Living Car Free - Getting through to one's co-workers

I work in the parts department of a Honda motorcycle (and lots of other Honda stuff - not cars) shop. As you can well imagine, scooter sales have well taken off in the past year, to the point that the national stock of 50cc Metropolitan (traditional Vespa style scooter) and Ruckus (punk, streetfighter, slightly higher powered model) cleaned out about a month ago.

Now, the folks at work are used to me and my normal transportation choices (in the course of a five-day work week, I'm normally three days on a 150cc Qingqi scooter, Firday on my Harley flying club colors, and Saturday is normally my Magneet touring bike). Normal commute for me is 40 miles a day - 75 on Friday's as I go directly to church from work. And I keep a bike at work for lunch-time errand running.

A couple of the other guys ride motorcycles to work, in the summer, when it's nice, etc., etc., etc.

A couple of days ago, two of the sales staff were talking with me, and were all chuffed about having gotten their names on the list for the first of the 2009 Ruckus'. They figured as they didn't have to travel too far, they could dump the cars. Curious, I asked how far they had to travel.

Respectively, 3 and 4 miles, one way. (That's really not far enough to even get the engines properly warmed up.)

My jaw hit the floor. I asked them both why they were even bothering with something gasoline powered, mentioned that I'd be biking daily if I was in their shoes.

Twenty minutes later, I'd heard an unbelievable litany of excuses, from time, through sweating, through . . . . . hell, by that point my brain had glazed over. Bottom (unspoken) line was that neither one of them wanted to be caught dead on a bicycle. Obviously, not riding something self-powered was definitely not cool.

Yeah, my experience isn't all that different from what anyone else has gone through - it's just a lot different knowing in theory that the odds are small that you're going to get through to them, and then actually running into the situation.

I do not even try to convert my co-workers any more.

I do not even try to convert my co-workers any more.

Agreed.

It's a waste of time. In about three or five years, they'll all be riding scooters, motorcycles or riding each other to work.

Now, the folks at work are used to me and my normal transportation choices (in the course of a five-day work week, I'm normally three days on a 150cc Qingqi scooter, Firday on my Harley flying club colors, and Saturday is normally my Magneet touring bike). Normal commute for me is 40 miles a day - 75 on Friday's as I go directly to church from work. And I keep a bike at work for lunch-time errand running.


Just curious. I've been thinking long and hard this summer about getting a motorcycle. However, you'll always hear stories how "everyone" falls off the bike once in their lives. How many times have you fallen off and were your injuries serious?

Just curious. I've been thinking long and hard this summer about getting a motorcycle. However, you'll always hear stories how "everyone" falls off the bike once in their lives. How many times have you fallen off and were your injuries serious?

Don't know about the OP, but I rode motorcycles for years, wrote off ....3? Had several crashes, only broke a bone once.
None of the bad crunches were my fault, I admit to about 3 stupid wet road slides. :o High Mileage rider, included 4 years as a courier.

Forget coworkers. This is one of those things each person has to come to him or herself. The best way you can convince them is to lead by example. If you ride to work without making a big deal out of it, anyone with even a slight interest in doing so may eventually start asking you how s/he too could try bicycling instead of driving.

I work in the parts department of a Honda motorcycle (and lots of other Honda stuff - not cars) shop. As you can well imagine, scooter sales have well taken off in the past year, to the point that the national stock of 50cc Metropolitan (traditional Vespa style scooter) and Ruckus (punk, streetfighter, slightly higher powered model) cleaned out about a month ago.

Now, the folks at work are used to me and my normal transportation choices (in the course of a five-day work week, I'm normally three days on a 150cc Qingqi scooter, Firday on my Harley flying club colors, and Saturday is normally my Magneet touring bike). Normal commute for me is 40 miles a day - 75 on Friday's as I go directly to church from work. And I keep a bike at work for lunch-time errand running.

