Commuting - Co-workers feeling sorry for you...!

Has this ever happened to you at any point of your daily commutes, at least in the beguinning?
that co-workers not quite get used to the idea of watching you commute to work/home? ( I do it only 3 times a week)

They start offering you rides, wondering if you've lost your license, how can you ride in this cold? are you crazy? blah, blah, etc, etc, etc.

They don't understand,(speciallly the ladies) that it's your choice....

Corsaire :rolleyes:

Yep they don't even put two and two together when they see me on those rare days show up in my car that I ride for choice not because I have to. I even had a fellow commuter comment once when I mentioned I hadn't seen him all winter "well some of us don't have to ride" oh well they don't know how much fun they are missing out on.

No, my co-workers think I'm nuts! I'm usually the last to leave anyways, so I don't see them on the way home.

LOL. Yes they feel sorry for me, then they tell me I'm crazy. Then I tell them how I feel sorry for them for driving their cars to work. And I and tell them how silly it is to try to struggle to "get to the gym" after work, when they could have just rode a bike to work, and gotten plenty of excersize. Oh well, to each their own.

Living in a place that doesn't actually experience a winter, about the only time I've ever had this is when it's been raining (extremely rare over the last three years or so). I just tell them how much I love riding in the rain. It generally ends any talk of "sympathy".

I think I'm starting to get labeled the "hippie" at my office due to my vegetarianism, animal rights activism, microbrew drinkin, granola eatin, bushy hair, and of course commuting home in the dark and rain. I even think they're surprised that I've passed all my drug tests. :)

Oh, well. I like to keep people guessing.

I ride to work one way (40km). I don't normally ride home, but if I do it takes 1hr 50min. The sympathy thing is good for me. People at work are so amazed at the distance and the fact that it appears all up hill, it means I can leave work an hour early to ride home.

CHEERS.

Mark

My co-workers know from the get go, my inclinations.
I have a couple anti-car t-shirts that I wear regularily. I read "Asphalt Nation' at work and discussed it openly with a fellow cyclist during lunch. Somewhat less intense than I however...
I have lost count of my bike t shirts and have a dress polo shirt with a bike sillohuette on it- for dress ocassions.... My desk top now has a photo of a bike commuter as wallpaper.
Think they get the picture....No, they let me be. Couple are even somewhat supportive.

My co-workers know from the get go, my inclinations.
I have a couple anti-car t-shirts that I wear regularily. I read "Asphalt Nation' at work and discussed it openly with a fellow cyclist during lunch. Somewhat less intense than I however...
I have lost count of my bike t shirts and have a dress polo shirt with a bike sillohuette on it- for dress ocassions.... My desk top now has a photo of a bike commuter as wallpaper.
Think they get the picture....No, they let me be. Couple are even somewhat supportive.
If you like Asphalt Nation, you should read "Home From Nowhere," by James Howard Kunstler. You will never see cities the same again!

funny, I just rode to work in a torrential downpour, and no one said anything! I thought I could have some fun with it, at least. Oh well... it's supposed to rain all week. YAY!!!

I think the pity thing really bothers me at the lightrail (trolley, tram) station. You see, we have a HUGE park and ride at that train station for the motorists. They can drive to the train and leave their car at the station. When I arrive with my bicycle, I get these sad stares of pity. I find the best thing is to stare right back at them!

I can buy a new car and drive 7 blocks to the station and pay $150.00 per month for parking but why bother when it's free using my bicycle.

On the other hand, I pity those who are spending 7 thousand a year to drive plus parking fees each month. There was no way I could save shelling out that kind of money. Seriously. I don't know how they can do it? They must be making pretty good money.

The funniest I've heard is a comment saying:
"That guy must've lost his license, DWI possibly."

I understand in Europe, people think differently.
Corsaire

I never get the DWI thing, probably because I wear all the bicycling togs and helmet. The DWI bikers around here you can see a mile away. They have there blue jeans, flannel shirt, stocking cap, smoking, and riding a Huffy with a lunch box bungied to the back. I've been commuting for over 22 years and I still get the comments though, I guess they never get use to it.

Most of my neighbors, friends and all of my co-workers are quite sure I'm out of my mind, I've been asked. Why do you ride that thing in the cold wet weather? you have a car. Is there a problem with it? I just tell them that if they need to ask they wouldn't understand anyway. Riding a bike is just a thing that I do, that's all. Do you have a problem with that? They never do. Who kows, I may be out of my mind but that's OK, it's nice in here, (in my little world). Don't let it bother you just ride the bike and maybe others will catch on.

