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.7 mile commute worth riding?

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View Poll Results: Would you ride or walk a 1.4 mile RT
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Walk
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.7 mile commute worth riding?

Old 09-18-06, 06:13 AM
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.7 mile commute worth riding?

I recently moved closer to campus, so my 12 mile RT commute has collapsed to a 1.4 mile RT. I am sort of splitting the days depending on how I feel between riding and walking. It's so short, that once stuff like locking up is factored in I hardly save any time at all. But I do get to ride over.
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Old 09-18-06, 06:15 AM
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When I lived close to campus I would drop my books off, at the house then take of on a ride after class was done it is a great way to clear out the head
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Old 09-18-06, 06:55 AM
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heck yeah I'd ride it. nobody's forcing you to take the shortest, most direct route, either. stretch it out! do laps around the campus...
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Old 09-18-06, 06:59 AM
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If I want to do a longer ride, I'd rather do it without my bag full of books But yea, I see what you guys are saying.
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Old 09-18-06, 07:11 AM
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I'd say it depends. I'm lazy enough that I'd do the commute (and stretch it out a little) because I know I'd be less willing to get on the bike after class. at the same hand, if the campus is safe enough, you could keep it corraled at school, ride home drop off your books go on a good ride, park it at campus and walk home, walking in the mornings.

but if you're sure you'd get the biking in otherwise, just walk it.
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Old 09-18-06, 07:14 AM
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I'd walk.
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Old 09-18-06, 07:56 AM
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I'd walk too. When I was in college with a short distance to campus, I didn't want to leave my bike on campus, even though it was a very safe campus. I took my bike out for weekend rides instead. Taking the bike onto campus, dealing with locking it, remembering where I left it, etc was a hassle. Plus the campus was small enough that you could walk from one end to the other in about 8 minutes so no problem making it to classes in time walking.
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Old 09-18-06, 08:29 AM
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You need to go buy a Hummer and commute in it, instead! Kidding.

I'd walk. That's only, what, about 15 minutes? Riding seems like overkill to me, but I'm lazy.
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Old 09-18-06, 08:32 AM
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I'd walk it. Good exercie, reasonable travel time, and lower risk of missing wheel(s) and/or seatpost and saddle.
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Old 09-18-06, 08:37 AM
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Originally Posted by vtjim
You need to go buy a Hummer and commute in it, instead! Kidding.

I'd walk. That's only, what, about 15 minutes? Riding seems like overkill to me, but I'm lazy.
haha, I actually know a couple kids that live on my street and drive over to the parking garage
usually takes me a little under 20 minutes, I'm not the fastest walker in the world and I see no reason to change now

as far as locking safety, this place is really safe as far as colleges go. Plus my bike isn't very new/pretty/shiny.
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Old 09-18-06, 09:02 AM
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If riding a bicycle really is the most efficient form of transportation (calories per distance), then I suppose you would get more exercise walking.

One could carry that to the extreme and load up all the books into a nice heavy backpack and sprint the .7 miles.
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Old 09-18-06, 09:09 AM
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That is exactly my commute to work. I've walked it for years, but in the last couple of years I've started riding more often, especially when I have a lot of stuff to carry. Or when I am late for a meeting ... it's a 15 minute leisurely walk, but I can ride there in well under five minutes. But I don't have to lock up because I store my bike in my office.

I'd say do whatever you feel like doing on any given day. Sometimes I don't know if I am going to ride or walk until I am out the door. (I am assuming that you are a guy so you don't have the other dilemma that tends to dictate my decision, i.e., "Can I ride a bike in this skirt without flashing my neighbors?")
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Old 09-18-06, 09:13 AM
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sounds like a good time to try new things. Fixie, Unicycle, rollerblades, pogostick etc. Lots of ways to make it fun
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Old 09-18-06, 09:15 AM
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I usually hate walking when I could ride. Two years ago I had a class that was about .5 miles away from my apartment at the time... I only walked when the snow was too deep to ride...
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Old 09-18-06, 09:19 AM
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I'd go 1 to 1 with a fixie for that commute. You could practice spinning. You would be something to behold spinning 130+ rpm and only going 11 mph! Or else find an old, heavy Schwinn with fenders and 2.125 tires, since your only going .7 mi, you might as well go in style.
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Old 09-18-06, 09:28 AM
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Nothing's harder on a car than driving such a short distance.

My neighbor drives just under 1 kilometer to work every day and has had all kinds of problems with her car.

Walk or ride.
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Old 09-18-06, 09:39 AM
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I'd get a comfort bike w/ a chain gaurd and ride it most days. Other days, I'd jog it and add a little distance to the trip.
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Old 09-18-06, 09:41 AM
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I have a 1.2 mile commute to my office everyday and switch it up to make life a little more interesting. Sometimes I ride the roadie and do a nice long ride after work, sometimes I take the trials bike with a 12t chainring and get "distracted" with the many obstacles along the way, sometimes I walk. I'm thinking about getting a fixie to practise the spinning like slagjumper said.
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Old 09-18-06, 09:46 AM
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I agree with the walking, walk it fast. When you get home drop your books off and go for a bike ride.
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Old 09-18-06, 10:47 AM
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As always depends.
If security is not a problem and it is convient to park your bike then ride when you like. However if leaving you bike on campus all day is a risk or parking is a hassle then walk to campus and ride after classes.
I ride to the grocery store about 0.5 miles away because it is much faster than walking, I can lock it right in front of the store and the risk of theft is small even with a cheap cable lock. However if I was commuting to a major University I would probably walk most days, as I would need to take more time to secure the bike and the length of time the bike was unattended would increase the chance of theft.
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Old 09-18-06, 11:13 AM
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I'd ride for the speed, walk if I wanted a fun stroll
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Old 09-18-06, 11:18 AM
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Old 09-18-06, 12:26 PM
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Riding .7 miles is like using a chainsaw to cut butter.
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Old 09-18-06, 12:27 PM
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Old 09-18-06, 12:30 PM
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That is only a 15min walk, walking is good for you even if you otherwise cycle every day, gives a different movement, gives some impact. Saves worrying about locking up bike, your more likely to make shorts stops and interact with the many other pedestrians around campus.
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