A couple of the other guys ride motorcycles to work, in the summer, when it's nice, etc., etc., etc.

A couple of days ago, two of the sales staff were talking with me, and were all chuffed about having gotten their names on the list for the first of the 2009 Ruckus'. They figured as they didn't have to travel too far, they could dump the cars. Curious, I asked how far they had to travel.

Respectively, 3 and 4 miles, one way. (That's really not far enough to even get the engines properly warmed up.)

My jaw hit the floor. I asked them both why they were even bothering with something gasoline powered, mentioned that I'd be biking daily if I was in their shoes.

Twenty minutes later, I'd heard an unbelievable litany of excuses, from time, through sweating, through . . . . . hell, by that point my brain had glazed over. Bottom (unspoken) line was that neither one of them wanted to be caught dead on a bicycle. Obviously, not riding something self-powered was definitely not cool.

Yeah, my experience isn't all that different from what anyone else has gone through - it's just a lot different knowing in theory that the odds are small that you're going to get through to them, and then actually running into the situation.


Three to four miles? I wouldn't have a problem with that, since two of my co-workers have to only travel a few mere blocks, one is eight blocks away, and the other is only four. The co-worker that travels four blocks does so twice a day when he goes home for lunch.

Trying to convince other people to live like you do is one of the most obnoxious things a person can do. People aren't stupid, and can make their own decisions. If someone asks you about biking by all means share info with them, but by forcing your opinions on others you'll just alienate people.

I do not even try to convert my co-workers any more.

I never try. If they ask OK I tell them my story.

I just lead by example. If asked, I tell people my perspective on things.. the benefits of commuting on the bike and how nice it is to not have to sweat the price of gas anymore. Whenever I get excuses I come up with retorts. "It's too far...." "Then move closer and walk."

One person has actually done that. His lease was up at his place and the landlord said they were raising the rent so he ended up finding a cheaper place closer to work. Instead of commuting 40 miles a day he now walks 6 blocks.

Another person now stays at her boyfriend's place during her work week and walks 1 mile each way to work. Before this she drove 12 miles each way to work.

Now there is one who has actually started to bike commute... but I don't know the details off hand.

On top of this my employer is having a 'weight loss contest' and has monthly articles about fitness and such. They asked for recipes and inspring stories. I sent my story in and I'll be in the next one. Oddly enough, for the article I won a $25 gas card.

the only thing that will convert people is if you talk about how fun it is to ride to work. if you preach to people about how your life is so much better than theirs you'll just sound like one of the crazies that walk door to door trying to promote their religions.

3-4 miles is walking distance.

I tell'em to eat my ass!

Just curious. I've been thinking long and hard this summer about getting a motorcycle. However, you'll always hear stories how "everyone" falls off the bike once in their lives. How many times have you fallen off and were your injuries serious?

I've been riding for 32 years now, and have ridden everything from a 100cc two-stroke street bike (my first motorcycle), through vertical twins of 350-750cc capacity, full blown sport bikes (Kawasaki and Ducati), cafe racers (a major love of mine), cruisers (primarily Harley Davidson), dual sport (Triumph Tiger), and both custom streetfighters and choppers. And a load of vintage British bikes - Triumphs and BSA's. In that time, I've put myself in the hospital twice.

Crazily enough, they both happened within four months of each other. In April 1998 I stupidly pulled out onto a four lane road without realizing that the truck coming the other way was changing lanes coming through the intersection. He brushed me and knocked me over. Damage: One broken collarbone, and about $300.00 damage to my 69 Triumph Bonneville cafe racer (still have the bike).

Then in August of the same year I was rear ended, hit and run while stopped at a traffic light. Hit the ground, was knocked unconscious, woke up in the hospital otherwise uninjured besides some minor road rash, but to this day I have no memory of a five hour period around that accident. The 23 hour hospital stay was a precaution that turned out to be unnecessary. The Kawasaki Ninja was then built into a show winning streetfighter.

