. We live in Florida and sometimes weather is a factor.
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May 13th, 2008 at 6:35 pm
I live in rural Eastern Washington. My commute is 45 miles - way too far to bike. There is also no public transportation so I am stuck driving.
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May 13th, 2008 at 6:54 pm
We do not bike to work because we live on the 3rd floor and walk down to the office in the lowest level. We park our car two blocks away. So we are always on foot. If we bike, it is recreational.
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May 13th, 2008 at 6:55 pm
I don’t bike because its unsafe. I’d be on the shoulder of a Hwy full of semitrucks going 65 mph. If there was a bike path, I’d bike to work.
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May 13th, 2008 at 7:30 pm
I ride to work every day that it’s not snowy or icy. Here in the DC area that means I ride the bus maybe 5-10 days a year, the rest of the days I’m on my folding bike or folding electric bike. We have no showers at work but I just change and clean up in the restroom during our humid summer. My bike sits right next to my desk–best parking space of all! My commute takes me through a combination of residential streets, bike paths, and bike lanes. I also frequently ride my bike on the weekends for errands and social activities. The best part about it–it’s fun!
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May 13th, 2008 at 7:53 pm
I ride my bike to year round. Once a year “Bike to Work Day/Week” are great for “TV news” a person really needs to plan, work out where to park, change clothes, etc… It’s a little tricker than riding to grade school and getting discouraged! I would highly recommend anyone who want try commuting to get some basic education, here is good link: Ten Tips for Safe & Enjoyable Bicycle Commuting” by Fred Oswald, LCI #947, PE . Give cycling a try, it takes a little more effort and some flexibility but it’s worth it!
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May 13th, 2008 at 9:16 pm
We live about 9 miles from town, that is not including the fact that it is highway and we can’t bike on the highway. I live in Rice, Minnesota and we are supposed to have a light rail system. If the government would speed up things it might even commercially boost the area a lot. I used to ride my bike everywhere when i lived in Chicago, but things have changed. So unless they give people an alternative then i don’t think much will change.
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May 13th, 2008 at 10:36 pm
I don’t bike to work because my workplace has no covered place to park bicycles. (Our area gets a lot of rain, and I don’t want by bicycle to rust.) No bike trails between home and work, I don’t feel safe riding on the road with cars moving past me at 45 or 50 miles an hour.
I occasionally walk to work (around 3 miles, 50 minutes). Sidewalks most of the way, though the last quarter mile is on the grass off to the side of a busy highway, which is an irritation but not a showstopper. I’m trying to overcome laziness and walk more often.
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May 13th, 2008 at 10:40 pm
I don’t bike to work, even though with some effort it’s possible, because I would be sweaty by the time I got there.
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May 13th, 2008 at 11:08 pm
We cannot bike as our office is 50 KM away from home.Even our work schedule is such that we cannot take our own time to bike and reach.
Its fact that there should be some economicl speeder bikes which equalizes with the speed of heavy vehicle to practice this.
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May 13th, 2008 at 11:19 pm
I live 23 miles from work, and it’s a highway with no bike trail. I like to take my dog to work and train him at lunch on the beach or in the park. I do bike on a rural road during the summer, though, and it is a great feeling!
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May 13th, 2008 at 11:37 pm
I’ve been bicycling to work, often in combination with transit, for more than 14 years. At first it was just more time effective; I lived in San Francisco where both transit and driving were slow. But my health improved, I’ve saved all kinds of money (gas, parking, insurance, etc.), and simply had much more fun! And now I even enjoy the satisfaction of not contributing to climate change. Try it.
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May 13th, 2008 at 11:45 pm
I used to, but I don’t since I got hit by a car biking home from work. The driver was uninsured and gave me a fake phone number, so I ended up giving away what was left of the bike to someone to use for spare parts. Eventually I would like to buy another bike, but I don’t think I would ride during rush hour traffic - people drive too recklessly to make it worth it…
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May 14th, 2008 at 12:47 am
I bike as much as I can because NYC is a great place to ride. Its exhilarating to take your life into your own hands every day. You can read all about it at my blog; http://www.bikeblog.blogspot.com. I would probably bike less if the transit system wasn’t so crowded and inefficient, Gas wasn’t 4.00 a gallon and cab drivers knew where they were going, Biking in NYC makes a lot of sense. Their are big obstacles to overcome, but the more people that ride…the better we will make this city.
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May 14th, 2008 at 1:16 am
I am not biking to my work. The route to my office is not allowed for biking. The route to my office is one of the main road in Yangon. But I think it is too foolish to bar like this.
