Comments on: Reasons to commute by bike http://www.commutebybike.com/2007/03/16/reasons-to-commute-by-bike/ Tips, Hints, Reviews and Safety for Bike Commuters Sat, 11 Feb 2012 19:00:59 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Chuck http://www.commutebybike.com/2007/03/16/reasons-to-commute-by-bike/comment-page-1/#comment-25998 Chuck Sat, 07 Apr 2007 19:41:11 +0000 http://commutebybike.com/2007/03/16/reasons-to-commute-by-bike/#comment-25998 I had a love-hate affair with biking. I loved the freedom of biking, but I hated neck pain, wrist pain, and, ahem, other pain. Last spring, I went from being a recreational biker to a full time commuter. The neck and wrist pains got worse. I stopped riding recreationally, but kept commuting (paying for parking is a disincentive to drive). I found a used recumbent on Craigslist a few months ago and started riding that to work. Wow! It was like being a kid again, my 8 mile one-way commute became 15 and 20 mile commutes just for the fun of riding. I can't wait for summer to do some tours. I had a love-hate affair with biking. I loved the freedom of biking, but I hated neck pain, wrist pain, and, ahem, other pain. Last spring, I went from being a recreational biker to a full time commuter. The neck and wrist pains got worse. I stopped riding recreationally, but kept commuting (paying for parking is a disincentive to drive). I found a used recumbent on Craigslist a few months ago and started riding that to work. Wow! It was like being a kid again, my 8 mile one-way commute became 15 and 20 mile commutes just for the fun of riding. I can’t wait for summer to do some tours.

]]> By: sasquatch2 http://www.commutebybike.com/2007/03/16/reasons-to-commute-by-bike/comment-page-1/#comment-22844 sasquatch2 Tue, 20 Mar 2007 16:52:48 +0000 http://commutebybike.com/2007/03/16/reasons-to-commute-by-bike/#comment-22844 Environmentalism and gettin' a leg up on the competition at weekend races are my dealmakers! I saw a soldier carrying a helmet and bags walking up to the front door of a house that has a "support our troops" banner yesterday morning, I felt like clapping for him and saying thank you for doing your part to protect me, I'm doing my part to protect you! Decided to not get in the way of of his homecoming tho. My 45 minutes a day has made me a stronger weekend warrior too, you can't beat that with a bat! Responses from co-workers are pretty universal from what I've read online. co-workers feel sorry for ya asking if you're broke and can't afford gas or saying what a drag it must be to ride. nothing is more of a drag than sitting in traffic belching out smog and paying for gas/repairs. I have a response for "you biked in THIS weather?" I ask " you DROVE???" Safety is a big concern for most drivers I've noticed, afraid of being hit by a car. Car accidents suck too, 1 dork crashed her SUV going "like 20 mph or sumpthin" on the thruway in a torrential downpour. She got mauled by the airbags, luckilly she has a much bigger SUV now! that's better than learning how to drive. -Sasquatch2 Environmentalism and gettin’ a leg up on the competition at weekend races are my dealmakers!
I saw a soldier carrying a helmet and bags walking up to the front door of a house that has a “support our troops” banner yesterday morning, I felt like clapping for him and saying thank you for doing your part to protect me, I’m doing my part to protect you! Decided to not get in the way of of his homecoming tho.
My 45 minutes a day has made me a stronger weekend warrior too, you can’t beat that with a bat!
Responses from co-workers are pretty universal from what I’ve read online. co-workers feel sorry for ya asking if you’re broke and can’t afford gas or saying what a drag it must be to ride. nothing is more of a drag than sitting in traffic belching out smog and paying for gas/repairs. I have a response for “you biked in THIS weather?” I ask ” you DROVE???” Safety is a big concern for most drivers I’ve noticed, afraid of being hit by a car. Car accidents suck too, 1 dork crashed her SUV going “like 20 mph or sumpthin” on the thruway in a torrential downpour. She got mauled by the airbags, luckilly she has a much bigger SUV now! that’s better than learning how to drive.