In all those years, I've dropped every motorcycle I've owned except for the Ducati - thank ghod, as it was a special edition, one of a hundred made (1990 906 Paso in blue and white). 99% of those drops either resulted in no injury whatsoever, or at most a pair of torn jeans and some road rash on a knee or leg. Figure maybe $150.00 parts replacement (clutch or brake lever, turn signal, etc.). All were at low speed or coming to a stop. One happened from overcooking a sport bike through the turns, costing me about $1500.00 in parts, but I still rode the bike home and only had to bandage up some road rash.

To put this in proper context: The worst two wheeled wreck I've ever had wasn't on a motorcycle. Two years ago, while flying down a hill on a vintage Gitane Tour de France, I shifted, threw the chain (turns out the derailleur had a weak jockey cage spring that I hadn't noticed), locked the back wheel, and was high sided over the handlebars. I have a titanium plate in my right wrist as a result.

Back in the seventies, I broke my nose rear ending a car in traffic while on a commute to work. So, in all honesty, bicycles have been more dangerous to my well being than motorcycles (or cars).

Yes, you're going to drop a motorcycle - and most likely, during your first year of riding. This is why your first bike should be an under $2000.00 used bike, preferably without bodywork. Say, something 15-20 years old Japanese, and preferably under 600cc. Once you get past that point, riding a motorcycle becomes a whole lot less scary. You definitely don't want a 600cc faired sport bike or any Harley Davidson as your first motorcycle - which is easily the least appreciated piece of advice I've ever given out. What you think is a really neat motorcycle that you'd like to see yourself on is your SECOND bike, bought after a year of riding.

Take the local offered motorcycle safety course. In my first year of riding, between two bikes (a 100cc Kawasaki and a 350cc Honda) I'd laid the bike down 17 times - as there were no courses available at the time, so I taught myself. The hard way. And more than a bit of stupidity on my part.

What you're going to get out of learning to ride is an incredible ability to notice traffic conditions ahead of you. My wife is amazed at my ability to notice things like a field mouse crossing the road 150 yards ahead of me while driving a car at 45mph, or my ability to anticipate somebody's behavior while waiting to pull out from a side street (you watch the driver's face, and the car's front wheel - not the car itself).

Something else I learned this year: If you're talking about motorized two wheels strictly for commuting, with no interest in long distance or sport riding, seriously consider a 150cc scooter rather than a motorcycle. I'd always disdained scooters in the past (it's a mod/rocker thing, going back to my adolescence) but I've learned that in city traffic a scooter is actually easier to get around on than a motorcycle - automatic transmission, it handles faster, and within the confines of reasonable city traffic (50mph maximum) it'll easily keep up with vehicular traffic.

Of course, if you'd like to sport ride on a weekend, too, than the motorcycle is a much better choice.

Trying to convince other people to live like you do is one of the most obnoxious things a person can do. People aren't stupid, and can make their own decisions. If someone asks you about biking by all means share info with them, but by forcing your opinions on others you'll just alienate people.

Don't get me wrong - I'm not preaching. I'm the kind of person who wouldn't put up with that out of somebody else, so I'm not about to do it myself. In this situation, both salesmen brought up the upcoming purchases themselves, so I just asked about the possibility of using a bicycle instead.

Actually, I am leading by example. Nobody in the shop ever considered using a scooter for daily commuting before I bought mine back in March. For that matter, shop sales of scooters didn't really take off until the sales staff started using me as an example to the customers - and I started answer so many customer's questions regarding scooter commuting that I half seriously consider putting in for a portion of the commission of a successful sale.

Just wait till one of them asks for cycling advice. Thats the time to share info.

Three to four miles? I wouldn't have a problem with that, since two of my co-workers have to only travel a few mere blocks, one is eight blocks away, and the other is only four. The co-worker that travels four blocks does so twice a day when he goes home for lunch.

