bike to work thoughts . . .

[wolfbrother]

So last week was bike to work week, and honestly, I've already noticed more commuters on the road this week, and it's only tuesday. I live in milwaukee, where last week the temperatures ranged from 90 degrees down to 40 degrees complete with rain, wind, and I believe there was frost one night. I'm wondering why they don't make bike to work week during better weather, like june or july. I think it's a great way to bring more recognition to commuting, but if the weather is 40 degrees and windy outside, is a seasoned driver really going to pick that day to start riding?

[CastIron]

It's largely a P.R. gimmick to plant the seed. Frankly, it's better than nothing, which is what external motivation bike commuters usually encounter.

[Denny Koll]

So last week was bike to work week, and honestly, I've already noticed more commuters on the road this week, and it's only tuesday. I live in milwaukee, where last week the temperatures ranged from 90 degrees down to 40 degrees complete with rain, wind, and I believe there was frost one night. I'm wondering why they don't make bike to work week during better weather, like june or july. I think it's a great way to bring more recognition to commuting, but if the weather is 40 degrees and windy outside, is a seasoned driver really going to pick that day to start riding?

Temps in Michigan were similar with rain during two of the days on my commute to work. On the rainy days there were zero other bikes in sight. Even on the sunny days I spotted only two or three other cyclists. I have two coworkers that live within three or four blocks of work..I talked up the bike to work thing to them and got..."yeah maybe I should do that" but they still drove to work and complain about gas prices.

[Hipcycler]

wolfbrother?
Milwaukee?

Are you Flywolf's brother?

[bil4sail]

My route to work is on a bike trail for part of the way. I have seen an explosion of bicyclers after work. Suddenly I have company again. There are a few more people bike commuting at my company.

[nvr]

One of my goals this year is to ride to work...62mi by car, probably 70ish or so by bike. I don't think I'd actually work once I got here, but I thought a little lunch by the lake would be nice before I had to turn around. Anyone up for what I'm calling my WIND ride (WI-IN) with me this year? I've pretty much got a route in mind, I'm just stuck on what to do once I get to Indiana :rolleyes:

[devildogmech]

Wisconsin to Indiana? Your Nuts.... I'll do it!, but I'm in Indiana....

[chipcom]

I used to wonder why they did BTWW in May, when the weather is so iffy in this part of the country...but then I figured it out. If they schedule it in the hotter summer months, they run a greater risk of out-of-shape Americans getting heat stroke, heat exhaustion, etc. trying to pedal their bikes a couple of miles. This hit me when we visited Gettysburg a few years ago and the GF wanted to do the 'tour' of Pickett's Charge. The guide went to great lengths to describe how exhausting and dangerous it would be to just walk across that one mile of open field today, without people shooting at you, because of the temperature and distance. As I walked MY 6'1", 235lb, 44 yr old (at the time) butt across, all I could think of was WE ARE A NATION OF OUT-OF-SHAPE WUSSIES!