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May 14th, 2008 at 1:40 am
I bike to work every day, about 3 miles each way. The California weather makes it easy. My wife and I chose to live close to work so I could ride. Housing costs are higher than they would be further away, but after you factor in the cost of buying a second car, paying for gas, insurance and maintenance, biking is a steal.
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May 14th, 2008 at 2:25 am
I bike to work 24 miles round trip, along the waterfront of West Seattle, and then along the downtown waterfront. It’s a great ride in any weather. I just picked up cycling again, and I love it. I do think that if we want more bicycles on the road, we need to make the roads more friendly for bicycles. The age of roads designed for automobile traffic needs to give way to a more reasonable compromise of bicycle lanes, pedestrian paths, public mass transit, mixed with automobiles, especially in urban areas. I also think the prices ,for not just bicycles, but more importantly the accessories that help making biking safer, could be subsidized by the government to help encourage more adults to get back on their bikes.
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May 14th, 2008 at 6:49 am
I would love to bike to work - unfortunately I drive 35 miles one-way, from the country to the city and am unable to.
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May 14th, 2008 at 6:57 am
I never bike to my college, since it is nearly 30kms. But i enjoy biking when i am appointed in deputation to neighbouring colleges by the university. But any way in India long distance biking in highways is under higher risk.
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May 14th, 2008 at 7:14 am
I try to bike everyday even with my wife and sons and not just to work. Items that are unfriendly to cyclists include: road design, lack of law enforcement on speeding/reckless drivers, lack of bike parking facilities, lack of dedicated funding to facilitate the building and use of bike lanes and political attitudes. The state of MO has chosen to use public funds to promote pro cycling for one week out of the year but fails to promote/support cycling for commuters 52 out of 52 weeks a year. The Complete Street legislation was quashed by the head of the dept of transportation who believes highways (which cannot be used by cyclists) is our salvation.
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May 14th, 2008 at 7:22 am
I don’t bike to work as my commute is over 70 miles roundtrip,there is no safe route and I have to leave @ 5am to get to work on time as it is. Besides I vanpool with 13 other people, and feel I am doing my part.
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May 14th, 2008 at 7:28 am
I’ve been biking to work for the past few years. I made a decision to buy a house near downtown Salt Lake where I work, so that I wouldn’t have to be as dependent on my car. It was a great decision. I bike the two miles to work for ten months out of the year; the other two I ride the bus. Bike commuting is great exercise. It gets you out in your community and it saves money.
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May 14th, 2008 at 7:46 am
I’ve been riding to & from work - 32 miles round trip - for almost four years now. The first three months after I started commuting by bike were the toughest - getting back into shape and getting the routine down. Once that happened, I had a change in mindset from ‘what excuse can I find today to drive to work?’ to ‘how can I change my schedule so that I can ride today?’ Ever since, I’ve been a 5-day a week year round bicycle commuter. Sure, there are times when I don’t ride; occassional life gets in the way and necessitates the use of a car or, more often, weather gets in the way - snow & ice in the winter (I don’t trust the drivers around here) or strong thunderstorms in the summer. I ride because I love it - the savings in gas and other associated car expenses is just a bonus.
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May 14th, 2008 at 7:47 am
I bike to work most days about 14 miles each way. I use the money I would pay for a week’s worth of gas or public transit to buy a $40 a month membership at the gym next door where I change and shower before work. I’m lucky, though: I live next to a bike path that gives me a straight shot into the city. The last two miles (in downtown DC traffic) are pretty scary: cars don’t bother to obey traffic laws and (especially the taxis) and can get pretty aggressive when they feel that I’m in their way and my safety might add 5 or 10 seconds to their morning commute. If my entire ride was like that, I wouldn’t ride at all.
If you want to encourage bike commuting, build dedicated bike lanes (with curbs or barriers so that drivers can’t use them as right-hand passing lane) and hand out hefty reckless-driving fines to anyone (cyclist or motorist) who disregards traffic laws.
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May 14th, 2008 at 7:53 am
The second best thing after biking to work is biking home after work. No matter how busy I was during the day, as soon as I get on the bike, it’s a new day and I’m a new person… my head clears and my body comes back to life. What a great way to end the day.
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May 14th, 2008 at 8:02 am
I would love to bike to work, but it is not possible in my area. I live in the country, I have to take frontage roads to get to HWY 41 to get anywhere. I live 30-40 miles away from work as it is. There is mass transit in the city I work in, but it does not connect to where I live. So I am stuck driving to work.
