Commuting - Giving up Commuting

After 20 years of regular commuting I'm going to have to take a long break.
My daughter got into the daycare at the University where I work and there is no way I'm going to haul her six miles in a trailer through South Central Los Angeles at rush hour. So I'll be reduced to before and after work rides and the weekends. I am so seriously bummed, but I can't pass up this opportunity for my daughter. Wish me luck getting my butt up before work to go riding.

I have found that kid schedules are one of the biggest impediments to bicycle commuting, and the day care years were the worst. (I wasn't a bike commuter in those years, but it would have been impossible even if I had wanted to.) Good luck.

I feel your pain, boss reeled me back into the other office and it's just not doable. Was saving over 200 a month on gas. I might get 2 days a week now to bike in.

Wish me luck getting my butt up before work to go riding.

Good luck getting your butt up before work to go riding. :rolleyes:

Another one of those sacrifices you make for your kids.

Don't forget to eat LESS.

I'm sorry to hear this, but your kids should always come first and they obviously do in your life. Good luck to you!

Ironically, the gaseous byproducts of your new, child-friendly commute, are going to be detrimental to him/her in years to come.

Ironically, the gaseous byproducts of your new, child-friendly commute, are going to be detrimental to him/her in years to come.

Nice. :rolleyes:

More like uncalled for.

I'm relatively lucky in that my wife is a school teacher and at least I can ride to work during the summer when she is home with my daughter. I am responsible for dropping my daughter off at school during the year.

The school is relatively close to our house so I am considering packing the bike on top of the car, dropping my daughter off at school, and then parking at a bike trailhead near school so I can offload and ride to work. We'll see. My wife is a little freaked out in case there is an emergency at school and I need to pick my daughter up right away.

I'm relatively lucky in that my wife is a school teacher and at least I can ride to work during the summer when she is home with my daughter. I am responsible for dropping my daughter off at school during the year.

The school is relatively close to our house so I am considering packing the bike on top of the car, dropping my daughter off at school, and then parking at a bike trailhead near school so I can offload and ride to work. We'll see. My wife is a little freaked out in case there is an emergency at school and I need to pick my daughter up right away.

define relativly close. and how old she is. Could you ride a bike there with her? or what about one of those bikes that attaches to the rear of your bike? then you could remove it and lock it up at the rack?

I'm sorry to hear this, but your kids should always come first and they obviously do in your life. Good luck to you!

Putting kids, especially very young ones, into daycare hardly qualifies as 'putting your kids first'.

Don't forget to eat LESS.


Yes, that can be a "big" problem. :D

Putting kids, especially very young ones, into daycare hardly qualifies as 'putting your kids first'. Uncalled for statement #2 of this thread. :rolleyes: I think parents know better what's best for their children than a stranger on the internet.

I am so seriously bummed, but I can't pass up this opportunity for my daughter. :( Sorry about this, Treespeed. No alternative routes possible, I guess?..

Good luck. Hope the withdrawal symptoms aren't too severe. They shouldn't be if you keep up riding.

Uncalled for statement #2 of this thread. :rolleyes: I think parents know better what's best for their children than a stranger on the internet.

^^^^Especially from strangers who probably don't have kids. Or if they had kids and sounded like that then it makes you wonder why they even had kids.

After 20 years of regular commuting I'm going to have to take a long break.
My daughter got into the daycare at the University where I work and there is no way I'm going to haul her six miles in a trailer through South Central Los Angeles at rush hour. So I'll be reduced to before and after work rides and the weekends. I am so seriously bummed, but I can't pass up this opportunity for my daughter. Wish me luck getting my butt up before work to go riding.

