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Hate the car now?

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Old 06-09-10 | 01:21 PM
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Hate the car now?

I started commuting by bike about seven months ago. For the first time today since then I had to drive in (not by choice) and I absolutely hated it. I didn't make it to work any faster, I still had to deal with ****ty drivers, and I certainly don't feel as good physically nor as mentally alert as I normally do after my ride in. This whole commuting by car thing seems like a really poor way to start the day, how do people manage to do it all the time?
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Old 06-09-10 | 02:03 PM
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I don't know. on days when I have to drive I feel physically sick and I'm an ******* all day. Since so many people drive every day, perhaps this explains why the world is such an unpleasant place?
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Old 06-09-10 | 02:22 PM
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I don't drive much but when I do I don't really mind it. It's a pleasant enough commute either way.
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Old 06-09-10 | 02:28 PM
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I don't hate it. I think if I were driving every day, I would. Once or twice a month is more like a muscle break though.
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Old 06-09-10 | 02:34 PM
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I don't hate it either but, when I am stuck in traffic I always find myself wishing I was on my bike instead.
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Old 06-09-10 | 02:41 PM
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It took a while of commuting to get to the "hate the car" point, but I did hit it -- about three days before calling the junkyard for that little pile o' shat. The thought of getting ANOTHER car -- now THAT I hate! It's why I haven't done so!
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Old 06-09-10 | 02:56 PM
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My alternate commute is usually the metro, and yes, I have grown to be quite resentful of not being able to ride my bike on days when I'm not able to ride my bike. Takes twice as long, costs money...
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Old 06-09-10 | 02:56 PM
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Old 06-09-10 | 03:04 PM
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I commute by bike to avoid the (sometimes unpredictable) traffic that fouls my 4.7 mile trip home into an hour-long ordeal. Cars are useful for all sorts of things, but my commute isn't one of them.
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Old 06-09-10 | 03:13 PM
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I think it depends on a few things... your route and your car. Part of my route should I drive goes along coastal highway. And I don't consider my Stage II WRX a jalopy. It's actually quite fun.
It is important to mix it up. Biking in and driving in keeps the mundane away. I like both.
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Old 06-09-10 | 03:25 PM
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I end up driving to work about 0.5 times a month. On the days I do drive in, I really do not enjoy it. My commute takes me through one of the most congested freeways in the metro area. I usually do a bike-bus-bike commute, so I like letting the bus driver deal with the congestion.
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Old 06-09-10 | 03:35 PM
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Often freeway traffic was moving along at single digits. Or even stopped. I'd have to wait up to 10 minutes to exit the freeway , when the exit lane was backed up due to traffic volume on the adjoining city street.. When on the bike , i just breeze by all this miserable congestion.. When driving the car, I'd arrive frustrated and mad. On the bike happy with the world. Happy with the world is a far better way to start your work day grind. And need to cope with office politics.
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Old 06-09-10 | 03:39 PM
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i avoid using my car if at all possible

even worse is sitting on the train
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Old 06-09-10 | 03:41 PM
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Originally Posted by mustachiod
i avoid using my car if at all possible

even worse is sitting on the train
I much prefer sitting on a train over driving in a car. At least the time on the train can be useful.
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Old 06-09-10 | 03:42 PM
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i sold my last car 10 years ago and have hated the automobile ever since. i'm one of those anti-car fundamentalists that hates every single aspect of the 4-wheeled steel coffin.

but as for the days when, for one reason or another, i'm forced to trade in my daily bike commute for a ride to work on the train, i do sorely miss the bike ride. i don't exactly hate the train commute, it's just billions of times less fun than being on a bike.
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Old 06-09-10 | 04:10 PM
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Originally Posted by freefallkev
I don't know. on days when I have to drive I feel physically sick and I'm an ******* all day. Since so many people drive every day, perhaps this explains why the world is such an unpleasant place?
This. I really don't feel well and can't concentrate much when I drive.
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Old 06-09-10 | 04:18 PM
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I wasn't able to drive today. When I got to work I was dragging and was sooo tired. Been off work for a couple hours now and I still haven't woken up fully yet. Been riding for about a month now and I strongly dislike taking the car.
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Old 06-09-10 | 04:51 PM
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I enjoy driving very much....only to pick up my newly purchase bike at my LBS.
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Old 06-09-10 | 05:19 PM
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It's funny, I haven't driven to work in over 10 months now, but tomorrow I am going to have to drive in to work. I have found myself being distracted all day thinking about routes, if I leave early, perhaps I can avoid dealing with....
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Old 06-09-10 | 06:12 PM
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My commute takes about the same amount of time either biking or driving. Unfortunately I did have to take my car into work 3 times this year. Can't say i've gotten to the "I hate my car" attitude yet. I just prefer my bike.
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Old 06-09-10 | 06:58 PM
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Originally Posted by sauerwald
It's funny, I haven't driven to work in over 10 months now, but tomorrow I am going to have to drive in to work. I have found myself being distracted all day thinking about routes, if I leave early, perhaps I can avoid dealing with....
So you have to use Google maps to find a route you can drive to work? Man, it has been a long time. Myself, I would just take the same route I ride each day... unless there's a MUP involved.
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Old 06-10-10 | 05:39 AM
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I discovered I didn't like driving around town, even on the weekends. I would get impatient and anger easily. For some reason since I could get there faster, I felt like I had to get there faster.
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Old 06-10-10 | 05:48 AM
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I think it must depend on where you live. I'd always prefer to ride my bike to work, but with kids' schedules and my wife and I both working it's not always possible. I only ride to work 3x a week, sometimes 4.

My ride is 14 miles, takes about 45 minutes. If I have to drive I take a different route - about 8 or 9 miles, and about 12 minutes. If I lived where there's traffic and that 8 or 9 miles took an hour, I'd get rid of the car entirely - and be happy about it.
 
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Old 06-10-10 | 06:57 AM
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I usually only drive when the weather is crappy, so I can honestly say that I enjoy driving on those days. I don't get any enjoyment out of cycling during a thunderstorm or icy roads. Driving also gives my legs a break. I cycle almost every day over hilly terrain, and sometimes my legs get tired and need some rest. I usually take those rest days when it's rainy. I take advantage of my driving days by restocking food in my office, clean towels and other clothes, and taking home dirty laundry.
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Old 06-10-10 | 08:26 AM
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Unfortunately, I've been driving in to work for the most part the past few weeks because of a cough I can't seem to shake off. What's kept me sane is leaving for work 15 to 20 minutes early everyday. That way I don't have to worry about being late to work and I can take my time and just relax.

That's right. I'm the slowass driver taking the left lane.
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