What do you mean? That driving 3-4 miles is fine? Or that riding it is? And when your colleagues "travel" a couple of blocks, do they do that by car? You can't be serious.

Addendum to my original post: Doing some digging around in the parts catalogs, I'm finding that a lot of the appeal of the Ruckus scooter is the incredibly extensive aftermarket for it. The scooter is a real stylin' streetfighter with loads of hop-up parts, carbon fiber, etc. Call it the scooter equivalent of a sport bike. That's a lot of the appeal why our two salesmen are going for them.

Meanwhile, I'd decided in the past few days to put my GT Passage hybrid (the lunch time errand bike) up for sale and to move my Bianchi heavy tourer to work to use as an urban bike and errand runner (I'm certainly not using it at the moment for three month cross country camping trips). It never even got to Craigslist - one of our mechanics bought it from me to use for commuting. He lives six miles away.

What will be staying at home is a Ford F-150 with 15" lift kit and monster truck tyres.

I'm having the opposite impression of my co-workers. All of a sudden, everyone is interested in biking. The bike rack at work is full. I even got to my local grocery story the other day and noticed that bike rack was also full. Usually by this time of year, the biking has had its peak, everyone is off the road waiting for Monday night football or something. But this year is different, even with the gas prices dropping lately...

My big worry right now is that all those people asking about bike commuting will suddenly start doing it and it will be chaos. Preaching? No..no. If I ever did, I'd stop now... they can figure it out for themselves.

I don't bother to try and convert co-workers, actually never did try (more later).

Although, 5 years back a former cyclist co-worker got back into it again after a 10 year absence, from what I deduce to be inspiration from me. He since got a job elsewhere but I met him at the bike shop 6 months ago, he's still commuting to work via bike. Nice to see.

My co-workers just don't see how it is possible:

What if you get a flat? - I fix it.
How? - tube and pump
You bring it to a bike shop? - no I fix it then and there
Oh....
What if it rains? - I get wet.
Oh.....
Don't you want a shower when you get here? - um...there's 2 on every floor of this 6 floor building.
Oh....really? - Yup.
What about hills? - What about 'em?
How do you get around them? - I don't, I go up.
Oh....
What about cars? - What about 'em.
Aren't they dangerous? - Only when there's people in 'em. I'm assertive, and for the most part I ride like
I'm a motor vehicle, it's more pedictable. Never have much of a problem.
I saw this one idiot on a bike, blah, blah, blah.... :rolleyes: (oh jeez, here we go)

Look man, didn't you hear about the new bike trail the city just installed? It's completely flat, covered and enclosed, air conditioned in summer, heated in winter and there's someone located every 50 feet to change your wheel in case of a flat.

Cripes, harden up a bit.

(I get an odd look then).

I try to put my co-workers off cycling at every opportunity by telling them the horror stories of near-death experiences in graphic detail. So far it has worked well and I still have the shower and rack all to myself. I like it that way.

Convert them? I can't say that I try. Whenever a coworker starts to openly muse about cycling to work I'll always encourage and give tips (when asked) but I can't say I've tried to influence anyone who wasn't already considering it.

They see me do it. The gloves, pump and water bottle cradled in a helmet on my desk is enough. Either they're curious and want to know more, or they aren't.

As to the 3 or 4 mile commute that people use their cars for... I'd walk or cycle that every day in any weather, really. Yeesh.

Something I've started today at my cube...I printed of numbers (4 sets of 0 through 9), cut them up and put them with little clips and hung them on the wall. Above 2 of the sets, I put "Days Rode" and the other I put "Days Driven" - above that I put "Since Aug 25th, 2008". I'm doing it more for me to know how much I've rode to work instead of driving. If it gets people thinking about commuting or asking about it, then great. I'm just wondering what kind of numbers will be there come next August...

Rode: 5
Driven: 0

Michael

What if it rains? - I get wet.

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