I never get the DWI thing, probably because I wear all the bicycling togs and helmet. The DWI bikers around here you can see a mile away. They have there blue jeans, flannel shirt, stocking cap, smoking, and riding a Huffy with a lunch box bungied to the back. I've been commuting for over 22 years and I still get the comments though, I guess they never get use to it.


Don't over-generalize.

I have the car at home and it's very useful for some times of travels. But I commute (and ride leasurely) on the bike with civilian clothing.

I don't smoke and I spin at 75-85 rpm, but otherwise, the only reason I don'T wear jeans is that I don't wear them at the office either.

Regards,

One thing I sometimes get is the occasional, "Hi there, young man!" from people younger than me, but they don't realize I just look younger than they do.

It's really not a problem, if you think about it much.

:D

Today was on of those "days" everyone gathered around me and felt sorry for me because I must be "soaked to the bone" ummm nope dry on the inside. Then I got to listen to all their b#&!hin' about all the traffic and how it really sucked to drive in this morning. No one noticed the smile on my face because I spent my morning commute with my nose buried in a good book and had a nice brisk, albeit wet, 5 mile ride to work. No traffic to deal with no stress.

Quote: "Don't over-generalize.

I have the car at home and it's very useful for some times of travels. But I commute (and ride leasurely) on the bike with civilian clothing.

I don't smoke and I spin at 75-85 rpm, but otherwise, the only reason I don'T wear jeans is that I don't wear them at the office either."

Sorry, I didn't mean to stereo type. Actually I see allot of business, college, etc. people wearing "civilian" clothes (even a suit!). But really, have you ever rode any distance in jeans?!? It is reeeeeally uncomfortable unless you are just going around the block. Oh man, I'm sure I'm going to get blasted here.

Quote: "Don't over-generalize.

I have the car at home and it's very useful for some times of travels. But I commute (and ride leasurely) on the bike with civilian clothing.

I don't smoke and I spin at 75-85 rpm, but otherwise, the only reason I don'T wear jeans is that I don't wear them at the office either."

Sorry, I didn't mean to stereo type. Actually I see allot of business, college, etc. people wearing "civilian" clothes (even a suit!). But really, have you ever rode any distance in jeans?!? It is reeeeeally uncomfortable unless you are just going around the block. Oh man, I'm sure I'm going to get blasted here.

mtessmer, I call them "desperation commuters". Around here, they usually have their lunch in a bag on the handlebars, wear a flannel jacket and jeans, have a smoke in one hand, and ride precariously zig-zagging between sidewalk and road, with no lights or reflectors in the dark
Not easily confused with any sort of serious cyclist no matter what the attire. Their legs pointing towards east and west as they pedal (because the seat is too low) is usually the first indication. Maybe some of them eventually get serious, but they probably give it up when they get their license back.

I tried to feel sorry for myself yesterday (the co-workers weren't coming through). Cold rain. Headwinds gusting to 30+ mph while riding to an after-work meeting that added 15 miles to the commute. Dark. Very dark. Trouble was, it was still fun.

Mary

just to provide another point of view:

my uncle rides like 24 miles each way in his jeans and flannels or work clothes(he's a mechanic) to work. been doing it for like 4 years or so. he rides a bike he found in the garbage and fixed up a little bit here and there and now he rides the heck out of it. he also might be very drunk on the way home. so you could have both cases.

but then again, he runs 5 k's in his work boots and flannels as well, so he may just be crazy.

dan

On the other hand, I pity those who are spending 7 thousand a year to drive plus parking fees each month. There was no way I could save shelling out that kind of money. Seriously. I don't know how they can do it? They must be making pretty good money.

I'd say making some pretty big sacrifices is a more accurate description. There's no way I could afford my own little waterfront apartment if I was paying for a car. I also note the number of co-workers and so on who don't take holidays or settle for holidays relatively close to home (i.e, cheap).

I'd say making some pretty big sacrifices is a more accurate description. There's no way I could afford my own little waterfront apartment if I was paying for a car.
I wonder why some people buy an oversized SUV for $40,000 US that they don't need. These are the blokes I feel sorry for (sort of...)