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May 14th, 2008 at 8:02 am
I believe we need to focus on three things:
1) providing safe access for bikes- and walkers- on all roads….ie designated bike lanes on, or paralleling, major roads and highways– or at least wide sidewalks on every road.
2) locker rooms in every office building.
3) Safe bike storage at every office building
My commute is on the beltway from Virginia, past Tysons, across the Dulles Toll Road and finally across the American Legion bridge, to Maryland. Can anyone who knows the area even propose a route to navigate through the incredible car traffic, and to get across the river at that point? My only “reasonable” option is to take the Custis trail into Georgetown and the Canal Path all the way back out to McArthur Blvd at Falls Road… a route that basically doubles the mileage. Not an excuse! The ride can still be made. But I do daydream about the beltway with lanes blocked off for bike traffic only. How soon might we get to a tipping point, with gas so expensive- or hard to find- that there actually are more bikes than cars on the beltway? Fantasy? or Future reality?
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May 14th, 2008 at 8:05 am
I don’t ride while school is in session because I have to drop my kids off at their respective locations. In the summer, I will be riding my bike to work more.
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May 14th, 2008 at 8:05 am
As much as I’d love to bike to work, it’s an hour drive!!! State highways the entire way. And one of the most dangerous places to ride a bike in the US. I am looking for a place closer to work, though, so at least I’m taking steps in the right direction.
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May 14th, 2008 at 8:10 am
I either bike 14, 28 or 32 miles to work depending on the condition of the trails (the 28 mile route) or the availability of light after work (14 and 32 are on road also using public transport). There are a lot of reasons to bike but after you start there is no rationale. You do it because you become addicted to it. The days you come into work not biking you feel like crap (relatively). I used to be a fair weather bike commuter. But that doesn’t satisfy the craving. Bike commuter paraphenalia provide the clearest indicators of addiction–studded tires that allow riding on ice covered streets, gore-tex raingear, wool bike clothes, winter bike shoes, 10-watt bike lights. So the savings from bike commuting for real junkies are negligible–I could fill my tank 5 times for the cost of the bike shoes. But there is no more euphoric way to lose 30 pounds.
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May 14th, 2008 at 8:12 am
I bike about 12 (hilly) miles to work because I like the workout. It’s a great way to fold exercise into an otherwise busy schedule. I must say that what makes it possible is that my employer (EPA in Washington DC) provides access to a bike/locker room and showers.
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May 14th, 2008 at 8:21 am
I live inside the Beltway. Riding a bike in this area is suicide. Not only do drivers not yield for bikers, they run them down and drive off. Same goes for pedestrians. We really need bikepaths and very strong laws protecting bike riders.
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May 14th, 2008 at 8:27 am
I commute by bike twice or more per week, 10 miles one-way, all year, near Boston, plus grocery shopping, also drop a kid off at school on the bike those days that I ride. I use reusable shopping bags to protect the seat and handlebars from rain, and otherwise keep the mechanicals greasy enough to withstand occasional rain (I try to skip the rainy days). Also, my bike is a cargo bike, so I can haul about 100 lbs of stuff pretty easily, and don’t lack for places to put groceries, tools, spare clothes.
Winters, I use studded tires so that ice is not such a problem, and have a generator and some home-made LED lights for the dark. There’s one big hill on the way, and it was a great workout, but I decided that I went too fast on the descent and it was not safe, so now I ride around (that adds a mile).
There are showers at work, but I don’t get that sweaty on the ride in (I grew up in Florida, so maybe I have different standards for “sweaty”).
I used to regularly commute by bike when I lived in California, pretty much quit for the first 10 years I lived in Boston, then started again, because I was out of shape, and sick of our oil war. The traffic seemed bad at first, but now I don’t mind it too much. Most of the roads are wide, and the traffic speed is usually 35mph or less. There’s lots of potholes, but I run fat (2.3″ tires) to make that less of a problem.
I lost 20 pounds and 2-3 inches around the middle, am in much better shape, and now when I drive to work and get caught in traffic I feel really stupid. I save about $50/month in gasoline and medication not purchased. I already know how to work on my bike, so my spending is purely on parts; I wear out about one chain per year (winter sand and ice are heck on chains), and after two years all the studs on my tires are turned away from the pavement.
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May 14th, 2008 at 8:43 am
I just don’t have an excuse not to ride to work. My employer has a secure place to park my bike and provides shower facilities. Half of my 12 mile ride is on city streets and the other half is on our Trinity River paved trail system which is wonderful. More bike lanes on the streets would make the ride safer and more enjoyable.