-Sasquatch2

]]> By: jd http://www.commutebybike.com/2007/03/16/reasons-to-commute-by-bike/comment-page-1/#comment-22823 jd Tue, 20 Mar 2007 06:48:16 +0000 http://commutebybike.com/2007/03/16/reasons-to-commute-by-bike/#comment-22823 There are several reasons why I choose commute by bicyle, but I began commuting about a year ago because I like to ride my bicycle. I also HATE traffic. I hate sitting in traffic. I hate driving in traffic. I hate highways. I hate waste that cars produce, and I hate paying for things that go into a car. (car insurance, gas, tuneups, license fees, parking tickets, etc.) So I figured there had to be a better way. Now I have better peace of mind, I am in the best shape of my life, I'm not stressed out when I go to work, I live a simple life, I'm not in a hurry, I meet more new people everyday, and I save a lot of money. Bike commuting has made me realize that simple living is one of the greatest things that has ever happened to me. Everyday I realize how little I need, and it has helped me to become less of a consumer. I also bike commute because I believe in the community and local businesses. As far as the environment goes, some would say that it makes no difference or impact if we commute by bike or not, but that is just the attitude that got us into this mess in the first place. So it's more of a principle thing for me, rather than "am I making a difference in greenhouse gases?" There are several reasons why I choose commute by bicyle, but I began commuting about a year ago because I like to ride my bicycle. I also HATE traffic. I hate sitting in traffic. I hate driving in traffic. I hate highways. I hate waste that cars produce, and I hate paying for things that go into a car. (car insurance, gas, tuneups, license fees, parking tickets, etc.) So I figured there had to be a better way.

Now I have better peace of mind, I am in the best shape of my life, I’m not stressed out when I go to work, I live a simple life, I’m not in a hurry, I meet more new people everyday, and I save a lot of money. Bike commuting has made me realize that simple living is one of the greatest things that has ever happened to me. Everyday I realize how little I need, and it has helped me to become less of a consumer. I also bike commute because I believe in the community and local businesses. As far as the environment goes, some would say that it makes no difference or impact if we commute by bike or not, but that is just the attitude that got us into this mess in the first place. So it’s more of a principle thing for me, rather than “am I making a difference in greenhouse gases?”

]]> By: hooligan_cyclist http://www.commutebybike.com/2007/03/16/reasons-to-commute-by-bike/comment-page-1/#comment-22799 hooligan_cyclist Mon, 19 Mar 2007 20:23:51 +0000 http://commutebybike.com/2007/03/16/reasons-to-commute-by-bike/#comment-22799 I miss my 7 mile commute to work. Now i have about a 1 mile ride in. The other day I rode down to the post office which is about 1.5 miles the opposite direction. the ride to work after that was soooo nice. space out and watch the trees go by, relaxed a bit more....made me miss my commute... I am thinking about moving further away just to ride more. I have a car but I am fortunate that virtually everything I need is within a 3-4 mile radius of me so I rarely drive except to take a pretty girl out on a date, and sometimes we go for rides as dates. I miss my 7 mile commute to work. Now i have about a 1 mile ride in. The other day I rode down to the post office which is about 1.5 miles the opposite direction. the ride to work after that was soooo nice. space out and watch the trees go by, relaxed a bit more….made me miss my commute… I am thinking about moving further away just to ride more.
I have a car but I am fortunate that virtually everything I need is within a 3-4 mile radius of me so I rarely drive except to take a pretty girl out on a date, and sometimes we go for rides as dates.

]]> By: Warren T http://www.commutebybike.com/2007/03/16/reasons-to-commute-by-bike/comment-page-1/#comment-22789 Warren T Mon, 19 Mar 2007 14:34:45 +0000 http://commutebybike.com/2007/03/16/reasons-to-commute-by-bike/#comment-22789 Amen to all the reasons above. I started CBB'ing again, about 3 years ago, after a 19-year-old in a catering truck rear ended me at 35 mph while I was stopped at a red light. I was fine, other than ending up a full inch shorter than I was before the accident (weird), but the mini van was totaled. Since the office was ~4 miles from home with all but .7 miles on a bike path that winds along next to a creek - I hopped back on the bike. I've yet to replace the mini-van. It may be strange to those who don't do this, but on the days where weather conditions are the worst, I feel like I've accomplished some great feat by the time I get to work and am raring to start the day. Here is a link to a nice, short post about how bicycling saved someone's life: http://www.freemoneyfinance.com/2007/03/how_a_bicycle_s.html [Its on topic and saves me from creating another post...] Amen to all the reasons above. I started CBB’ing again, about 3 years ago, after a 19-year-old in a catering truck rear ended me at 35 mph while I was stopped at a red light. I was fine, other than ending up a full inch shorter than I was before the accident (weird), but the mini van was totaled. Since the office was ~4 miles from home with all but .7 miles on a bike path that winds along next to a creek – I hopped back on the bike. I’ve yet to replace the mini-van.

