Commuting - Driving to work, revisited

Thursday and Friday this week I had appointments in the late afternoon, so I drove to work. It was the first time in several months that I drove 2 days in a row. It gave me some new insights into the choices we make.

Thursday I left my normal time. I thought, "Hey, I've got time to stop for coffee". So I pulled into Dunkin Donuts, stood in line, and left with coffee and a donut. I got to work at the same time as if I'd biked; but I'd eaten a donut and had an extra cup of coffee, neither of which I'd needed. Not only does driving keep you from exercising, it encourages you to indulge your comfort food cravings because it is stressful.

Friday I had trouble getting up. I kept thinking "I've got plenty of time, I'm driving anyway." So, I started late and was stressed before I even got out the door.

When I ride, I look forward to leaving. I get up on time. I may get late fooling with the dog, etc. but I don't feel behind the 8-ball until I've been at work for a while.

My main objection to driving to work these days is that it offers no challenge, no reason to stay fit. As long as I drive to work, I have no reason to discipline my mind or body. I look for excuses to be lazy.

When I ride my bike to work, or even if I walk/ride-the-bus, I am forced to eat right, sleep right and be prepared.

Comparing the two, biking to work simply makes me a more disciplined, stronger, healthy, alert individual.

Based on experience, I'd say driving to work is killing us all, or at least turning us into wimps (and we don't even know it, because there is nobody fit enough to expose our unfitness.) Since everyone drives, nobody notices how physically unfit we Americans are.

(I'm wearing asbestos: go ahead, make my day ;) )

Originally posted by Pete Clark


(I'm wearing asbestos: go ahead, make my day ;) )

Who would flame you for telling the truth?

I always think of the Robert Asprin book (part of the Myth series, but can't remember the exact title) where they travel to an dimension where the populace has become divided into almost two subspecies: the average people, who are all either scrawny or fat weaklings, and the athletes, who are all huge, muscle-bound powerhouses. Sometimes it seems more and more likely that's happenign here.

Originally posted by Pete Clark
...Based on experience, I'd say driving to work is killing us all, or at least turning us into wimps...
I agree wholeheartedly with your comments about how bike-commuting forces you into a more disciplined mode. That's one of the reasons I stick with it.

But a lot of marathoners I know drive, too, and they're certainly not unfit.

I think unfit people choose to be unfit; driving is incidental, though I concede that driving makes the choice simpler.

When I drive to work, I notice how miserable driving is. The lines of cars not moving, the obnoxouious behavior. Driving is frustrating. Being cut off, traffic unable to exit the freeways because there is too much traffic at the exits to allow cars to get onto major roads.
When I bike to work, I am full of energy. In the bike lane, traffic is not a factor..A quick shower at work, and being at work does not seem so awful... Since, I think of work as keeping me away from more productive activites.. like cycling.. I work shift work...
The effect of biking, clears the mind and you observe how assasine cars look as they clog along on overcrowed roads.. I see the lines of un-moving vehicles- I mentally compare them to streams of drone ants mindlessly toiling into the distance. The only difference to drone ants- the drivers are of a foul disposition..
Finally, when i stop at Starbucks on the way into work, when biking- I feel I deserve a pastry, over when I drive... But then often, when I drive to work- the traffic is so bad, do not have time to stop; unlike when biking..

Originally posted by Pete Clark
My main objection to driving to work these days is that it offers no challenge, no reason to stay fit....


Well, my commute is rather short (3 km one way), and I'm fairly close to downtown, which means little car parking, but I would say that car commuting:

- would be more challenging : sitting in a frozen car is not as fun as providing my own warmth by cycling or walking ;

- would need more self-discipline : because my speed would be regulated by others.

That being said, I agree with you (and others) that commuting by bike (or on foot) has many, many advantages.

Regards,

I deliver heating oil and drive around all day in the traffic and have to deal with the mini vans and cell phone drivers. I just started biking this past month (MTB). Weds I decided to start commuting to work and even with the rain and other mishaps it has been great! It puts me in a good frame of mind before work and a destresser after work. I had to buy a walmart special to ride (instead of the MTB) so I can leave it outside chained to the window bars. (my MTB was locked in the bldg weds.) I bought a old Ross at a thrift store and put the drop bars and old style brake handles on the Roadmaster. Im hooked again!
Andrew:D

I agree that driving seems more stressfull after bike commuting becomes the norm. I had two days last week when I had to drive due to out of town meetings. I absolutely hated sitting at the lights and the sheer boredoom. There is nothing like biking to take in all the scenery and the smells (not always good, but intriguing just the same).