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May 14th, 2008 at 8:47 am
Like many others my commute is just too far to ride a bike to work. If I lived within a few miles of work, I would definitely ride a bike.
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May 14th, 2008 at 8:53 am
I’ve ridden to work a few times and always enjoy it and feel great the whole day. My issues stem from not having shower facilities and sometimes needing a vehicle during the day for unforseen last minute errands. I’m also freelance, so if I can’t get somewhere quick, I may lose out on some work. (though rarely)
I work in different recording studios each week or day for that matter. This makes me commute change anywhere from 5 miles to 25.
I try to ride to work on days when I know I am working alone. No one to complain about my smell.
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May 14th, 2008 at 8:55 am
I am NOT biking to work as I live 13 miles from my job, its going to rain all week in this area of Ohio, I’m a couch potato who is 7 + weeks pregnant, and I am the parent who drops off the kids at the sitter - a 2 year old and a 7 month old, we don’t have a carrier that is safe enough to transport both kids behind a bike. I think its a great idea though!
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May 14th, 2008 at 8:55 am
Sadly; 3 years ago I biked to work once per month from May to September. THe trip is 30 miles one way - Lexington, KY to Frankfort, KY. It took planning and permission from my boss. There are always biker/workers out on the main road leading to Frankfort, so biking alone (My #1 “No-No”!) was not an issue. There are no dedicated paths for bikers within either Lexington or Frankfort’s city limits, so the first and last 5 miles require strict concentration. 2 miles from my destination on July 14th, 2004, I was approaching a traffic light that had turned green. The light allowed traffic to enter exit small malls on both sides of the main road. As I entered the intersection, a black sports car pulled out from behind me, passed, and cut in front of me to enter a fast food chain. He knoced me sideways into a 6″ concrete curb, which sent me over my handle bars and into 3 years of 2 shoulder reconstructions and one knee surgery. The driver pulled back into the main road and drove off. I would love to bike more as my “green” contribution. But until we have required bike lanes in every city, we stand to needlessly sacrifice many more green supporters.
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May 14th, 2008 at 9:01 am
To bike! In Cincinnati our public bus system (Metro) is allowing all bike riders to ride free this Friday for Bike to Work Day. Now THATS a reason to bike to work! http://www.go-metro.com
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May 14th, 2008 at 9:21 am
I DOn’t bike to work because 1) it’s too far — 20 miles each way 2) I dress up for work and don’t want to ride in nice clothes 3) there aren’t bike trails the whole way 4) I work in Newark, NJ and would have to ride through unsafe neighborhoods.
I take the train to work sometimes, but usually drive. I don’t ride my bike to the train station although it is close and there are bike racks again because I am dressed in high heels and a skirt some times — not appropriate bike wear.
Hope this helps.
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May 14th, 2008 at 9:24 am
I will bike when I find one made out of a sofa with refrigerator and TV attached. Likewise, it must have a large motor so I can force sissies in spandex off the road. Buuuuuuurrrrp.
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May 14th, 2008 at 9:26 am
I would happily swim to work, but don’t enjoy biking nor breathing exhaust fumes, and I really don’t think that breathing exhaust fumes is particularly health-promoting for me, even though I might be contributing less overall pollution.
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May 14th, 2008 at 9:27 am
I would love to bike to work, but my driving commute is already an hour by car. Plus I have a 7 year old and a 7 month old that I have to take to daycare before I go to work as well as pick them up afterwork. I have chosen the green method of carpooling to and from work.
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May 14th, 2008 at 9:28 am
I’m a stay at home mom, but I bike to all our day-in, day-out “work” whenever possible. Runs to the grocery store, library, over to friends’ houses, etc. we do it on our bikes. Without separated bike lanes or bike paths, however, it really is taking a concerted effort (and a bit of bravery) to keep from jumping in the car day after day.
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May 14th, 2008 at 9:44 am
I started biking to work about 3 weeks ago. My job is about 5 miles from home, so i really have no excuse not to take a bike. I bike 2 or 3 days a week, depending on whether I have errands to run.
I bike for a few reasons.
First of all, I bike because I can — because it feels good and I enjoy the ride, car traffic and all. It’s almost like being a kid again and I feel more energetic when I get to work.
Secondly, gas is expensive and it won’t be getting cheaper anytime soon.
Thirdly, I desperately need the exercise. I’m 30 or 40 lbs overweight and I was sick and tired of feeling sick and tired.
Finally, there are environmental reasons. My city has awful air pollution during the summer months. It’s a small difference, but it is a way of not contributing further to the pollution.
