Commuting - Owing Time

Today at work we had an early dismissal and our afternoon was filled with meetings. Of course, by poor luck, I got just happened to have a meeting that was going on in a different building. As I was getting ready to leave, the principal stopped me and said, (not a direct quote):

"The district isn't paying you to ride your bike. You'll need to make up the time it takes you to get to the elementary school."

Now, before you get all defensive, I could tell he wasn't serious. (He is rarely serious).

I told him that I would gladly make up any time that it took me to travel there that was over his estimated travel time by car. Clearly he was thinking that my travel time would be around 30 minutes or so.

His estimated car time was 5 minutes, so I reset my computer, hopped on and started hammering. My finishing time was 11.5 minutes, AND I got down to the school faster than other teachers who had to drive there. I suppose I'll have to stay an extra 6.5 minutes tomorrow :D

Today at work we had an early dismissal and our afternoon was filled with meetings. Of course, by poor luck, I got just happened to have a meeting that was going on in a different building. As I was getting ready to leave, the principal stopped me and said, (not a direct quote):

"The district isn't paying you to ride your bike. You'll need to make up the time it takes you to get to the elementary school."

Now, before you get all defensive, I could tell he wasn't serious. (He is rarely serious).

I told him that I would gladly make up any time that it took me to travel there that was over his estimated travel time by car. Clearly he was thinking that my travel time would be around 30 minutes or so.

His estimated car time was 5 minutes, so I reset my computer, hopped on and started hammering. My finishing time was 11.5 minutes, AND I got down to the school faster than other teachers who had to drive there. I suppose I'll have to stay an extra 6.5 minutes tomorrow :D

Since you beat the other teachers there... shouldn't be they who owe you time?

The real irony of cycling is that often one can beat motor traffic through a congested town.

Funny. Around the MSU campus in Springfield it's usually quicker to go by bicycle without even trying very hard.

Since you beat the other teachers there... shouldn't be they who owe you time?

The real irony of cycling is that often one can beat motor traffic through a congested town.

Let's see, that would be 6.5 minutes times N number of teachers = time you're owed. Hmmmm, sounds right to me. :roflmao:

edit: Now, if you could convert that time into dollars . . . ;)

Since you beat the other teachers there... shouldn't be they who owe you time?

The real irony of cycling is that often one can beat motor traffic through a congested town.

Even more ironic... this was no congested town. I was traveling on winding country roads. I don't know what took them so long... just being pokey in leaving I guess.

Your principal is an extremely unfunny man.

Even more ironic... this was no congested town. I was traveling on winding country roads. I don't know what took them so long... just being pokey in leaving I guess.

Yup, typical motorists. :D

Yup, typical motorists. :D

Yes, I'm sure they don't look forward to their commute near as much as we do.

Are they paying miles? They should be.

Your principal is an extremely unfunny man.

Re-ead the OP! The principal was kidding.

Unless you're being sarcastic in an extremely unfunny way... ;)

I think that he meant that the principals kidding wasn't funny. I agree it wasn't funny but is wasn't extremely unfunny.

:thumb:

People often misjudge how long it takes to travel by bicycle. I commute 10 miles each way, and to my coworkers it seems like a huge distance. They seem to think that it's some sort of 2 hour ordeal for me to get to work by bike each day. It amazes them that it only takes me about 6 or 7 minutes longer by bike than in my car. :eek:

I have had commutes where due to congestion, the difference between cycling and driving was a 1/2 hour to 45 minutes. The bike just cruised along, where as driving was like being in a parking lot.

Yet folks still insist on driving... and still insist on one person per car... :rolleyes:

I don't believe once one is at work that one is required to provide one's own transportation to other work locations by law. Typically the employer provides transportation. I used to get hassled over this sometimes. Someone else would always drive when I refused. When I did drive and filed an expense report for mileage, I'd get criticized. Screw 'em! Of course, it was impossible that sometimes I didn't have a car! I suspect if pushed about riding a bike to another work location I'd figure up some mileage rate and submit an expense report.

So, the boss wasn't serious? I'd expect he knows now that you arrived before your co-workers who drove. I wonder whether he cracked a joke about that.

It's funny. I've noticed that my bike commuting seems to attract comments.

:thumb:

People often misjudge how long it takes to travel by bicycle. I commute 10 miles each way, and to my coworkers it seems like a huge distance. They seem to think that it's some sort of 2 hour ordeal for me to get to work by bike each day. It amazes them that it only takes me about 6 or 7 minutes longer by bike than in my car. :eek:

You should have seen the faces of a couple of my fellow students when they realized I'd beaten them across Glenmore Causeway :lol: - plus I didn't have to circle endlessly searching for parking!