Just make up for it by riding harder afte work and weekends. I understand there are people here who ride at night and they love it because there are not as much JAMs to deal with.

i suspect that my commute on city streets is safer than most of those who live in rural and suburban areas. if only for the fact that most drivers in cities are aware that there are pedestrians, dogs, guys pushing carts, handtrucks, rolling luggage, motorcycles, scooters, and most importantly, bicycles that share the road with them. there's also the difference in closing speeds. for the most part, cars in the city are doing the same speed or more likely, even going slower than bicyclists :) most of the roads here are well lit, and you there's a bit of anarchy afforded to bicycle riders here :) it's a much more open terrain for bicyclists.

the obvious advice from everyone is- be seen!

good luck to you.

Putting kids, especially very young ones, into daycare hardly qualifies as 'putting your kids first'.

In context that's not fair to say as Americans, unlike most of the western world, don't get much paid family leave after the birth of a child. Something like two months for the mother is the law.

Good luck on finding time to ride, TS! :)

In reply to inappropriate comment #1, considering that I've been riding for 20 years I think I'm entitled to transport my daughter to daycare in a safe car for a couple of years. Yes, I'm increasing C02 emmissions, it's just too bad there is no way to reduce the amount of BS she'll have to put up with from sanctimonious morons like yourself.

And to #2 Allister, considering the fact that my daughter is smart, chatting up a storm, and makes friends at the drop of a hat I hardly worry about depriving her by sending her to one of the top daycare's in the city at one of the top private Universities in the country. Most people would kill to have their kids in an environment like this and I'm not going to deny her this opportunity so that Daddy can ride his bike.

Luckily I can swim at the pool at lunch, this being Los Angeles this is even a winter option, and my wife likes running after work and in the morning so I shouldn't get too out of shape. I'll have to hit the other forums to figure out how the rest of the world squeezes in their riding time. No more gloating about keeping my base mileage with my commuting.

To the rest of you, thanks for the constructive and thoughtful comments.

Aw man, but it would be such a great excuse to buy a brand spankin new tandem bike.

TS, I don't know your situatio, but could you arrange to have your daughter taken to daycare for you (e.g., girlfriend/spouse/etc) one day a week? Once-a-week commuting (what I do,but because of distance) is beetter than not commuting at all.

In any case, sorry to hear this, but I hope you return to bike commuting in the years to come.

I lived in the city with a good subway when my kids were at that age and cycled around during the non-rushed days.

It is doable..i'd move.. :)

Yay! Another reason not to have a kid! At this rate, I'll make it to 21 years of bike commuting.

Uncalled for statement #2 of this thread. :rolleyes: I think parents know better what's best for their children than a stranger on the internet.

I agree. I also think parents know better what's best for their child than a stranger in a daycare centre with 30 other kids to care for.

I also realise that for some people, daycare is a necessity.

I'm not judging treespeed's choice here, he know's his circumstances better than I. I just disagree that daycare can be described as 'best for kids' by any criteria, but I'm glad that he seems to have found a good one. I've heard some serious horror stories about some of the daycare centres around here.

For the record, mtnwalker, I have three kids, and am fortunate enough to make enough money that my wife doesn't have to work and can stay at home with them. We have never for a second considered putting any of them in daycare.

I agree. I also think parents know better what's best for their child than a stranger in a daycare centre with 30 other kids to care for.

I also realise that for some people, daycare is a necessity.

I'm not judging treespeed's choice here, he know's his circumstances better than I. I just disagree that daycare can be described as 'best for kids' by any criteria, but I'm glad that he seems to have found a good one. I've heard some serious horror stories about some of the daycare centres around here.

For the record, mtnwalker, I have three kids, and am fortunate enough to make enough money that my wife doesn't have to work and can stay at home with them. We have never for a second considered putting any of them in daycare.


Well most folks with kids are forced to find some sort of daycare arrangements as they can't afford to feed the kids without 2 incomes. There are many retorts you can make to this...however, I will say: I am a soldier in the Army, I work part-time EMS as a Paramedic, my wife is an RN...we barely make ends meet and we live in Army Housing. So...we found the best thing we could, and have to accept it. I put my kids first in every thing I do, hell they are the reason I do most things. I even lay my life on the line for them in imminently hostile situations so that hopefully they can grow up in a free and democratic world...yes, your comment was uncalled for, and inflammatory.