If you can do it, I recommend trying it. Just remember to follow the rules of the road and think like a vehicle, not a pedestrian. Stay off the sidewalk, ride with traffic, use your arm signals and obey traffic signs and signals.
And above all, be attentive.
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May 14th, 2008 at 9:47 am
My commute into DC is about 12 miles each way and I ride year-round (adverse weather puts me on the train 2-4 weeks each year). Commuting is often the most enjoyable part of my work day.
Like most people my life is full of things I have to do. Commuting is one of them, but since this time also doubles are my 90+ min/day of cardiovascular exercise I have more time to spend with my kids.
If your excuse for not riding is lack of decent trails or laws - please become more active in trying to obtain these things for your community (and the Planet).
If your excuse for not riding is that you live too far from work - I hope you can use public transportation, car/van pool, or telecommute. If you can’t do any of these things, I think you seriously need to reconsider your living situation. When gas its $10/gal (and it will) will you still want to live way out in the burbs/country? Is your “space” really worth the cost of expending precious fuel to commute?
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May 14th, 2008 at 9:54 am
I wish I could ride my bike to work, these are the facts: (1) It is too risky to ride a bike in the rural roads or non state roads of Puerto Rico; and (2) There are no bike pathways, neither walking trails besides state roads that will alleviate the risk of riding in the road.
Besides these situations, I’ll take some measures to make this happen.
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May 14th, 2008 at 9:57 am
This is my first season biking to work, but I’m completely sold on it, fair weather or bad. Winters in Kansas can get pretty mean, but with the right equipment and preparation, it’s easy, safer and far more healthy. During the warmer months, it’s just a joy.
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May 14th, 2008 at 9:59 am
I bike to work in the summer months. I live 2 miles from my office and this is a small town of only 14,000, so the roads in town are relatively safe. Biking to work not only saves gas, but I feel great when I get there!
Living in Minnesota makes it rather impossible to bike during the winter months.
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May 14th, 2008 at 10:03 am
I’ve biked to work most of the time for the past 15 years. It’s a great way to get exercise and avoid the frustration of driving. I’ve biked in Dallas and Denver, and can say that the city does make a big difference. Denver has many marked bike lanes, designated routes, and paths that converge on downtown, while downtown Dallas is ringed by freeways and has little to no bike-friendly space downtown. The drivers are mostly not insane, but it’s just not a comfortable place to ride.
Getting to some of the reasons not to bike: I agree that sometimes you just can’t. For about a year I had to drive in order to drop off my son at day care, and may need to do that again in the future. Other people may simply live too far away. Both of these issues suggest how important the decision about where to live is. In buying a new house we are looking not only at proximity to downtown and to trails, but at schools and day care (and also retail). Being close enough to walk to such services is a good way to avoid needless car travel.
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May 14th, 2008 at 10:10 am
I’ve been biking to work since I got a new bike a couple of months ago. I live close enough that it’s actually faster for me to bike than to deal with traffic and ride and I live in a very bike friendly city, Burlington, VT. I love to have the opportunity to spend some extra time outside and find that it makes a difference in my disposition. I don’t know what I’ll do when winter comes but I may see if I can bear the cold and continue to bike.
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May 14th, 2008 at 10:12 am
I would love to bike to and from work, but Birmingham, AL is not a good place to do that. The roads on my route are narrow and winding, and when people do bike, people in cars create dangerous conditions passing them. I would have to be able to make other transportation arrangements for my kids. There are also severe thunderstorms in the afternoons at least once a week in spring and fall, and almost every day in summer. Last, I would need to be able to bathe after I got to work (I’m not content to bike at a pace where I wouldn’t sweat).
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May 14th, 2008 at 10:17 am
Chicago Suburbs, Homer Glen: I live in a beautiful suburb but people don’t even bike for recreation directly from their homes that much here. Over the years a variety of governmental bodies have made plans for bike paths within some of the power line pathways but funding them is a significant hurdle to overcome. More grants for areas like this would be a great help. The suburb I live in still has some rural qualities with some people living on larger acreages with horses and many subdivisions having 1+ acre lots. Our community is surrounded by very typical “suburban” developments while we are attempting to hang on to some of the rural and open space qualities that remain. The roads here are generally 2 lane roads with gravel shoulders there is no extra room for bikes. Almost none of the main arterial roads have sidewalks. Very few subdivisions have sidewalks. Riding or walking from my home to the gas station two blocks away, around the block to the park, or 5-6 blocks away to the library or school is too dangerous because I would have to walk or ride on narrow roads with children. I would like to ride a bike more not just to save gas but for the exercise.
