Telling OPEC where to stick it!

[RC_spinner]

Today I finally took the plunge and began partially riding to work. Here is how it goes:

I drive 19 miles to the nearest Dart train station in downtown Garland, take the train to the West End and bike the remaining two miles to work. The time is about the same as if I drove in to work on I-30, and I cut my driving distance almost in half, and dont have to deal with traffic jams :D

Now the cool thing is I can also get off @ Mockingbird station and bike the Katy Trail to the American Airlines Center, then cut down to work for a longer ride. Also as an added bonus I can stop at White Rock and ride there as well.
Anyway, with the amount of gas saved @$3,oo a gal( I drive a pick up) and the lack of driving stress, I win bigtime:D

Chris

[old and new]

Sounds good on every level, all three !

[Doggus]

Now try riding to the dart station! What time did you hop on the train? I've been wondering about putting my bike on the train, if there will be room. I will have to board at Plano north and it's pretty damn crowded during peak times.

[jsharr]

Congrats Chris. I wish I had a train bike option, but Richardson to Lake Dallas is just not a bike friendly route.

[cooker]

Great plan.

[Doggus]

Congrats Chris. I wish I had a train bike option, but Richardson to Lake Dallas is just not a bike friendly route.


yeah, I don't know how you would pull that off. I'm having trouble finding a new path from east Allen to the southwest corner of the High 5 jungle. And I don't have a lake in the way impeding any routes.

[All1NTao]

I'm jealous. Just look down from the train and smile because that is me stuck in traffic inside my steel coffin.

[Doggus]

I'm jealous. Just look down from the train and smile because that is me stuck in traffic inside my steel coffin.

Where do you work? I notice you live in Allen - what side of the tracks?

[All1NTao]

Live at Hedgecoxe and Custer work in Mesquite I-30 and Motley. I also have to wear dress clothes every day. A wonderful 62 mile round trip commute.

[Doggus]

:eek: :eek: :eek:

And I was whining about my 12 mile commute to Richardson.

Well hell tag along to my work then hop the trail to WRL and then it's a short pedal from the lake to your office.

[RC_spinner]

{Now try riding to the dart station! What time did you hop on the train? I've been wondering about putting my bike on the train, if there will be room. I will have to board at Plano north and it's pretty damn crowded during peak times.}


Its an 18 mile trek down Hwy 66, a rather dicey proposition on a bike, two lane all the way to Rowlett, some rough spots along the way. If there was a safe place to park somewere between my house and the Dart station and ride from there, that could work, just to get maximum riding time.

no worries about space on the train for your bike. I got on at 7:40 and it does get somewhat crowded the closer you get to downtown Dallas. I stand at the front of the car in the space normally reserved for wheelchairs, no problems so far. I do plan on getting an earlier start though, so I will update on this soon.

Chris

[RC_spinner]

What a lovely trip home!!! I was not prepared for the rain this evening, but it did let up to a steady light rain byt he time I left work.
This is how off-guard I was: I get outside and realize the rain is soaking my head, I yell for one of my coworkers to pop inside and grab my hat for me, which he does. I negotiate traffic @ I-35 and Continental (a little nerve tingling ), make my way to the West End, and have the sudden epiphany that I LEFT MY HELMET AT WORK!!!! No wonder I needed a fricken hat! And then I read about Kevin's mishap and what his helmet looks like, and all I want to do is make it 2 safe miles to work tommorow!

Just a reminder to slow it down and think:)

Chris

[c_m_shooter]

Good luck with your adventures. I started riding my bike once a week earlier this spring and have enjoyed it. I commute from Paradise to Fort Worth wich is either 36 or 40 miles one way depending on the route I take. I can do it in just inder two hours now. I don't have the traffic you do, but 114 from Boyd to Paradise can be scary at times between the hills and the rock haulers.