If you find a nice day care \ pre school the benefits are tremendous. My son is now speaking wonderfully and is very social... unlike his parents. Unfortunately, we are not the best teachers but we do try. It just got to the point that we needed help.
I will say that a day care or pre school should supplement the parents not replace them (not that the posters in this thread think otherwise).

I just inherited a trail-a-bike from a friend for taking my kindergardener to school this year on my way to work. Not sure if I would pull a trailer 5 miles in LA traffic though.

Good luck and congrats on getting in the school! I hope you daughter grows up to make a positive difference in our world!

Putting kids, especially very young ones, into daycare hardly qualifies as 'putting your kids first'.

I was only talking about choosing to transport his children instead of riding to work. He's giving up something he loves doing because of his kids. Whether or not daycare is good for children is the subject of another thread entirely.

ridin in LA . Lucky to ride at all. Unless you live out towards the beach. Good luck in finding time, tho.

I used to take my kids to daycare, and/or pick them up, in a Burley trailer; and they loved it. They loved riding in the trailer, that is (but they liked daycare, too!). They liked riding in the trailer so much they made me take the longest possible way home, and always yelled "go faster" if they saw a speed bump coming up, and then, after the bumps, they'd laugh and laugh. But even so, I didn't take them in the trailer every day, and when I did, I didn't have to go out on busy streets, and it was nowhere near 6 miles. So I won't say "I did it and so can you." But I would suggest, don't completely rule out your commuting by bike... there may be a way to keep it up on an occasional basis, maybe even with a trailer or child seat on the back of your bike (I never tried those). There's nothing wrong with taking the car if that's what's necessary... just don't get to preferring the car over the bike. And when your daughter graduates, you can go back to your old ways....

I agree. I also think parents know better what's best for their child than a stranger in a daycare centre with 30 other kids to care for.

I also realise that for some people, daycare is a necessity.

I'm not judging treespeed's choice here,

I think your choice of words gave that impression, unfortunately.


he know's his circumstances better than I. I just disagree that daycare can be described as 'best for kids' by any criteria, but I'm glad that he seems to have found a good one. I've heard some serious horror stories about some of the daycare centres around here.

Well, I'll be the pot, here, and toss out a judgment of my own. What you're saying sounds like those really quite privileged folks who have the "nothing but the best for my kids and forget the rest" attitude, and who regard that attitude as both virtuous and functional. Kids don't exist in some kind of a vacuum; they are part of a family, a neighborhood, a community and a society. You can't just judge what's "best for kids" in isolation: if you take an action that is hypothetically better for the kid, but that is worse for the family, is it the better solution? How about an action that is "best for my kid" but that is to the detriment of the neighborhood or community? There's plenty of that going around.

Radically child-centric attitudes are rearing some very privileged, very selfish children, who come to chronological adulthood with expectations that even their privileged position cannot satisfy. What happens when these adult brats meet with the inevitable disappointment following the world's failure to provide them with an even more outsized share of the pie, is truly not pretty. Spending a little time in a situation like daycare, where you're not the world's most special snowflake, would do most kids some good IMO.

Putting kids, especially very young ones, into daycare hardly qualifies as 'putting your kids first'.

Oh yeah. Those of us who are parents loooooove unsolicited advice from people who don't know what the hell they're talking about.

Unless you're willing to pitch in and help the man hire a private nanny.

I hope I never have kids...

I'm relatively lucky in that my wife is a school teacher and at least I can ride to work during the summer when she is home with my daughter. I am responsible for dropping my daughter off at school during the year.

