One forum member mentioned that at one time, his bicycle commuting actually hindered his career. That's not the first time I've heard that. Moreover, I've heard it said that someone was laid off because his bicycle commuting was not considered a dependable form of transportation. These are really sad commentaries on how some employers see bicycle commuting in a negative light.

But when I think about the truth, here's what I've noticed about my own commuting habits. When I took mass transit, I was occasionally late to work because of mechanical difficulties on the train, or due to a late bus. When I drove, from time to time I'd be late because of traffic holdups--once you're stuck in one, there's no getting out of it.

But when I ride my bike to work, one thing's almost 100% for sure: I'll get to work exactly when I predicted I would. For me, it's turned out to be the most dependable form of transportation I've ever used. No baloney.