We live in an automobile based society and will have to plan communities differently if bike riding is to be encouraged. Recently a large tollway was extended into our area. It would have been a perfect opportunity to plan a space for a potential future commuter railway line but I don’t believe it was even considered. Room for a bike path to be put in alongside the tollway was allowed for but not funded. Private individuals are attempting to raise funds. Personally the idea of riding a bike alongside a highway is not aesthetically appealing to me and breathing in car exhaust is not good for anyone’s health. If they build it I probably won’t use it for those reasons even though it will be close to my home. I think funds would be better spent putting in paths that connect people to places they already go to like the park, library, schools, local stores or other subdivisions.
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May 14th, 2008 at 10:22 am
I’ve been biking nine miles each way to work three or four days per week since last August. It is a way to get exercise and stay healthy without taking extra time out of our day.
It’s easier than I thought it was.
I lock up at a bike rack on the street with three locks and take my seat. No thefts so far.
I carry my business clothes in a bag on the back of the bike, wait 30 minutes to cool off before changing, and then change in the bathroom with a second helping of deoderant. No problem.
If the weather is bad I don’t bike. But that turns out to be quite rare, because with the right clothes a little drizzle isn’t a problem, and it only matters what is happening during the two hours I’m on the road, not the rest of the day. Even getting caught in a downpour on the way home isn’t bad, just on the way in. I now look at the radar and hourly weather graph from the National Weather Service, not just the daily forecast.
In winter, I had been getting on a train in the dark, being outside a couple of minutes from the train to work, being outside for a couple of minutes from work to the train, and arriving home in the dark. Now I am outside a couple of hours a few times a week even in winter. I wear a safety vest with flashing lights from LEDTRONICs.
Wish I had done it 20 years ago.
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May 14th, 2008 at 10:22 am
I bike to work occasionally. It’s only two miles with no major hills. For me, going to work also includes dropping my son off at day care. When I don’t bike to work, it’s because I haven’t been able to get us both ready early enough so that I could get to work on time.
If my employer were more flexible about my arrival time at work, I could bike more often. At the same time, the day care would have to stay open a little later, so that I could make up 5-20 minutes of work at the end of the day and still get over to pick him up.
Sometimes, as a compromise, I put my son’s tiny bicycle in the car and we park sort of near the day care. Then he rides to day care with me walking along, and I walk from day care to work (about four blocks). At the end of the day we reverse the sequence. Not a lot of gas saved, but it’s fun and introduces good habits.
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May 14th, 2008 at 10:31 am
I would love to ride my bike to work, however, I have to be at work at 6am and it is a 30 minute drive mostly on a highway. It seems extremely unsafe. As gas prices keep going up, I’m not sure what to do. Scary!
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May 14th, 2008 at 10:36 am
Considering the fact that I live about 20 miles from my place of employment, biking to work isn’t necessarily an option for me. I do love to ride a bike, however, but a park would be most suitable for my 4-year-old and myself.
More power to those who BIKE TO WORK, though!
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May 14th, 2008 at 10:47 am
I bike to the train, take the train about 35 miles, and bike to my office from the train station. I have a folding bike since “full-sized” bikes aren’t allowed during peak hours on the Metro North RR in CT. I used to have two bikes, one at each station, until one was stolen which prompted me to get the folding bike.
I have rain gear for the bad weather and if it snows, I telecommute. Sometimes drivers can be jerks, but I follow the rules of the road pretty strictly and I think that being predictable helps. On the train with the folding bike, many people strike up conversations with me. As gas prices get higher, the conversations have gone from “That’s cool!” to “Where can I get one?”
I feel better when I get to work and when I get home, more alert and energized. I’m also happy that I don’t have to sit in the snarling mess of traffic that is I-95 in CT. Looking out the window of the train and watching the cars stop and go and stop and go is a secret pleasure
I really enjoy it, its a great way to get exercise while doing something I need to do, and eating a nice meal is better than throwing all that money into my gas tank!
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May 14th, 2008 at 10:49 am
I bike to work a couple of times a week during the spring, summer, and fall. I originally started last year just to get some extra time on the bike in preparation for a triathlon I was doing. Now I continue to do it because a) I enjoy it, b) it’s good exercise, and c) it’s a great way to save gas and help the environment. I have a 9 mile commute one way. About 1/2 of the ride is on a bike path. The rest is mostly on back roads that are not heavily travelled. I do spend about 1 mile on busier roads, which I don’t prefer, but it keeps my ride shorter.
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May 14th, 2008 at 10:50 am
I live in Manhattan and bike to work every day - about 1 mile crosstown each way. We could use more bike lanes in NYC, especially separated from the traffic, which can be crazy and dangerous to say the least.