I understand in Europe, people think differently.

sort of.

when i commuted in Houston TX people thought i was a freak - i CONSTANTLY was asked if i needed a ride, when my car would be out of the shop, etc. when i would answer that my car was sitting at home in the garage and i CHOSE to ride, i got blank faces... especially in the hot/humid summers... literally i think the people thought i was crazy or something.

then in Portland it was a lot better - most people at least know there are "crazy" people out there who commute by bike... although riding in the rain and the "cold" (as if portland is cold!) still "amazed" people.

in munich the number of people who somtimes bike commute and/or at least bike is very high --- for example the one of my computer geek colleagues did a 2-week cycle tour in Sweeden last summer... plus an old mainframer has done numerous bike tours (these are not your "sporty" or "outdoorsy" or "environmental" types). so the basic understanding of riding a bike is MUCH higher. but when peope find out i ride more than just a few km (only 12km one way) and that i ride in the rain and in the winter ---> they pretty much think i'm a freak too, although they also know i race mountain bikes, plus am a MTB tour guide, plus do other "crazy" stuff like mountain climbing, ski touring, etc.

but here i'm "weird" b/c i'm extreme and/or athletic, not just because i don't drive --- although i do confuse many Germans as i _could_ easily afford a car but i CHOOSE not to buy one ---- here having a car is still a big status thing partly b/c the costs are much higher -- also if you work and live in the city a car just becomes a true "luxruy" item, but unfortunately b/c of BMW/Mercedes/Porsche/Audi a status-luxury)

so, yeah, in Europe the understanding is much higher, although i'd say the difference between certain places in the North America (like Portland, Vancouver or Montreal) and Germany is less than the difference between these bike friendly places and others in the the US like say Texas.

I tried to feel sorry for myself yesterday (the co-workers weren't coming through). Cold rain. Headwinds gusting to 30+ mph while riding to an after-work meeting that added 15 miles to the commute. Dark. Very dark. Trouble was, it was still fun.

exactly!


Then I got to listen to all their b#&!hin' about all the traffic and how it really sucked to drive in this morning. No one noticed the smile on my face because I spent my morning commute with my nose buried in a good book and had a nice brisk, albeit wet, 5 mile ride to work. No traffic to deal with no stress.
yep. I fell sorry for all the poor souls who a) spend so much money to drive and b) waste so much time in traffic and c) have to deal with stress of driving d) are hurting rather than helping their health ---> plus they don't get the enjoyment of riding a bike! i just SMILE when i ride by cars stuck in traffic!

exactly!


yep. I fell sorry for all the poor souls who a) spend so much money to drive and b) waste so much time in traffic and c) have to deal with stress of driving d) are hurting rather than helping their health ---> plus they don't get the enjoyment of riding a bike!
I guess that's who I feel sorry for the most--people who are trapped behind the invisible barrier of unbelief, who might spend the rest of their lives never riding a bike because they think it's an activity for a few elite or unusually athletic or robust types. If only they could see it through our eyes for a single day!

What a difference different cultures brings to cycling commuters...My first France/Belgium bike tour....Recall, the intersection of two bike paths heading into different directions.Two cities like maybe 15 km apart in different directons.....Recall metting up with a couple moved to Normandy from Belgium.They selected a house at this intersection of two bike paths due to access of the bike paths to the two different towns, each of which the husband/wife had to commute.
They bought a house out in the country each about 15 k between the two cities so the wife could commute one way to work and the husband the other.
Beautiful bike path equivalent to a small road used for bikes and small farm vehicles. What a switch, to choose a home equal distance for both spouses so both could ride.Beautiful ride too. It was located somewhere mid-way between Rouen and Paris.

In a society where we have become so technified and
electro mechanized, it's truly delightful to just have the option of something so simple and so basic: the bicycle.

People who ride their bikes are a different breed. We're hard core, no non sense type of fellows who appreciate the basics things in life, this I find a common denominator among us.
Corsaire

I guess that's who I feel sorry for the most--people who are trapped behind the invisible barrier of unbelief, who might spend the rest of their lives never riding a bike because they think it's an activity for a few elite or unusually athletic or robust types. If only they could see it through our eyes for a single day!

Yesterday we had a replacement driver on our bus when I got off downtown he asked me how far I had to go five mile was my reply(we all know that isn't even warm up time) his comment was that I must be in the 'best shape possible" I laughed. I have mentioned this before I am almost afraid to tell people how far I ride because of their reactions. I am no super human I could even use to lose a couple of pounds and could work out more. Riding bike is a lazy way to exercise, its so easy to do but most people look at it as hard work. ANd because of this misconception they will never learn the simple pleasure of riding, how sad :(

Today while sitting in a meeting someone noticed the ‘fowl’ weather (30f light rain/snow 20-30 mph winds) and says: “damn, you have to ride home in this” and I replied; “no, I GET to ride home in this !”.
Besides, I get to try out my new front fender.
I guess it’s one of those ‘eye of the beholder’ things.

(edited for typo)

I'd say making some pretty big sacrifices is a more accurate description. There's no way I could afford my own little waterfront apartment if I was paying for a car. I also note the number of co-workers and so on who don't take holidays or settle for holidays relatively close to home (i.e, cheap).

