Commuting - Curious, who passed it on?

How has the past 12 months been for you? Have you successfully passed on the flame of cyclo-commuting?

I've been trying to encourage others to consider cyclo-commuting, but struck out so far at work. However, did finally encourage one person to cyclo-commute. In a full skirt no less. Now that's guts!!!

Anyway, I thought during this time when people are in stricker shock at the price of gas, they might be more open to giving cyclo-commuting a try. Maybe this would be a nice thread to capture ideas that work.

In my case, it was not what I said. It was not driving and having about the same commute times and being happier and able to do more physically because of cycling.

What has worked in your case?

Yeah, my former coworker. :)

I held a breakfast for the commuters at my workplace (a college). A dozen showed up, and there are a few more out there that couldn't make. One fellow came who hadn't started yet, and since then, he's made one trip that I know of. The rest were already there, but my hope is that, everytime I put out the word, that car commuters will realize it's do-able, and not so uncommon, and try it. And I hope the bike commuters will like my food enough that they keep doing it just to be able to come to the chow down! Plus, I keep the doors open to anyone thinking about it that want to come and ask questions.

I can think of two coworkers I've turned on to commuting this year. And I'm working on a third.

I have one co-worker up & running.

Two co workers, working on my sister and another friend. The problem is that three of these involved me giving them bikes. I find it worth it though. I have biking Grandkids now, people who I hooked, hooked others.

My wife has turned into a rain or shine commuter. She's really been bitten by the bug. She says that she'll stop when it starts to snow. We'll see, as she also said that she wouldn't ride in the rain when she started to commute this spring.

The idea of a co-worker here bike commuting makes me chuckle. The day I see one of the Wall St. types here bike commuting in with me is the day Chicken Little gets a Nobel Prize for discovering the sky is falling. I've heard rumors of there being another bike commuter in this 26-floor office building, but I've never seen him (it's supposedly a guy).

BUT, my better half now bike commutes on Fridays if the weather is decent. Baby steps!

Gas prices! Those who laughed and ridiculed before are slowly coming around for help. Some have just stopped the wise cracks...I don't even have to mention the cost of their last fill up. They don't seem to understand that depreciation and maintenance costs are still way more expensive.

Hey! I just got the third! I swung by her house on the way to the office, showed her how to wrap up her pant cuffs in the reflective bands, and we took a casual route into work. Very cool!

I've been able to get 3 riding to work but the curious thing is that they are all automotive engineers! In 24 years of working at the same earthy-crunchy-granola place, I've been able to get one other person riding regularly to work but when I changed assignments to our transportation department, I was able to score 3 in one year. I never have been able to figure out my tree-hugging co-workers. ;)

I never have been able to figure out my tree-hugging co-workers. ;)

Tree hugging is a cheerleader sport ranking up there with advanced remote flipping skills. Or, it's like the person who says I never eat sweets/carbs. The chasm between theory and practice.

So far the issues that get raised by potential cyclists are:

Primary
1. safety on roads. [ bad experiences previously with drivers as younger person ]
2. takes too long
3. it's too hard and legs and lungs hurt too much

Secondary
4. can't yellow cab kids
5. limited distances
6. can't go to stores
7. can't easily shift gears
8. I sweat like a pig

Tertiary
9. I fell and it hurt, not again.
10. I'm not going to dress like a jock
11. biking clothes are too revealing
12. physical problem so can't ride


Most effective encouragements:
Primary
1. it feels good
2. riders feel more energetic than non-riders
3. pace yourself, slowly give it a try
4. you'll look better

Secondary
5. can save a bunch of money
6. can live 10 to 15 years longer
7. if integrated well into weekly routine, you can save time
8. you can painless lose some unflattering bulges

Tertiary
9. resting heart rate can be slower
10. bikes are much easier to ride now then they were years ago
11. five times as many peds have accidents than cyclists, and I don't see people giving up walking.
12. there are many spinning and riding classes/groups available to make cycling again fun

Did I miss any common issues or major convincers?

I've got my oldest sister, middle sister, and dad to all try cycle commuting at least once. I know that the oldest sister and dad both ride regularly but I haven't checked in with the other sister to see if she's tried it since her first attempt. She works odd hours and wasn't thrilled with riding in the dark so who knows. I have a friend who is supposedly going to try next week and two co-workers who have asked me about it too. So a possible 6 but a definite 2. Not bad since I've only been commuting since April (although I started replacing car trips with my bike during summer 2004).

HiYo, your summary seems to hit on all the common points from both sides. My most effective argument so far has been easy weight loss.

Tree hugging is a cheerleader sport ranking up there with advanced remote flipping skills. Or, it's like the person who says I never eat sweets/carbs. The chasm between theory and practice.


What's so frustrating about where I work is that we "walk the talk" in so many things we do but not when it comes to giving up our cars. Considering that we do research on alternative energy sources, you'd think that a whole bunch of educated people would see the light but, alas, they don't! :mad: GRRRRRR!

Guess I'll just go back to being the crazy guy talking to the potted plant and muttering to myself.

It's telling how receptive engineers are to trying to commute. These are folks whose mindset is "does it work?"

Clearly, for us it does.

My 16 year old son got sick of driving (can you believe that). I have been helping him set up his bike for better commuting (tool bag, better tires, fenders etc).

Chip

Tried but no luck. The two avid cyclists at my work have varying excuses\reasons to not commute via bike. One lives in the center of Denver. I have no clue how this is an excuse. The other needs to take the kids to school.