Dang

and yet I have two of them . What a crazy world we live in. Why did I move to a place 13 miles away from work? Why do I have a job that requires me to start at 6:00 am? I should have groomed my life around bicyling, not greed. I moved here in this home because it's in a upscaled neighborhood. The neighbors are rude and must be evil because most have bicycles hanging upside down in there garage like hunted deer. I have yet to see anyone ride them. Despite the fact that the city has catered to bike clubs demands.
The job is a good paying job that has excellent bennefits. And because of that I'm trapped. Its too far and too early to ride.
Take heed my young cycling friends and live by the bike, for the bike. It will make you healthy, wealthy and wise. If your single be sure to pick a spouce (or partner) that loves to ride as much as you do.
Try if you can, try to live without a car. Cars are like depentants that just want you for your money. An "x" thats only good for your alimony. You can't even write them off!
Cars are evil dirty machines. Bikes are good clean machines. Bikes are nobel. Cars suck.
Deep down I hope gas will soon just be something that's too rare for the average person to get and all will have to conform to bicyling and walking. And 90% of all the cars get crushed into cubes. Then melted and poured into bicycle molds.
Yeah. I know. It will never happen in our life time, but it doesnt hurt to dream. Right?

hi565

That...was...beautifu l

hi565

beautiful *

MikeR

Wow - sounds like you go the insurance or mechanics bill, and the rates went up again!

I know how you feel. Years ago my wife and I were auto-less it was the most carefree time in our lives.

Dang

Rush's drumme'r cousin and I are friends. ROCK ON!

timmhaan

i've been without a car for nearly 5 years now. BY FAR the best thing i've ever done. in the rare case (once a year tops) i need one, i just rent one.

nick burns

I agree with you 100% about the car hating and I don't wish to antagonize, but 13 miles isn't really that far for a cycle commute. Yes 6:00 is pretty early, but would cycling cause to you to start out that much earlier? Have you tried commuting to the job or is it really impossible for you?

hi565

holy shi* thats sick.

d2create

Hmmmm.... My commute is near10 miles and it takes near 45 minutes giving time for stopping at intersections and stuff. So lets say it takes him an hour to go 13 miles. Plus add another half hour to give plenty of time to clean up and cool down once at work. That would mean he would need to leave the house at 4:30am.
That's gotta hurt.

ChezJfrey

13 miles...too far....uh, OK.

<shrugs and pedals 12.5 miles to work over the course of 45 minutes or so>

Stubacca

Try riding the 13 miles. It really isn't that far... So you have to get up a bit earlier, but what's the big deal? It probably takes less time to ride to work then than it would if you started at 8am. Maybe you'll need to buy some decent lighting, but you'll pay for them after a few weeks thanks to no need for gasoline.

madhouse

I have a 13 mile commute and start work at 6:45am; I leave at 5:40. I only do it twice a week because I can't afford the time… But I don’t despise my car, out in the sticks it is impractical not to have one… There isn’t a public transit system or taxi service anywhere near me.

Dchiefransom

Get up at 3:30 and ride to work. I've only done it a few times per year so far, but I'll be working up to at least 3 times a week in fair weather. My commute is almost 24 miles.

PurpleK

Totally agree with those beautiful sentiments. My wife and I have managed to change from a two car to a one car family about five years ago. The savings in giving up the one car have been tremendous...enough to take two trips to Europe each year and still have some left over. Wish I had made the change years ago. Tried to talk the wife into going completely carless, but she won't hear of it. I'll keep working on her, though.

tonyedgecombe

I will be encouraging my children not to start down the road to car dependency, its pretty hard to shake off once your hooked.

I have been carless for two years now, have a 15 mile commute one way each day, the other way by bus. Hopefully by next spring I'll be going both ways every day.

claire

Thanks man, that was cool. I've been car free all my life and intend to stay car free forever ! (and I can't even drive)

elbows

As several other people have said, 13 miles isn't _that_ far. You should be able to do that in about an hour, probably faster in the country. Work up to it if you have to -- starting one day a week, or doing some sort of car/bike combo to get you in shape for the all-bike commute.

If it's still taking you too long to get there, sell your car and buy a faster bike ;-)

boyze

I don't think so Life is a series of choices to chaotic influences

MikeR

Has anyone sen figures on how much the average family spends on cars in a year - or how much the average car ACTUALLY costs? It must be over $5,000 USD

Marcus_Abundus

All you need now to fill your upscale home is to buy a big screen TV, the Tivo, the cable hookup, a really big sofa....
When you get home start the microwave snacks, crank up the TV, and watch endless mind numbing shows.......I garantee in about two years you will look just like all of your neighbors.

Goodk Luck

ukmtk

I live 12 miles from work and like to start at 7am. I get up at just after 5am and love cycling in on dark (winter)/quiet country roads. Lots safer than rush hour. Obviously I prefer a warm light summer's morning.

I get to leave at 4pm (or a bit earlier in mid winter). But I do like being in bed at 10pm.

So I reckon a 6am start is feasible.

PurpleK

Very good guess. I did a review of my personal savings and it was almost $5000 USD on the nose....and that's cash on the barrel head in direct savings on payments, insurance, fuel, maintenance, licenses, etc.

Dang

Yes! Yes! I'll do it! I already have a decent light system. (picked it up after I rode over a dead cat on a dark street.) Im no stranger to commuting. I use to ride when I lived only 10 miles away and then I even smoked! That was only 2 yrs ago. An extra 3 miles ain't gonna kill me. Its in my blood! I miss that runny nose damnit!
YES!!!...Right after the holidays I think.

Dang

What do you mean thats "sick"? Do you know Ray also?

ajay677

After I started bike commuting 2 years ago, my wife and I got rid of one of our vehicles. So we are a one car family. No more $400/ mth car payment. No more $110/month insurance payment. No more $120/month gas expense. No more $48/ month gym membership. Getting rid of the second vehicle was like getting a $678 per month raise in my net pay. That's $8100 per year, saved towards retirement, child's education, vacation, household improvements, whatever... I love my bicycles!