Bike Gremlin

Having been commuting via bicycle for a decade, I recently moved, now I'm some 10 kilometres away from work. However, I still commute by bike. I have good and free public transport available (company pays tickets if I use it), 2 nice motorcylces, but I love commuting via bicycle.

My job is an office one, so the fresh air and excercise feel real nice. Riding a bicycle to work is like meditation. I can be alone, clear my head, or think well about things... I arrive to work without need for cofee, or anything - feeling good and ready for anything.
Compared to motorcycle, riding a bicycle is a bit more carefree. A lot less gear (boots, leathers etc), less worry about laws and safety (nobody tickets cyclists for speeding here, and MUPs are a bit safer than sharing roads with sleepy fellow commuters on a motorcycle). So even in the summer, I often use motorcycle (which I also LOVE riding) for weekend trips, holidays, track etc, but seldom for commuting.

Even when it is raining I hassle with all the changing of clothes etc. All my coworkers think I'm crazy, but my boss supports and started walking to and back to work herself. Says it's good for ones health: sport and excercize.

When I have kids, I think I'll just stick a trailer to my bicycle and keep it up. I love it.

Don't know why I needed to share this...

SweetNightmare

My friend at work doesn't understand either. All of my bosses have bigger vehicles. When I first mentioned cycling at all, my friend mentioned how annoyed she got with cyclists in front of her on the road. I mentioned I was going to start cycling, and she just kinda shrugged. :/ I don't think my boyfriend gets it either. His job's a fifteen minute drive away. I've been trying to encourage him to get a bike so we could bike together and lose some weight, but he says his work is too far for that. When I get a bike, I'm going to go visit him on it just to show that it's actually reasonable. It's on a crowded street, so I'd probably opt for the sidewalk, just because I'm not fond of being crushed by a car, but I want to show him it can be done, that it's not that hard. ((Definitely need to get a phone holder for the handlebars though; I have NO sense of direction so I need my google maps app. ))

Digital_Cowboy

I don't know Texas law, but I would suggest that you check and see if it is legal to ride on the sidewalk. Even if it is legal over all, it may be illegal in certain districts.

And overall it is generally safer to ride in/on the street vs. riding on the sidewalk. As drivers are NOT looking for "high speed" traffic on the sidewalks. Thus intersections, driveways, etc. become even more dangerous then if you were in/on the street.

SweetNightmare

I see people ride on the sidewalk all the time around here, and police never stop them. And we have strict police. I'd only do it because it's serious traffic that constantly speeds. ((Everyone speeds, so it's the 'flow of traffic'.)) My boyfriend nearly gets in an accident with stupid drivers every day, and that's in a car.

Sir Lunch-a-lot

I think it's really cool that your boss of all people is the understanding one. Thanks for sharing!

Digital_Cowboy

Just because the police might be turning a blind eye to it doesn't necessarily make it legal. Here in Florida (as in many other states) it is illegal to have "flashing" lights on one's vehicle be it a car or a bicycle. Yet the police here are willing to turn a "blind eye" to the fact that many of us cyclists do in fact run our head/taillights in blink mode when we're out riding.

"Knock wood," they realize that it is a safety issue and that by having our lights blinking that it makes us more visible to motorists. So even though it is "illegal" for us as we are vehicles under Florida law to have "flashing/blinking" lights on our bikes the police are willing to overlook it in the name of safety.

Likewise you may have seen my posts in other threads about several individuals who ride their motorized scooters on The Pinellas Trail, even though it is illegal to do so. At least one of them used as part of their "defense" that he has been seen numerous times getting on or off of the trail while riding his scooter. And therefore (even though presumably he knows that it's illegal) that because the police haven't ever said anything to him that it's "alright" for him to do so.

So it might not be a bad idea for you to look into it. And yes, I understand your logic for riding on the sidewalk, but if it is illegal no matter how you justify it at the end of the day it's still illegal. Maybe what you need to do is to not only contact your local police about the rampant speeding on the road, but maybe multiple news media outlets about it.

FastRod

That's a cool story haha =D, I commute to tafe ( polytechnic ) pre-uni sorta area. I find it easy for me but when u get there all sweaty people always are like "ehhh..." I could take my mum's car of the bus... I just find it more convinent for everyone if i just rode there. I got a nice bike so what's to lose? End of the day I get more excercice =D.

amandadun

Wow, totally inspiring!

DX-MAN

It's always good to have the boss's support when you're commuting; makes the whole process easier. Mine have always been supportive. It's the ONE shining thing about working for my employer.

Apart from that, as far as co-workers and such (I do get positive feedback at this location, didn't used to when I worked on the north side of town), their opinion doesn't matter until they're paying my bills. I had some 'distant' relationships at the old location (pre-2006) as a result of that. (The nice word to describe me at work is 'curmudgeon')

Artkansas 

It's good to have the boss's support.

Did you see this article? Plano Encouraging Residents to Bicycle to Work.

SweetNightmare

Yep, I live there. It just so happens that my work is between two bike trails. Lucky me. *sarcasm*

CommuteCommando

My wife is the one who doesn't understand. I bought her a bike five years ago, and she has ridden it four times, and only when I load it into the car to take it to a bike trail.

