drove today

[Goriot]

So I drove for the first time in 3.5 months. Well, first time that I was at the wheel. I drove because my bike isn't extremely night friendly and the route between point A and B is also not bike friendly making for a quasi dangerous ride. First of all, it felt weird to drive after so long but there were a couple of things I noticed I thought people here would appreciate or empathize with.

1. I could have rode a bike. It was only about 20k away
2. I actually saw and appreciated every bike lane and bike sign on the road
3. I was jealous of people riding bikes
4. The car wasn't that much faster than the bike
5. I felt soooooo wasteful idling at a red light.
6. I now know the cost of gas and boy did it sky rocket.
7. I saw a guy on a bike struggling uphill and I wished it was me
8. I dream that highways (freeways) were made for bikes... so smooth
9. I couldn't stand being in traffic as I'm used to just coasting right to the intersection
10. I could still identify the JAMs

[bragi]

Please don't take this the wrong way, I don't mean to be self-righteous, but if you saw others on bikes, you saw bike lanes and bike signs, you were jealous of people on bikes, and the car wasn't that much faster than a bike, why did you even bother to drive? (I don't like to drive either, so I can relate.) For the price of a tank of gas, you could have purchased a decent LED headlight for the bike, and been good to go, assuming there were not dangers on your route which you hadn't mentioned....

[gerv]

Please don't take this the wrong way, I don't mean to be self-righteous, but if you saw others on bikes, you saw bike lanes and bike signs, you were jealous of people on bikes, and the car wasn't that much faster than a bike, why did you even bother to drive? (I don't like to drive either, so I can relate.) For the price of a tank of gas, you could have purchased a decent LED headlight for the bike, and been good to go, assuming there were not dangers on your route which you hadn't mentioned....
I think the OP is making a statement about how his viewpoint had changed since last being in a car. I can relate to that. When you get behind the wheel, you have to remember to brake with your feet :) Anyway, my take the OP would be riding his bike next time he had to make the trip...

[evblazer]

It sounds like you live in a really nice area for biking you should get out there and ride all the time :)

I hate to drive but when I do it is hard to justify riding as a practical thing to do. (disregarding health/environment)

We have no bike lanes/paths
We have very poor roads for riding 55mph+ 2 lane no shoulder
The only people I see riding are roadies in training
Driving is ALOT faster then riding a bike to ever single destination I go to
My car isn't wasteful at red lights or when slowing down
The price of gas did skyrocket but it would only cost me $40 or so a month or $80 if it double again
There aren't that many hills at all and I have only seen two bike commuters in 2 1/2 years
There really aren't that many JAMs down here

The only negatives about the car is even when it is 100+ out I feel alot cooler riding my bike or just outside in general then if I take a car for a a day or two.

I've only driven about 50 miles a month on average the last few months so I'm not some car person. Just don't live in a nice bike area where I can get more folks into it.

[Goriot]

I think the OP is making a statement about how his viewpoint had changed since last being in a car. I can relate to that. When you get behind the wheel, you have to remember to brake with your feet :) Anyway, my take the OP would be riding his bike next time he had to make the trip...

yea that's what I mean. My perspective changed. I would bike ride the next time. The bike ride isn't that great, the roads are terrible and people usually race along those roads. I had a lot of errands to do too and was carrying fragile stuff.

[Chuckie J.]

In my opinion, its not what you did one day, its what you tend to do everyday that matters.

Many of us don't own cars but that doesn't mean my bike parts arrive at my house via bike!