New2Cycling

Being new to cycling, I have my own reasons for commuting to work via bike. Most of it is to help reduce pollution. My work is 15 minutes away and most of my errands are five, so after reading some literature, I just couldn't justify taking my car to these places. Don't get me wrong, I'm glad to see some of the changes in my body, but that's not the main reason.

After seeing some drivers on the road, I know that some people are not supportive of bicycling commuting. Sometimes their comments can be either annoying or hurtful, so I'm curious to know, why do you guys bike to work? What motivates you?

N2C

joejack951

I got the idea after realizing how wasteful it is to use a 3000 lb. vehicle to move my 160 lb. self less than 7 miles from my house to work. I started out considering a motorcycle but then got that idea that since I had a MTB that wasn't seeing much use, commuting would be a great way to use it and a way to avoid dropping $5-10k on a motorcycle (money I didn't have at the time).

SlowJim

In general I enjoy exercise so my 23 mile commute fits the bill.

The main reasons are:
(1) Reduce the stress of a busy day at the office
(2) Keep the weight down
(3) Save money on gas

Jim

grapetonix

-I feel much more refreshed after having taken a good ride a day, hence being able to keep up much better with my current life

-The local bus/train unlimited usage cards get much cheaper if you wait to get them until late October. That's just about the time bike commuting can begin to get harsh here.

-The college I go to has an extraordinarily large campus area which takes nearly 20 minutes to walk across. A bike is an easy way to get around it.

My commute, by the way, is not extreme but not laughably short either. 14km one-way.

neopipil

Initially, I decided to commute to work because of the exercise but soon found that by doing so the savings would be significant.

I commute for the following reasons:

1. Savings. I cut my commuting cost in half. My commute is not cheap so the savings are huge

2. Exercise

3. For the fun of it.

4. I want to use my car less and less.

Nimmy

My primary reason for commuting is cost.

A car costs a lot of money. Insurance costs a lot of money. Gas costs a lot of money.

In one year, my friend pays more for gas and insurance than i've spent on my new bike to date. Because of the money I save on gas and insurance, i'm able to get myself stuff that I enjoy, including books, video games, and neat little tech gadgets.

The city i'm in is perfect for commuting. Nothing is more than 5-7 miles away (unless you for some reason work out in santa clara. Then that's pushing it a bit), and there are a ton of great paths/bike lanes to get around by. The only reason i'd want a car is for trips outside of Eugene, up to portland to see some concerts.

gudel

I plan on reducing the insurance coverage for my truck. Gas is about $2.70 here, and I drive a truck, 20mpg on average.

it is also healthy, for your eyes too

cheg

Started because I couldn't drive for a while, suspended license.
Now I do it for exercise and to save money but mostly for the sheer pleasure of it. I love being outdoors in any weather for a couple of hours every time I ride. Makes me feel more alive than when I drive.

oboeguy

Why do I do it? Riding a bike is one of my greatest pleasures in life. It's almost like an addiction. Commuting while not riding bike is almost always wasted time. Sure, I might get some reading done on the subway, but getting time to ride "for free" is one of the best things in the world, IMO.

Then there are all the side benefits: no subway delays, no pollution, etc.

Erick L

In no particular order:

- Makes me feel alive.
- Cost of gas/car in general.
- Environment.
- Fun, which englobes a lot.
- I wanna look good naked.
- It just makes sense.

Joe Dog

I started commuting primarily for excercise. I was not active enough and struggling with weight gain. I live only 7 miles from work, so I decided to ride to work. After a few times, I found I actually enjoyed riding to work more than driving. It's more interesting and a better start and finish to the day. I find that I think about my ride in during the day, or that I am looking forward to the ride home. The NEVER happens when I drive.

Longhorn

Exercise.

I'm glad that I'm doing a little for the environment. I can't say I'm saving money (yet) since I'm spending so much money on my bike. But cycling is the most fun exercise I've found and by commuting, I'm sure to fit it in. It's too easy to blow off riding before or after work when it's "just for fun." But commuting has a purpose to it that keeps me on track.

Cyclaholic

I cycle because I enjoy terrorising little old ladies walking home from the store with their little trolley full of groceries....... and cats, I like running over cats, I just have to get a queter bike.

And hassling fat-azz cops walking the beat, getting them to run after me and hanging back to let them think they can catch me, then I pull my shorts down enough to moon them as I accelerate away, yeah, thats always fun when the big vein in their forehead gets a good throb going and they get those disgusting sweat stains.

And shoplifting where they have stuff you can reach from the sidewalk, it's so much easier to get away clean on my bike than on foot..... especially if they call the cops and the fat-azz cop walking the beat comes running, yeah, thats always double bonus fun.

bostontrevor

I was car-free before I was a bike commuter.

I started because I've alway been an active person but I'd slipped for a few years. I needed to get some activity in my day and that seemed like a good way.