It may be strange to those who don’t do this, but on the days where weather conditions are the worst, I feel like I’ve accomplished some great feat by the time I get to work and am raring to start the day.

Here is a link to a nice, short post about how bicycling saved someone’s life:

http://www.freemoneyfinance.com/2007/03/how_a_bicycle_s.html

[Its on topic and saves me from creating another post...]

]]> By: b3ksmith http://www.commutebybike.com/2007/03/16/reasons-to-commute-by-bike/comment-page-1/#comment-22767 b3ksmith Mon, 19 Mar 2007 04:42:35 +0000 http://commutebybike.com/2007/03/16/reasons-to-commute-by-bike/#comment-22767 16 Reasons To Bike Commute 1. Driving a car in traffic is not fun. 2. Biking to work is fun. 3. Driving a car is not good exercise. 4. Biking is good exercise. 5. When a car blocks the right lane, a car must wait to pass. 6. When a car blocks the right lane, a bike can hop onto the curb and pass. 7. If there is a trail along side your car commute, you can only gaze longingly. 8. If there is a trail along side your bike commute, you can take it. 9. If your car gets a flat, its a pain to fix and you block traffic. 10. If your bike gets a flat, its a quick fix on the sidewalk. 11. For the price of many car repairs you can buy a new bike. 12. Bike repairs are infrequent and cheap. 13. For 16 Reasons To Bike Commute

1. Driving a car in traffic is not fun.
2. Biking to work is fun.
3. Driving a car is not good exercise.
4. Biking is good exercise.
5. When a car blocks the right lane, a car must wait to pass.
6. When a car blocks the right lane, a bike can hop onto the curb and pass.
7. If there is a trail along side your car commute, you can only gaze longingly.
8. If there is a trail along side your bike commute, you can take it.
9. If your car gets a flat, its a pain to fix and you block traffic.
10. If your bike gets a flat, its a quick fix on the sidewalk.
11. For the price of many car repairs you can buy a new bike.
12. Bike repairs are infrequent and cheap.
13. For

]]> By: Noah http://www.commutebybike.com/2007/03/16/reasons-to-commute-by-bike/comment-page-1/#comment-22761 Noah Mon, 19 Mar 2007 02:10:50 +0000 http://commutebybike.com/2007/03/16/reasons-to-commute-by-bike/#comment-22761 "I actually started mostly because of the first two reasons, but I've found myself loving the commute and wishing it was longer (ever heard a driver say that?)." Yes, but they're driving Corvettes, Vipers, or Elises and they could afford the gasoline to fuel their habit even if it was $20 per gallon. All that aside, I'm not an environmentalist. I started because I USED to like riding and it'd been 10 years since I was on a bike. My car was acting odd and the replacement part was on back-order. I figured I could get a bike and try riding to the bus. 3 Miles each way? No biggie. I ended up liking it, but not as much as I loved the flexibility of having my bike with me in downtown KC, MO. I actually rattled off the top 10 things I like about my bike commute on my own blog a while ago. It's ever-changing though and my list today would probably be different. While I enjoy cycling, I'm not even sure it'd make my top 10 things I like about my bike commute. In the end, whatever reason you choose is fine with me. Kudos to those who view it as a sacrifice; I could not ride by bike every day if I didn't like to. “I actually started mostly because of the first two reasons, but I’ve found myself loving the commute and wishing it was longer (ever heard a driver say that?).”

Yes, but they’re driving Corvettes, Vipers, or Elises and they could afford the gasoline to fuel their habit even if it was $20 per gallon.

All that aside, I’m not an environmentalist. I started because I USED to like riding and it’d been 10 years since I was on a bike. My car was acting odd and the replacement part was on back-order. I figured I could get a bike and try riding to the bus. 3 Miles each way? No biggie. I ended up liking it, but not as much as I loved the flexibility of having my bike with me in downtown KC, MO.