The school is relatively close to our house so I am considering packing the bike on top of the car, dropping my daughter off at school, and then parking at a bike trailhead near school so I can offload and ride to work. We'll see. My wife is a little freaked out in case there is an emergency at school and I need to pick my daughter up right away.
This isn't a criticism of anyone... but it's a shame that so many kids have to be driven to school these days :( I'm 25 and grew up in a medium-sized town in Michigan from the age of 10, where basically no one was driven or had to take the bus to elementary school. Everyone lived within a mile or so of their elementary school, and all the kids walked. There were crossing guards and cops were extra vigilant when kids were coming and going from school. In middle school and high school, lots of kids still walked or rode their own bikes... until they got cars :)

I wish there were more places as friendly to pedestrians and cyclists. It mainly requires having a fairly compact city area, lots of respect by motorists, and a moderate dose of law enforcement.

More like uncalled for.

Agreed.

Putting kids, especially very young ones, into daycare hardly qualifies as 'putting your kids first'.


Ironically, the gaseous byproducts of your new, child-friendly commute, are going to be detrimental to him/her in years to come.

WTH?

Somebody go around pissing in everyones Wheaties this morning?

I've never seen 2 retorts on this forum that were THAT asinine.

There should be an award handed out or something.

I think your choice of words gave that impression, unfortunately.



Well, I'll be the pot, here, and toss out a judgment of my own. What you're saying sounds like those really quite privileged folks who have the "nothing but the best for my kids and forget the rest" attitude, and who regard that attitude as both virtuous and functional. Kids don't exist in some kind of a vacuum; they are part of a family, a neighborhood, a community and a society. You can't just judge what's "best for kids" in isolation: if you take an action that is hypothetically better for the kid, but that is worse for the family, is it the better solution? How about an action that is "best for my kid" but that is to the detriment of the neighborhood or community? There's plenty of that going around.

Radically child-centric attitudes are rearing some very privileged, very selfish children, who come to chronological adulthood with expectations that even their privileged position cannot satisfy. What happens when these adult brats meet with the inevitable disappointment following the world's failure to provide them with an even more outsized share of the pie, is truly not pretty. Spending a little time in a situation like daycare, where you're not the world's most special snowflake, would do most kids some good IMO.

An entitlement attitude produces the same results in everyone, whether they're dirt poor or "privileged" FYI. The result is the same...whiny, childish adults that believe the world owes them something.

I wish there were more places as friendly to pedestrians and cyclists. It mainly requires having a fairly compact city area, lots of respect by motorists, and a moderate dose of law enforcement.

...and a government that doesn't decide to make families a casualty of social experiments that shuffle kids around different schools. School district Gerrymandering and busing ensure that pretty much everybody needs an hour to get to school, even if the nearest actual school building is 5 minutes away.

I commute with a child seat on the back of my bike to drop off and pick up from daycare. You may want to try it out on a weekend and see how you/child likes it and how safe you feel with it.

Uncalled for statement #2 of this thread. :rolleyes: I think parents know better what's best for their children than a stranger on the internet.

y'know what?

he put it out there on the internet. he got replies. nobody is calling his house and offereing unsolicited advice. if one cant handle contrary opinions and perspectives, theres probably better ways to spend ones time than on an internet mesage board.

i mean if you look at the world honestly, i think you'll find that its overwhelmingly obviuos that- no, parents do not always know whats best for their own children.

Is there any way you can attach a child seat on the back, instead of using a trailer? Maybe you could electrify a second bike to help you get through traffic a bit faster.

Breath deeply. Rinse and repeat...
It seems like the whole of BF has gone nutty. Soon the roadie forum is going to be the most civilized. :p
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I've been transporting my son from his grandma's house using either a trailer or a trail-a-bike since his preschool closed. 9 miles each way with some nice hills. The little dude just loves the trail-a-bike. I sure hope my wife finds a preschool closer ASAP. 18 miles is obnoxious. It does lead to some good bonding time provided the weather is nice.

In reply to inappropriate comment #1, considering that I've been riding for 20 years I think I'm entitled to transport my daughter to daycare in a safe car for a couple of years. Yes, I'm increasing C02 emmissions, it's just too bad there is no way to reduce the amount of BS she'll have to put up with from sanctimonious morons like yourself.