Here in California it is up to cities to determine the rules regarding bikes on sidewalks. I rarely ride on sidewalks and agree that is is usually a bad idea. There are some situations where the street is just to dangerous to bike on. I am a firm believer that pedestrians have ultimate right of way on sidewalks, but the reality is that if I come up to one on a sidewalk they usually move over, assuming I will plow into them I they don't.

TheTreauth

No one I work with gets it either and most of them live closer to work than I do. When you say something like "You could easily bike to work and save money on gas" in response to "did you see how high gas prices are?!" they just act like asking them to ride five miles is like asking them to run a marathon every day. Now when they ask that question I just respond with "Nope" and grin.

Confederate

I'm the only one in my office who regularly commutes by bike, but everyone seems to think it's pretty cool. They look at me with a bit of amazement sometimes in winter. I suppose it is a bit abnormal to bike around when it is twenty below zero. But the upside is that you can bike for a mile or two in the middle of the day in July and still not get sweaty up here.

I brought in a couple of old, cheap bikes and locked them up out front with combo locks--letting everyone in the office know the combinations. So sometimes they will join me on a ride at lunch.

SuperGregNo1

How far was your commute before?

irwin7638

You will learn very soon that riding on sidewalks is far more dangerous than riding on the street. Ask yourself this: "When have I ever stopped and looked both ways before crossing a sidewalk in my car?" Most frequent answer: Never. Nobody is concerned about sidewalks when entering or leaving a driveway.

Marc

SweetNightmare

Trust me, I doubt a sidewalk would be as dangerous as this road during the times he's actually at work. Lines for redlights back to the redlight before it. He did call me crazy for suggesting riding on the road while we were on that street, and that he didn't want me riding on it for fear of my life. I can't say I disagree honestly. As a new commuter, there's only so much daring I have in me, and even a small rear ending at a red light could spell disaster for me or the only bike I can afford.

Digital_Cowboy

Agreed, from reading the posts from a lot of members here it appears that there are quite a few areas where that is the case. But as we've said, except in a case where one's safety calls for it, it is not a good idea. And as you said one should be prepared to yield to pedestrians even though as you noted they tend to move over (and in a lot of cases apologize) assuming that if they didn't they would get "plowed" into.

There is a MUP that I ride on, on a regular basis and it's surprising how many will apologize when I come up behind them. I usually tell them that it's no problem.

Digital_Cowboy

How much space separates the sidewalk from the roadway? The more space that there is between the sidewalk and the roadway the more "invisible" you are to drivers.

IF you insist on riding on the sidewalk slow down and be prepared to stop at EVERY driveway/intersection that you encounter, be prepared to slow down and stop for EVERY pedestrian that you encounter and expect dogs, and small children to do the least predictable thing at the worst possible second. Also act as if no pedestrian who is walking on the sidewalk can hear you, as there is a better than good chance that they do NOT in fact hear you. As more likely than not they don't as they are probably plugged into their iPod, iPhone, smartphone, or MP3 player of choice and can't hear much if anything that is happening around them.

Still sound as if the sidewalk is "safer" than riding in/on the street?

dynodonn 

Riding on quiet trail, maybe, amongst peak commute motorists, I liken it to flying an aircraft, as in keep one's mind active and ever vigilant and focused on the task at hand, getting to work or my other destinations in one piece.

Mind you, I do enjoy bicycling, but it is the energized feeling when I arrive at work, and the lowered stress level all during the workday that keeps me doing it.

frpax

My boss HATES it that I cycle commute. Quite often he'll have me run some sort of errand on my way in to work if I'm driving. But when I'm cycling, he never asks (probably guilt). I'm pretty fed up with him anyway, and thus am looking for a different job. LOL

SweetNightmare

Absolutely I would do those things, and yes, it does still sound safer for this particular street and those like it. It's in busy 'city' areas where there are few residential areas. Imagine the worst street you can think of, lined with eating places, at dinner time. That's the kind of place I'm talking about. I wouldn't understand my commuting preference if I rode in those kinds of conditions.

chefisaac

Despite where I ride, I always find it safer on the street. But I see your points. I thought like you when I first started but that changed quickly. You learn more street confidence and be wiser in the things you do on a bike. Just how I see it.

ckaspar

I too was like you not so long ago. Busy streets and I have no sidewalks. As I tried new things in the street I got more comfortable with street riding. There was one particular patch where I would slow WAY down and ride slowly through a parking lot thinking I was being safer. The I realized that all the cars in the parking lot are not looking for a rider coming behind them as they pull out. Same thing exists on the sidewalk. I now take the street where I once thought it was dodgy and I feel totally comfortable there. I used to ride REALLY close to the curb to stay out of the way of those mean fast cars then as I got more comfy and realized it was actually more dangerous for me to ride like that I scooted out a bit from the curb and now feel much safer taking the lane. The cars see me much better and are more respectful. I read somewhere that only about 3% of accidents happen as a result of a rear end collision where as something like 80% occurred from a weird sidewalk scenario of showing up where a driver would not expect you.

Just some food for thought and didn't mean to hijack the thread.

Now to the OP, Cool story. I have actually inspired people at my office with my riding. Not to commute to work but to just be a little healthier. One person actually started going back to the gym after a long hiatus.

cdonges

My boss already rides, although it takes him about 2 minutes to ride to work as he lives very close. Two co-workers think riding to work is cool and one of those is thinking about riding in the future and there is just one co-worker who thinks riding is 'meh'.