Not only does commuting by car seem aggravating due to lights and backed up traffic, and ill tempered motorists- but while cycling- cars crawling all over the place -gets revolting, they get in our way.
Those smelly things just crawl along in the way everywhere you go. Bikes are so much more versatile- takes up less space and we can move where cars can't... Just get annoyed on the bike- seems those slow , bulky things just clutter up the bikes lanes- not letting us move due to their inability to move is more confined spaces.
Guess that it why in urban areas, bike messengers are so practical.. If autos have to stop, need they take up the bike lanes so often..

I don't know if anyone else feels this way but when I drive to work and see a cyclist, I feel an overwhelming sense of guilt for not riding my bike.

Maybe the guilt is a good thing though, I usually end up riding to work the next day. :)

well, first i have to say that i grew up in Texas where the car defines the person... my first 2 years out of college i did the normal car commute (Houston) and then slowly switched to bike commuting and now haven't owned a car in the last 1 1/2 years (although i still drive maybe once a month and ride in a car about 5 times per month).

#1 i have always hated driving in traffic and it used to stress me out --- i would get soo frustrated and wound up!! "crap, i missed this light!" "you idiot!" -- i am a very relaxed, laid-back and friendly person, but behind the wheel i was a totally different person - yelling, screaming, beating my fists on the wheel, etc. i tailgated and drove fast and looked for shortcuts and schemed how to get around the "idiots" around me... every day began by my getting really worked up and stressed out - and my work day ended so also

now, since i NEVER drive to work (haven't more than a freak rarity in over 3 years) the rare times when i do drvie there's usually not much traffic and IF there is, i expect it and just stay calm and relaxed - the difference in perspective once no longer dependent on the car is incredible!

a few times a month i ride to work with my girlfriend (who works at the same company and thus has the same distance to travel but ALWAYS drives - she has a bike and could easily ride and i've gotten here to ride twice, but it's just not "convenient" despite the fact that she believs she needs to loose weight and struggles to find time for exercise -- i've given up trying to encourage the obvious) -- i ride to work with her mainly when i need rest days due to my race or weight training - when driving she is also all stressed and unfriendly and most days i am appaulled at how horrible she behaves and drives (do i know this person?) although i used to do the same. if there is an accident or a delay she becomes irate screaming about how she's going to be late... i just relax becasue it's expected that there will be traffic and since i don't have to deal with it every day it's just not a big deal... wow am i lucky to ride my bike to work!

steversk- I would not say seeing cyclists commuting, while we are commuting by car causes guilt.. It is more like a sense of a missed opportunity. Disappointment that I have to be driving out here
with all these idiots.
I rememeber once emailing my favorite radio DJ congratulating her for the fine service she provides in keeping all those miserable motorists as sane as possible by providing us with excellant music.
Now I think it best to forgo the excellant music and get outside on the bike and enjoy the world and skip the traffic maddness.

It is very seldom that I drive to work anymore. This may sound goofy but I enjoy the feeling of accomplishment that I get from having arrived where I need to be under my own power. I used to get a great deal of pleasure from driving back when the roads were uncluttered by all these ******** little Hondas and mini vans and when V-8 American Detroit muscle ruled supreme. But those days are gone, and its a good thing. I find myself smiling more and talking to the people I meet rather than cursing them for thier lack of driving ability. I notice the gentleman with Downs syndrome, and say hello to him every morning as he waits at the bus stop. I say yes mamn to the elderly lady who chastizes me to wear my helmet and be carefull when I see her walking her dog. I wave at the old guys waiting to get onto the golf course in the morning. My point is that I missed many of the details which enrich one's life when I drive past them while cocooned in steel. I catch them when I ride. Not only has cycling improved my physical condition, it has improved my mental outlook as well. I'm hooked.

i look forward to going to work even when i start at 4am, actualy its the ride i look forward to,& if i,m having crappy shift @ work i just tell myself i can ride one of my long loops home .the best part of my working day,getting there &back.when i get stuck in traffic when driving our company pick-up i just sit back & relax, thay,r paying me!:D

Originally posted by greywolf
i look forward to going to work even when i start at 4am, actualy its the ride i look forward to,& if i,m having crappy shift @ work i just tell myself i can ride one of my long loops home .the best part of my working day,getting there &back.when i get stuck in traffic when driving our company pick-up i just sit back & relax, thay,r paying me!:D

Me too, I get a real sense of anticipation of the ride home. Main thing I'm liking at the moment is that my beer belly and love handles are finally disappearing- careful eating and lots of cycling!!

Originally posted by steversk
I don't know if anyone else feels this way but when I drive to work and see a cyclist, I feel an overwhelming sense of guilt for not riding my bike.

Maybe the guilt is a good thing though, I usually end up riding to work the next day. :)

I agree! I'm afraid I'm a fairweather rider, hate riding in the rain and drive the car when it is. I quite often see sodden cyclists pedaling along the path next to the road. I usually try not to look at them directly in case they recognise me and think lesser of me for wimping out and driving. I don't have any wet weather gear anyway (too expensive).