And to #2 Allister, considering the fact that my daughter is smart, chatting up a storm, and makes friends at the drop of a hat I hardly worry about depriving her by sending her to one of the top daycare's in the city at one of the top private Universities in the country. Most people would kill to have their kids in an environment like this and I'm not going to deny her this opportunity so that Daddy can ride his bike.


Clap Clap Clap:beer:

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But anyway. My kids are in daycare moving to kindergarten in ten days, location 2 blocks from my house. Bike commuting is not an issue, but the daycare has turned out to suck, thus the change. The kids are happy but it is difficult to discourage small kids from being happy without quite a lot of work. I expect to get flamed for this last, but it seems to be true (?).

to be clear, i'm not angry, and i'm pretty pragmatic about the cars and kids thing. i just think that the suggestion that contrary opnion on a message board is somehow inappropriate is pretty ridiculous. as is the suggestion that all parents are somehow magically infalliable judges of whats best for kids.

It is not the opinion but the way said opinion was presented. IMHO

Well most folks with kids are forced to find some sort of daycare arrangements as they can't afford to feed the kids without 2 incomes. There are many retorts you can make to this...however, I will say: I am a soldier in the Army, I work part-time EMS as a Paramedic, my wife is an RN...we barely make ends meet and we live in Army Housing. So...we found the best thing we could, and have to accept it. I put my kids first in every thing I do, hell they are the reason I do most things. I even lay my life on the line for them in imminently hostile situations so that hopefully they can grow up in a free and democratic world...yes, your comment was uncalled for, and inflammatory.

Disagree. You have to make choices. Get rid of nights out, find less expensive home, get rid of a car or reduce the cost. These are choices that most ppl just aren't willing to make. Think a kid cares if you drive a pos or a leased bmw? Think a kid cares what neighborhood you live in (assuming it's safe)?

Ppl got along fine 50 years ago when day care wasn't an option, or atleast a common one. My wife and I chose to lose a 2nd paycheck so she could stay home with our kids in the period that nearly any expert in child development calls critical. For us it meant a drastic change to our lives that many ppl aren't willing to do purely for selfish reasons. When it came time to become employed again she graciously took a job outside of her field and interest that wouldn't interfere with preschool or elementary school schedules.

All that said, I'm not going to knock someone else's choice, but let's not kid ourselves about the selfish rationalizations we all make on a daily basis. The daycare the poster is talking about sounds wonderful, but it's hardly the norm in our society, more like the rare exception. Plenty of ppl survive on single paycheck, and while it's not easy the reward is evidenced in the children. There are numerous studies to show the problems day care causes in child rearing.

I can understand why the op would give up a bike commute, and with 20 years of commuting, he's surely created enough offset to justify it.

It is not the opinion but the way said opinion was presented. IMHO

fair enough.

Disagree. You have to make choices. Get rid of nights out, find less expensive home, get rid of a car or reduce the cost. These are choices that most ppl just aren't willing to make. Think a kid cares if you drive a pos or a leased bmw? Think a kid cares what neighborhood you live in (assuming it's safe)?

Ppl got along fine 50 years ago when day care wasn't an option, or atleast a common one. My wife and I chose to lose a 2nd paycheck so she could stay home with our kids in the period that nearly any expert in child development calls critical. For us it meant a drastic change to our lives that many ppl aren't willing to do purely for selfish reasons. When it came time to become employed again she graciously took a job outside of her field and interest that wouldn't interfere with preschool or elementary school schedules.

All that said, I'm not going to knock someone else's choice, but let's not kid ourselves about the selfish rationalizations we all make on a daily basis. The daycare the poster is talking about sounds wonderful, but it's hardly the norm in our society, more like the rare exception. Plenty of ppl survive on single paycheck, and while it's not easy the reward is evidenced in the children. There are numerous studies to show the problems day care causes in child rearing.

I can understand why the op would give up a bike commute, and with 20 years of commuting, he's surely created enough offset to justify it.

Justification or not, life is about making the most appropriate choices for yourself and your family. End of story.