norskagent

I had been planning to car commute for some time now, but always made excuses and would ride my bike into work instead. Well, I finally made the leap, and it was quite interesting. The weather was perfect, showers and thunderstorms. I had to plan ahead and unload my messenger bag into my car, I also had to carefully plan out my best route to work - the busiest roads during morning rush hour. It was quite the experience but I doubt I will do it on a regular basis. I don't see how the average car commuters can do it every day, I guess they just get used to it.

adebrunner

YAY!!!!! Good for you! At the office, I always hear people say they're going to try the car commute because gas is so inexpensive, but rarely do any of them do it. I'm glad to see you gave it a try. Hopefully it won't take

Pig_Chaser

Wow you're brave.
No word of a lie... the last time i car commuted i was rear-ended. When are they going to ban those things?

st0ut

make sure you stop for a donut and a crosant with "breakfast meat" you want to make sure you are eating right for the environement that you are in, and be in proper shape for the method of commute.

prawza

Rofl

n4zou

What lottery jackpot did you win to be able to afford a car, insurance, tax, parking, service, and fuel? Have friends and family started coming round trying to bleed off some of your newfound wealth?

BengeBoy 

How many cellphone calls were you able to complete during your commute? That's one of the problems of riding my bike; I don't have a hands free phone so I can't get enough phone chat time during my commute.

Also - texting - were you able to get some texting in? (I don't do *nearly* enough email when I'm in the office, and I really would like to be able to use my Blackberry while commuting, both ways. Seems like a car would be just perfect for that.)

jyossarian

Welcome the Unhappy, Unhealthy Car Commuting Mutha ****ers (UUCCMF) club! We're a miserable lot blessed with big, flabby arses perfect for sitting in a car seat all day and the ability to do two things at once, mainly breathing and something else. That something else is split between driving, ultra-important cellphone calls with our spouses about how many cases of twinkies to buy at Costco, texting, yelling, applying make-up, sleeping, reading, eating, playing w/ the radio, scratching our privates, drinking coffee and watching TV, all in equal measure. Congratulations and get the **** outta my way!

n4zou

Big-Lots will have bluetooth headsets on sale for $15.
https://biglots.inserts2online.com/br..._9.jpg&itemId=

RonH

Did you get stares of amazement when you got to work? Anyone ask how you're able to do it and not get hit? Do you have a secure place to park your vehicle.

bdinger

Awesome work! What are you car commuting in now? If it gets anything better than 12 MPG, you really need to get something else. I mean seriously, you are commuting by yourself, you need a proper commuter vehicle. I suggest going to your local Dodge dealership and looking at the big SUV's/Trucks. The good ones have big chrome "HEMI" badges on them!

road_rascal

I hope you held your lane...

mochapants

I suppose your car has wide tires, fenders, front and rear lights, weighs over 20 lbs and the steering wheel is higher than the seat. What a Fred.

norskagent

I totally took the lane the whole way in - I wasn't about to let some semi right hook me. I also set a new personal average speed record for the commute, 40mph!

sykerocker 

Hilarious - and timely. I had an 0800 dentist appointment today, and it was a complete freaking downpour this morning, so I had to do the pickup truck today. Leaving the dentist and heading to work meant I was stuck taking the western Richmond suburbs busiest routes towards town at 0835. First time I've done actual rush hour in a car in about 2-1/2 years.

I don't see how those people can do it. Even just going down two steps to my scooter, through a worse traffic area than today, is a lot more bearable than trying it in a car. At least there I can cut through traffic, get a jump into openings that a car dares not take, etc. And being out in the open air, with no radio, no morning DJ, no cellphone, wind in your face, makes even the more blocked up stretches bearable.

frymaster

does your place of employ provide a car wash for auto commuters?

littlewaywelt

What are you using for a lighting system?
Did you change your tires out for slicks?

TuckertonRR

Congradgulations!!

but....it's raining out!!! you can't drive a car in the rain???!!!! you might not get wet!

chipcom 

You can maximize your fat building potential by not staging healthy foods at work...just stop at Mickey D's on the way in and get whatever McFattie you like the best...and a coke.

Psydotek

Winn4r.

wolfbrother

Didn't anybody tell you how many people a year die in those things?! I just don't think it's safe enough for me . . .

adebrunner

Noob needs some advice!!!!11
I'm thinking about commuting in a car, but I don't know what kind I should get. I went to the doctor last week and he mentioned that my BMI is too normal and bodyfat percentage is below the requisite 30%, so I need something that I can use even to go one or two blocks for milk and toilet paper as well as the longer trips or he said I may actually lose more weight. If matters couldn't get more dire, an inheritance from a distant relative I didn't like has left me far too wealthy to continue biking. I can't seem to find a bike that requires enough maintenance to leech more than about $5-$10 per month, so it looks like I'm going to have to make the switch.
Some guidelines for my decision:
I'm 6'1" and 190lbs with a 32" inseam. I need to be really sweaty when I get to work, so A/C isn't an option. I'm going to need something that only allows me to use wide paved roads or at least a widened firelane if it must be offroad. If anyone knows of a brand of car that makes you feel closed in and claustrophobic, that would be my kind of car. I found that I felt particularly free on my bike in the past and hopefully the car can help fix that. I also need something that is so complicated that I couldn't figure out even the smallest problems in 20 years. For example, if the door handle breaks, I'd like to have to take it to a mechanic so he can import the part from someplace really far and and then I can take it to a body shop for paint. I need a minimum $100-$200 investment anytime something goes wrong. Another problem is parking. My bike gets me too close to most places' entrances, usually right in front of the door. This is especially annoying in congested cities. If there's a car that barely fits in normal sized parking spaces, that would help, then I could park at least 5-6 blocks from my destination, pay for it, and take a cab to the front door, worry free. If anyone knows of anything (Note: the car needs to be at least $40,000 initial investment, hopefully with an astronomical loan interest rate to help me get rid of my money) please let me know. I look forward to your advice!

littlewaywelt

I'd suggest the H2.
It's reasonably priced for an SUV that has such poor off road capabilities. You're paying for the name (which they licensed through AM General - it's not actually a Hummer) and look though, so that shouldn't matter. It's a rebadged tahoe, similar to a motobecan from bikes direct.

It meets your criteria for price, service costs, and size. If you have your company buy it you can even take a huge tax break. The small windows would contribute to your desire to feel closed in; as a bonus they also offer poor visibility and lots of blindspots which make for a convenient excuse if you ever run over a liberal pinko bike commuter. Another bonus is that it uses a ton of gas, so you'll get a superiority feeling of wealth compared to those using more fuel efficient cars.

I've only seen (judging by the double chins) large bmi ppl driving it so you'll have to work on that part. I'm pretty sure it will fit in drive throughs though so that's a plus towards that goal.

huhenio

lol

cooker

How did you find a route -did you use google maps, or does your community provide route signage to help you navigate your car around town? Did you do a test run on the weekend to time yourself? Were you able to drive in your work clothes?