Eventually I got hooked and now I just do it because it's so daggone enjoyable. Don't take away my daily ride, I'm liable to cut you.

dmarcoul

exercise, cost, fun, the daily exercise is great for keeping my mood up and making my interactions with other people, looking good naked also factors in, but its more so wanting to feel comfortable in my body, to trust my body, and to know that i can do cool things, like biking up big hills, flexing my leg muscles, climbing trees, and for the environment, because its more people friendly, i can wave to people i pass, say high, build the local community, and develop a good skill(bike repair/maintenance)

i could go on and on.

Nimmy

Get an ipod (or something similar) and a subscription to Audible. You can listen to a book and ride at the same time, and it doesn't drown out your hearing like music does, so you actually know if someone's coming up behind you.

I listen to audiobooks and ride all the time, and it's great. If i'm not riding, I don't really pay enough attention to the audiobook and know what's going on. But in a bike, I hear and remember everything.

John Ridley

1) Environmentalism
2) Because it's fun.
3) exercise
not even on the list:
to save money. I'd bike even if gas was free.

What I'd like to know is, why do other people NOT like bikes? I don't think it's REALLY because they think they're being inconvenienced. I think they're just angry people with a lot of pent-up rage, and they're looking for a target that won't fight back, because they're also cowards.

swwhite

I started commuting regularly in September, 2001, to boycott mideast oil. Then I switched over to saving money because my spouse got laid off. Then I began to see how inefficient it is to have to use a 3000-pound motorized transportation appliance just to go someplace six miles away (especially if one then has to drive to the YMCA to exercise). Finally, it has become a challenge to see how far I can push it. I can go in the dark, in pouring rain, in cold. My next goal is snow, then to ride every working day in a calendar year, then to dump one car.

canzoti

In no particular order....

Save gas and money (and to give a big F$$K you to the gas cartel )
Exercise
Keep My mood good
blow off steam from work

oboeguy

I appreciate the suggestion, but the point of the bike ride to me is to enjoy it for what it is. I don't need or want any distractions while riding.

Sawtooth

As a driver my road rage was really getting to me and my wife. I was angry and very aggressive in my driving. After I got home from the commute, I would need another hour just to cool off and de-stress. When I went to graduate school, I did not want to pay $$$$ for a parking pass. I killed two birds with one stone and started riding my bike. We have moved twice since then and I still ride. I look forward to my commute home all day every day. It has really changed my life. I hope to commute until I retire in 30+ (long) years.

DerekU2

I tried it one day simply as a challenge to myself - could I do the 12 miles one way without dying? I was living a pretty sedentry lifestyle and I wanted to just provie that I COULD be active again. After surviving the first round trip I decided I'd try it three days a week. I never ended up doing it three days a week though - I went straight to everyday. My reasons have grown:

1. I enjoy it.
2. It's helped me get in the best shape of my life.
3. Environmentally Friendly.
4. Makes me "different."

I no longer feel like I'm a passive participant in my day. Before, I'd shower, get in my car, press a pedal, get to work, press some keys, go home. Now I start and end each work day with an envigorating ride and I often spend a lot of time sorting through my life while on the bike - some of my best ideas have come while in the saddle.

DerekU2

I wanted to add - I started commuting in May - just as summer gas prices started to kick in. So everyone at work, and most of my friends, just assume I'm doing this to save money. They don't quite understand when I tell them that's just an ancillary benefit.

Sure... I love having absolutely NO IDEA how much gas costs, but it's not a factor in my biking.

astr033

Reasons:

1) To supplement my running workouts. I'm getting back into running after taking 8 years off. My body isn't at the point yet where I can run on consecutive days so I need some kind of exercise that's easy on the knees* to do on my off-running days. (* I took up biking to take it easy on my knees but ironically biking has given me my first knee injury -- I should have read up on spinning before I went out and mashed my way to work. Fortunately it hasn't affected my running!).

2) To cut down on gas costs. I figure that I'm saving about a dollar every day that I bike to work. Not much but it adds up.

3) To avoid traffic headaches. I bike along a bike path to work. Both my apartment and my office building are literally abutting the same bike path, so it only makes sense to avoid the cars when I can.

4) To lose my gut. I've only been shedding about 1 pound per month since I started up running again. Hopefully biking will speed that up. Right now I'm laying off the biking because of my knee but I'm hoping to be back in the saddle soon.


Unexpected Benefits:

1) Cutting down on road rage. I read someone's earlier post about that and it really resonated with me. Driving near Boston can really make you pull your hairs out of your head with the crazy stuff that people do. If I had to donate a penny for every swear that came out of my mouth on the way to work then I'd be broke. Biking has dramatically reduced my commuting stress by astronomical amounts. Which brings me to #2.....

2) Arriving at work becomes something that I look forward to. I used to dread pulling into work when I drove/drive (I still do drive half the time). But when I bike in I feel invigorated and I can't wait for my ride back home (which is all downhill and I can fly like the wind).

lala

Environmentalism, exercise, stress relief, fun.