I don't think these folks realize what kind of sacrifices they are actually making. I work at an elementary school where I am constantly mothered-- all well meaning-- by a staff that generally couldn't bike one mile in perfect weather. Not wouldn't (they don't) but *couldn't*. Over the years of inactivity, they've simply handicapped themselves. That's a tremendous sacrifice.

I once dated a wonderful woman who was creative, funny, pretty but very physically inactive. She would look at me with apprehension when asked if she wanted to go for a walk after dinner. When I biked to her house, it visibly troubled her. Needless to say, it didn't work out.

In the US, there are nearly 50,000 annual deaths due to automobile accidents. I read somewhere recently that there's something on the order of 10 million collisions a year. That can be read many different ways and I'm sure GM has a good spin for those figures but it makes my jaw drop. There are countless ways to injure yourself but via automobile seems to be an acceptable sacrifice for most motorists.

Changing the entire globe's ecosystem seems to be another acceptable sacrifice to car drivers. Nevermind that most of the world's residents do not own cars.

As far as the money aspect, selling my car (one year last October) has been a financial boon. It has helped me reprioritize my needs and calm my wants (for those outside of the US this may be hard to understand!). I have no idea how people can afford a new car.

The sacrifices are numerous but intelligent people who understand this will not give up their cars. It took me *years* to finally "give in". In the end it wasn't logical reasoning that did it in for me, it was the fact that my car was degrading and I refused to put any more money into it.

I couldn't have dreamed how fullfilling and fun it is to bike everywhere. Sure, I biked before but it was different because when you live the car culture biking feels like a compromise. When you abandon the car culture biking shines the way it really is, a very elegant, efficient, sustainable, beautifully designed mode of human transportation.

So, in short, motorist sacrifice a lot more than they realize and even when they do, the addiction is not easy to kick. I am sympathetic but post-modernism aside, I believe there is a clear right answer here.

Chuckie

Interesting that this thread should come up again today. On my wallpaper at work I have a photo that I took on a cycling tour last year (you all know the one I'm referring to). Today one of my coworkers commented on what a beautiful place that must have been and so on. I agreed that yes, it was, and that there was scenery such as that all around that area, and that perhaps he should find time to visit there one day.

His response was "well, one day I might have the money to do it". Now this comes from someone who has a higher position in the company than I do, and almost certainly has a higher salary than I do. An exchange like that makes me feel sorry for my coworkers - and that doesn't even mention the spanky hailstorm they missed out on last Monday. :D

I once dated a wonderful woman who was creative, funny, pretty but very physically inactive. She would look at me with apprehension when asked if she wanted to go for a walk after dinner. When I biked to her house, it visibly troubled her. Needless to say, it didn't work out.<<<<<<<<

Interesting how little things like that influences a relationship, I was in a relationship where I was the one always "doing" something: biking, hiking, running, etc, this of course troubled and resented her, even though she openly would agree with my "life style". The fact she was inactive really made a big difference, but learned my lesson, a partner should be as interested/active in the the same or similar activities like you do.
Corsaire

My office culture is a little different, I work in a bike friendly office of about 90 strong wille people, there are 3 regular bicycle commuters plus 3 other fair weather cyclists & a couple guys who ride Harleys. I seldom get the "granola eating, tree hugging hippy" stuff except from people who don't know me well. Most people we know kid us a little during really bad weather but generally seem quite tolerant and I have managed to give away or sell a few bikes throughout the office (They ride them for recreation but wouldn't dream of commuting) When I do drive, its a BMW wagon with an IDF "am chai Israel" sticker on the window. Everyone knows I belong to the NRA & voted for GB. Bottomline, we ride because we enjoy it & don't give a rip what people think. Don
"Be Strong & Courageous"

P.S., My wallpaper has a picture of 2 of my granddaughters but they are riding bikes on a track! Don

Yup I get it too, especially during the summer months which ususally hover around 38 C day and night with 100% humidity. I get to work looking a bit worn but my joints and brain feel super lubed :) Clean up in the summer is a pain in the rump but a small face towel with 70% Isoproyl alcohol on it does a quick mess free job. In the winter I only sweat where the backpack straps hook over my shoulders. My MTB come sout of the LBS today with a Tiagra road set on some nice new wheels. I can't wait to go get it and ride home :) I can't say enough good things about the LBS guy. He went out of his way to find me some top quality stuff (BB) that was top of the line a while ago before the makers went to none square tapers for cranks. Sorry this has gone off topic, I am just so hyped about it I looking at the clock twice every second :) Hurry up already! :)