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May 14th, 2008 at 11:10 am
Driving, my commute to work was an hour (roundtrip) then I would spend my lunch hour running. So I decided to save a little cash and combine the two by cycling to work. It’s 11 miles each way and I can get it done in 40-45mins, only 10-15mins longer than by car. Add in changing time of 15mins, then its 1 hour each way for a total of 2hrs - a net change of 0 loss in time but a huge gain saving money and staying fit.
Gas hit 3.99/gallon here in Dayton, OH, so I save at least $4 per day driving. That’s about $80 a month.
And I burn more calories as well. With changing clothes and showering, I could only run 4-5 miles in my lunch hour. That burned 600-790 calories. Compare that to biking 22 miles roundtrip, I burn over 1200 calories. (Most of the time, I ride below persperation-level so I don’t need to shower when I get into work.)
Granted, not everyone can bike in due to roads, family, etc, but a lot of us who think we can’t bike actually can. I know I was one of them. It just takes a little planning…. If traffic is keeping you back, try looking for a different route with mapping sites, like mapmyride.com or Google Earth (http://earth.google.com). If distance is keeping you back, try driving part of the way or catch the bus or subway for a portion of distance. If your fitness level is holding you back, then alternate between the bike and car. If your employer’s lack of facilities is stopping you, keep a change of clothes at work and washclothe to freshen up with. But, even with all this, if you just can’t commit to cycling to work then that is fine - it’s completely your choice.
Just remember, be the change you wish to see in the world.
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May 14th, 2008 at 11:21 am
I would love to bike to work but it is far too dangerous! There is no bike path and drivers are insane!
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May 14th, 2008 at 11:22 am
Why I don’t bike to work:
The saftey is very bad, the hilly roads are curvey and narrow with little or no berm. There are no bike lanes.
The route would be 10 miles long with some serious hills; I would need to shower when I got to work and again when I returned home, which in my case is doable.
The weather, we get all four seasons, tropically humid summers, cold snowy winters and rainy springs.
When I lived in So. Cal. with flat terrain, great bike lanes and great weather– I did bike to work. I was healthier back then!
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May 14th, 2008 at 11:24 am
I do not bike to work because there is no safe way to do it. I live nearly 10 miles from work, much the route along heavily traveled roads with no shoulder or bike path. Suburban sprawl is the terrain. Once arriving at work, there is no place to safely store the bike until the end of the work day. For much of the year, the climate does not encourage such transportation, with rain, wind and various factors working against it. And it’s difficult to bike to work, then look professional, without wearing one outfit for the ride and then changing and grooming upon arrival. In the hottest part of summer, this would be even more difficult.
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May 14th, 2008 at 11:26 am
I live in Manhattan and very difficult to lock bike anywhere and my office building won’t allow bikes in the elevator. Also pretty difficult with traffic. On another note, very annoying the amount of delivery bikers that don’t follow the rules and bike against traffic, through redlights and on sidewalks. Would love to 5th or Park Ave closed once a week to cars - at least during 7-9am and 5-7pm.
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May 14th, 2008 at 11:27 am
I bike to work from time to time. However, it is an 11 mile (17 km) journey, so I often don’t have time to ride. It takes me approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes to get from my apartment near downtown Columbus to the suburb of Dublin where I work. I’m lucky in that I can take mostly neighborhood streets for my route. I still think there is a lot of room for improvement in terms of adding bike trails. I would be much more likely to bike often if I had a trail to ride on that was segregated from road traffic.
On that note, I’d like to see the federal government stop spending so much money on building new roads and start building more bike paths. That coupled with more funding for new and improved public transit systems would be a huge boon to our air quality.
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May 14th, 2008 at 11:27 am
I live in a rural area 23 miles from work. I take the highway most of the route. I also also drop off my 2 year old at daycare along the way. So, I’d have to schlep him on the bike with all of our bags…I’d need a BIG basket and a child seat attachment. I’d be loaded down and it would be too dangerous along the rural roads with a wiggly, 2 year old on board! If I lived closer and didn’t have to drop a child off, I would bike.
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May 14th, 2008 at 11:27 am
In my previous job I biked 9.5 miles into Boston’s South End from Belmont nine months out of the year - most of that traveling on the Paul White Bikeway that hugs the Charles River. Loved it so much that it is one of the reasons I’m looking for a new job located in and around Boston. Today my commute is via public transportation up to three hours long and too many miles to bike.
