Commuting - Half the fun

I remember walking or biking everywhere as a kid. It never entered my head to ask Mom or Dad to take me somewhere in the car. Anywhere I needed to go, I could get there without it as far as they were concerned. And they were mostly right.

So, today I am driving less and walking or biking more. And I have an ingrained love of the outdoors and of travelling by my own steam. But most people dread to drive anywhere. This is freedom?

I can honestly say now that half the fun of going to work is getting there. (The other half is going home!)

;)

Originally posted by Pete Clark

I can honestly say now that half the fun of going to work is getting there. (The other half is going home!)
Every day as I bike home, I think to myself, "How many people have the opportunity to do what they love the instant they are off work?" Driving people have to sit in their car/traffic for the commute home and then they can get started with their evening. Where as I know I am going to have a great time the second I walk out of work. :D

Originally posted by Steele-Bike
Every day as I bike home, I think to myself, "How many people have the opportunity to do what they love the instant they are off work?"
An intown condominium development had a banner that read, "If you lived here, you'd be home already."

I feel like I'm home as soon as I hop on the bike...

Originally posted by Pete Clark
I feel like I'm home as soon as I hop on the bike...

Moi, aussi!

I started riding independantly on the road at the age of 10, when I got a new Raleigh Rodeo (with mudguards, saddlebag and dynamo lights). I used it to get to school and cub scouts, and to visit friends and go shopping.

Absolutely! When I'm having a bad day, I often console myself with the thought that I have the ride home to look forward to. To be honest, I'd hate having to drive anywhere.

My work allows me to work from home if I think it makes sense, as most of my work is done over a computer, either connected to the LAN or to the Internet. When I was riding a bus in to work, I often felt conflicted because I thought I would like to work at home, but still felt like I ought to be physically present in the office.

Now, however, when I choose to work at home, I'm bummed out because I know I'm giving up my usual ride. Biking to work makes my commute a valued part of my day. I didn't foresee that, but I should have.

Probably because I work right in the city I have always found riding from my work home to be a dangerous experience. There are obviously
a lot of cars with cranky drivers, and a lot of buses with impatient drivers. Also the route home is particular bad even in a car sometimes. In the afternoon everyone finishes at 5pm,
so by 5.15 the roads are packed and even though this city has a huge amount of bike lanes, I don't have
any near my work. So what I do (occasionally) is ride to work via the coast and then head into the city on a very wide road.
it is 40km/25ml then I put my bike in the back of my wives car, grab my change of clothes, and walk
across the road to work. It's not perfect but it's a good compromise. If I did commute the direct way it would
only add up to 32km/20ml, so this way I get a good distance ride all in one go.

CHEERS.

Originally posted by Dutchy
...what I do (occasionally) is ride to work via the coast and then head into the city on a very wide road.
it is 40km/25ml...commute the direct way it would
only add up to 32km/20ml, so this way I get a good distance ride all in one go.

CHEERS.
:eek:

Dutchy, man, you sure are a bicycle commuter.

With cities designed so that you have to ride so far to work, only the strong survive, the rest drive.

Why are we made to be like desert camels, trekking across great voids to get to our desired destinations?

I still love the trip. It's a challenge. Where there's a will, there's a way. :D

Originally posted by Pete Clark
Why are we made to be like desert camels, trekking across great voids to get to our desired destinations?

Since I rode my 293km day last weekend, most people I have mentioned it to have said they would literally be unable to drive that far in a day (I am not joking). And I didn't even tell them about the hills! :eek: