Roody

I have a fairly physical job also. Still, most co-workers would never consider riding/walking to work even though they're not lazy or afraid of physical effort. Personally, I think 4or 5 miles is about ideal for a bike commute. Under two miles and I prefer walking. Currently I have a 7 minute commute walking or like 3 minutes on the bike. I always hated long commutes, even when I drove to work.

Fargo Wolf

I have actually observed this and all I can say is, is that people are lazy. People "NEED" to park in front of their destination, rather than park further away and walk. Personally, I was part of a two person crew doing a lane closure. About 200m down the road is a gas station. If he (my supervisor) needed a break, he drove, whereas I walked when I needed a break. From a cycling perspective (unless you are in the Netherlands or Belgium) it's really a non issue since we can pretty much pedal right up to our destination.

Machka 

Why not?

Roody

It just doesn't enter into their minds because to them transportation means cars and only cars. But that's just a guess on my part. I have never asked them.

Machka 

You should ask them.

Do they participate in sports? Do they go to the gym regularly?

Roody

Why should I ask them and what difference does it make if they do sports?

Machka 

Why not? Don't your work conversations centre around sports? They do here! Just about everyone participates in some sport or another ... and of course, as a part of keeping in shape for whatever the sport is, a lot of people cycle or walk to and from work. Or if they live some distance out, they park their cars several km away, or get off the bus early, and walk.

You mentioned that your coworkers aren't lazy nor are they afraid of physical effort ... so I presumed that they all participated in a sport. And it is just natural to talk about sports.

Machka 

I've been quite pleased to see the number of people who walk in Hobart. Part of it is because there isn't particularly convenient or inexpensive parking close to the offices, so people park a kilometer or two away and walk.

And perhaps part of it is because since lots of people walk, they influence others to do the same.

Just in the past few months, for example, two of my coworkers who live maybe 3 or 4 km away, have started walking all the way to and from work rather than driving halfway and walking from there. I was not at all surprised that one of them started doing that. He's into several different sports and it is a good way to keep fit for his sports ... but I was a little bit surprised by the other. However he has started eating a healthier diet too, so it's probably all part of a plan to get fitter.

gerv 

Hi Machka... yes that would be a miracle here... to see people walking that distance. The bicycle here is more popular than walking... strange to say. It's basically a good solution for a city built up around cars. My hope would be that sometime in the future, the residency zoning would allow for more people per sq km... that would hopefully also increase the shopping and other services.


I think it will happen... but not sure if I'll see it. In my lifetime, I'm happen to see certain streets take on that "complete streets" makeover.... great to be on them in the evening and watching so many bikes and pedestrians... even though the only services are bars and restaurants.

jon c. 

There was one in downtown Rochester, NY. As I recall, it was built in the early 60s and was considered a pioneering design. Underground parking with two levels of retail above surrounding an atrium. I expect the structure remains, but it appears that downtown retail substantially dried up in the intervening years so it has probably been converted to other uses. It was quite a vital place in the 60s and 70s though.

bovine

Yeah, when I sold my car, several of my colleagues were floored. They couldn't begin to process it. And it's not like it's our only car. My wife and I just downgraded to a single car family, where she keeps the car to pick up the kids from school and I use the bike to drop them off / get to work.

kookaburra1701

My folks, despite knowing that I regularly went on 50-60 mile rides were somehow convinced that I couldn't ride the 16 miles out into the country to visit them. I finally got it through their heads by showing up on their front porch at lunchtime one weekend with my bike. I know for myself my own sense of distance underwent radical changes when I started cycling, and now my "mental map" of my city is completely different than when I drove all the time. I still drive a city vehicle for work, and for the first hour or so of my shift I feel really awkward as I shift maps.

Roody

Me too! I have been a passenger in a car giving directions to the driver. After a while it goes something like this:

Driver:"How come we're taking all these side streets? It would have been quicker to hop on the freeway to Boulevard X!"

Me: "Sorry, this is how I always ride my bike. Isn't it nice? Very quiet and scenic."

Artkansas 

The car is a habit.

loky1179

It is not only car people - us bike commuters get stuck in our habits as well!

A couple months ago, my wife flew out to see her sister. She drove the car to the airport, and I was going to pick it up on the way home from work. Easy - the light rail stops a half block from my work downtown, and goes straight to the airport.

But how was I to get downtown in the morning? Normally I ride my bike 2.5 miles to the bus station, throw my bike on the bus, and get downtown. What was I going to do with my bike? Lock it at the transit station? Leave it at work? Ride part way to the airport and lock it up? Ride past the airport and lock it up?

The answer was obvious from the start - just walk to the bus station in the morning. I've done it many times. But that means breaking my routine. Instead of being out the door at 5:00 AM, I'd need to be out the door at 4:25 AM. Which means I'd have to get up at 3:50 AM. Noooooo!

In my mind, I was searching for a way to maintain my cycling routine, even when it made no sense.

Roody

Being flexible and keeping an open mind--very good traits for a carfree person living in a car-centered world!

molten

And how much $ you would lose over that time of doing it. That walking to do would be so much easier, be it if you lived single --- than had a family.

molten

It be the bike commuters / cyclists who don't let "habits" -- "get stuck" within their Mindsets.
Just the same bike commuters / cyclists who don't let m.v. drivers overtake the bike commuters / cyclists Mindsets.
THIS IS A POWER GAME, Against the bike commuter / cyclist.

molten

Great quote, but an underestimate (no exagg) in many areas.
As in soCAL. More as an ADDICTION.
The access to electronics installed in cars, add what be carried into it. Add what else be carried into cars. Be it legal or not.
Makes the CAR much a leisure HOME. A move-around home.

molten

Machka is very liberal in this; if I not had any proof/theory to such --- I'd get blown off. There are many such members that do that here, on the 'forum.' In the same context that I spoke of on the thread of motor vehicles against bicycles.

molten

I know that you're intent is of being fully in the chat topic. But you could have added that while you were doing what was best of your interest. As you be luckier than those who would have chosen to take advantage of the offer ---- esp. those of lower income.
Especially in a society of being Pre-Judged. I live in the same society; so I know what human animals that you are around.

molten

I have an extended idea:
To the retail strips that apply in your idea.
Be it that those who walk/ride a bike/mass transit ---- be it legally proven.

That those customers who commute in that version: will PAY A LOWER SALES TAX.
Esp. as bicycles/pedestrians do not damage asphalt.

molten

aka "Repetition" (as in productivity of doing the same over&over again --- as some actually do in assembly)

Walter S

Most people don't walk to the mailbox. They just park their car there on the way in.

Machka 

In your suburb, perhaps.
In some suburbs, maybe.
But not in all suburbs.

Lots of people of all different ages walk in many of the suburbs where I live now and where I have lived and visited/travelled over the years.