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May 14th, 2008 at 11:28 am
I would love to bike to work, however, It would take forever, and I can’t take a bike on a highway or the like. I drive 50 miles one way to work. I would however like to be able to ride my horse to work - that is cheap, comfortable and definitely interesting. But yet again, I can’t take the horse on the highway either!
I am going to start telecommuting and work from home 3 days a week.
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May 14th, 2008 at 11:29 am
I won’t bike in city traffic. We have some bike lanes, but even bike lanes aren’t enough to get me to bike because cars (esp. taxis) cut into the bike lanes without looking. I admire bikers who take the risk, but I can’t get myself to do it. Also, in the hot weather, with no way to shower at work, it would be very unpleasant. I walk home from work sometimes; the rest of the time I take public transportation (bus, train).
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May 14th, 2008 at 11:29 am
Why don’t I bike? B/c I live in NJ and my commute is about 35 mi each way. Given the concentration of development in NJ, it is basically impossible (or at least we are told) to put in bike paths for commuting. I take my life in my hands just driving a car on the NJ Turnpike; you can’t ride your bike on it. Also, none of our mass transit systems are bike friendly. Ideally, I would love to ride my bike to the train/bus, take the bike with me and then ride from the train stop to work. However, it doesn’t seem likely. We are a car based country and the country is not likely to change unless presented with viable options.
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May 14th, 2008 at 11:30 am
I would love to bike the 2 miles between my house and my office, but the only routes to the Base are on highways or very busy roads that aren’t safe for non-motor vehicles. The roads are even too busy on weekends for my to bike to Base.
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May 14th, 2008 at 11:32 am
I would love to be able to bike to work, and it isn’t that far, but I travel on a country road into town and there are no shoulders and heavy traffic at times. Would love it if they extended the Pathfinder to our town. It is just too dangerous.
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May 14th, 2008 at 11:33 am
I ride 20-80 days a year to work, 22 mile round trip over roads with aggressive drivers in Atlanta. I ride less when I am pressed on time and basically skip exercising. I also tend to ride most in winter, when it is dark early and when getting home quicker does not mean more time outside to play with my young kids.
The most helpful item to riding more would be more stringent traffic enforcement - both of speeding and aggressive drivers. Most drivers are very courteous if they see you, but I can count on 1-2 aggressive ones per day. Excessive speeding is a problem for everyone, but more threatening to cyclists.
I really enjoy riding in and out to work. I find my worktime is more productive when I ride and I am generally more relaxed.
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May 14th, 2008 at 11:33 am
I live and work in London and cycle to work.
To those who are concerned about biking long distances, sometimes it’s possible to bike part of the journey, chain your bike up, then catch public transport for the rest, as I do when the weather’s particularly bad or I’m just feeling too tired and lazy.
Bad weather and unobservant car drivers are your biggest enemies on London roads.
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May 14th, 2008 at 11:34 am
I would like to bike to work but I don’t generally because (1) it’s dangerous with the traffic as there is not a bike path nor a dedicated bike lane available; (2) I have to cross a freeway to get to work; and, (3) I do not have shower and changing facilities available.
I’m hoping my next job will be more conducive to biking to work. I’m planning to be more careful in choosing where to live and work so that I can better manage my commute. Of course, cost is always a factor as is the availability (or lack thereof) bike paths/lanes, etc.
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May 14th, 2008 at 11:37 am
I don’t ride to work because the City of Dallas was developed without any consideration of the safety of bike users - most streets have no sidewalks [even residential streets!] and there are no arteries that have bike-dedicated lanes or spaces. There are a couple of nice North-South trails, but there are no East-West connectors. You have to drive 5 miles to safely use your bike - silly, no?
If Texas/USEPA granted emission credits to electric utilitiy companies that dedicated easements/O&M costs for power-line corridors’ use as bike trails, there would be dozens of trails - get on it EPA Region 6!
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May 14th, 2008 at 11:37 am
I bike to work because its a blast, I often beat commuter traffic, it’s cheaper, and I get to have an extra burger now and then. D.C. does have some pretty good bike paths and some lanes, but there certainly could be so much more done to encourage biking such as more bike lanes, better driver training and test questions for DL classes and exams, tax credits (or CO2 offsets?) for work cyclers, and bike terminals. In Oslo, Norway and other European cities, for a minimal annual fee, you get a bike card, which unlocks bikes from terminals stationed strategically across the city for three hours. Abuse the bike or you return time (the card is registered in your name, and the system electronically tracks which bikes you loan), and you loose you right to borrow. The program is partially government funded, but derives much of its operational expense from advertising on the bikes and terminals.
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