I actually rattled off the top 10 things I like about my bike commute on my own blog a while ago. It’s ever-changing though and my list today would probably be different. While I enjoy cycling, I’m not even sure it’d make my top 10 things I like about my bike commute.

In the end, whatever reason you choose is fine with me. Kudos to those who view it as a sacrifice; I could not ride by bike every day if I didn’t like to.

]]> By: Paul of N.W. GA http://www.commutebybike.com/2007/03/16/reasons-to-commute-by-bike/comment-page-1/#comment-22708 Paul of N.W. GA Sun, 18 Mar 2007 00:34:23 +0000 http://commutebybike.com/2007/03/16/reasons-to-commute-by-bike/#comment-22708 For me, I have very few reasons to drive a car, and lots of reasons not to. When I canceled my auto insurance, I asked them if there was any reason I needed to own a car. I told them I would list ten reasons against for everyone they could. They listed speed and distance, it was too easy" : / As for when people say it must be hard on me, I tell them they have no idea what they are missing, and they don't. If anyone is wondering, the Fort Oglethorpe Police have backed down under pressure. Yesterday, I rode in front of the police station as the police chief was leaving, after about a mile I was were I was going, he was also going that way. When I realized it, I slowed down to make sure he was the car behind me before I turned off..... : ) For me, I have very few reasons to drive a car, and lots of reasons not to.

When I canceled my auto insurance, I asked them if there was any reason I needed to own a car. I told them I would list ten reasons against for everyone they could. They listed speed and distance, it was too easy” : /

As for when people say it must be hard on me, I tell them they have no idea what they are missing, and they don’t.

If anyone is wondering, the Fort Oglethorpe Police have backed down under pressure. Yesterday, I rode in front of the police station as the police chief was leaving, after about a mile I was were I was going, he was also going that way. When I realized it, I slowed down to make sure he was the car behind me before I turned off….. : )

]]> By: Jett http://www.commutebybike.com/2007/03/16/reasons-to-commute-by-bike/comment-page-1/#comment-22707 Jett Sun, 18 Mar 2007 00:04:27 +0000 http://commutebybike.com/2007/03/16/reasons-to-commute-by-bike/#comment-22707 Wrong reason? Right reason? It's all good no matter what the reason. I do commute by bike because I enjoy it, I have a choice of routes from 3 miles on up, and it's a great way to build exercise into my daily schedule. I feel like I am the change that I want to see in the world. I can't say that I've lost weight, but I have kept the same waist size during the 25+ years I've been commuting by bike. And then finally, riding the bike makes it a lot easier for me to speak my mind about people who give no thought to how wasteful automobiles are -- I do save a good bit of money. Wrong reason? Right reason? It’s all good no matter what the reason.

I do commute by bike because I enjoy it, I have a choice of routes from 3 miles on up, and it’s a great way to build exercise into my daily schedule. I feel like I am the change that I want to see in the world.

I can’t say that I’ve lost weight, but I have kept the same waist size during the 25+ years I’ve been commuting by bike.

And then finally, riding the bike makes it a lot easier for me to speak my mind about people who give no thought to how wasteful automobiles are — I do save a good bit of money.

]]> By: Al http://www.commutebybike.com/2007/03/16/reasons-to-commute-by-bike/comment-page-1/#comment-22700 Al Sat, 17 Mar 2007 21:36:32 +0000 http://commutebybike.com/2007/03/16/reasons-to-commute-by-bike/#comment-22700 Val, Same with me, people always feel bad for me when I "have" to commute in the rain/snow/sleet. I laugh at them and tell the they have it wrong, I get to ride my bike in the rain/snow/sleet. We moved to our current house mainly because it made it "easier" for me to commute by bike. My commute can take anywhere from 1.5 miles to 20 miles one way. I love having the choice of routes from which I can choose from depending on whether I am running late, have an early morning meeting, weather condition, etc... Val,
Same with me, people always feel bad for me when I “have” to commute in the rain/snow/sleet. I laugh at them and tell the they have it wrong, I get to ride my bike in the rain/snow/sleet. We moved to our current house mainly because it made it “easier” for me to commute by bike. My commute can take anywhere from 1.5 miles to 20 miles one way. I love having the choice of routes from which I can choose from depending on whether I am running late, have an early morning meeting, weather condition, etc…

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