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-   -   Why do you commute? (https://www.bikeforums.net/commuting/815504-why-do-you-commute.html)

lungimsam 05-03-12 05:27 PM

Because it is fun to ride a bike. Very beautiful scenery. Exercise.
I ride in good weather, sometimes even when unsure about forecast.
I hope the get a fenderable bike so I can ride even in the rain.
Haven't figured out how to do winter yet, though.

krobinson103 05-03-12 05:28 PM

I have a scooter, a motorcycle, a car, and 5 bikes. I don't use the car ever, the motorcycle gets used for days when time makes it impossible to ride a bike - maybe once a week if that. I commute on my bike because its the most efficient way too:

1) Create less carbon dioxide
2) Add to my weekly exercise milage.
3) Make me feel good when I get to work
4) See the sights as I pass
5) Because its just plain FUN.

I hate cars. 2 tonne to move 90kg of person? Totally inefficient. If I have my wife, my 2 kids, and luggage as well.. then I tolerate it. Since the price of fuel keeps going up the motorcycle plain costs too much to run. The scooter is so slow I can almost go faster on my mtb so its relegated to parking blocker duty. I ride a cruiser style motorcycle in the winter even if it snows so I figure one of the older mtbs will do fine for that.

HardyWeinberg 05-03-12 05:54 PM

Also a $1000 bike is wayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy better than a $1000 car


Papa Tom 05-03-12 06:20 PM

As globie suggested, commuting to work just adds five extra days to my chances to be on a bicycle. Why feel so alive for just two days a week?

kardar2 05-03-12 06:44 PM

For me
I found out that I have to pay big time in taxes and on a payment plan so I had to figure out how to save money. I love to ride and now I dont ever hear my self say "I NEED TO GO RIDING" So with the diesel truck parked I am killing 3 birds with one bike.
Exercise
save money
and enjoy it

ItsJustMe 05-03-12 07:07 PM

I started primarily for environmental reasons, and that's more than half the reason I continue. But it also keeps my blood pressure down better than medication. I have no doubt that it's adding years of healthy living to my lifespan. And it's fun, and when I get to where I'm going, I feel great and full of energy.

When I don't ride, I feel like a slug all day, I'm not very productive, and after several days of not riding my blood pressure is significantly elevated.

hiyer1 05-03-12 07:50 PM

it's the most logical choice.

and yes for me it's a choice (I have a license and a car, choose to use neither whenever possible)

DX-MAN 05-03-12 07:52 PM

1. Sounded like a fun challenge.
2. Wanted to recapture the joy I felt as a teenager on a bike.

Succeeded x2. Never looked back -- in fact, not long after that, I let my then-estranged wife use the family van during the day when I dropped my daughter off on the way to work, pulled the bike out of the van, and rolled. Two years later, the last car I owned went belly-up; I junked it, got back on the bike, and rolled.

snowman40 05-03-12 07:54 PM


Originally Posted by daredevil (Post 14177811)
Best way to get in riding time without impacting family time.

Not for me...my wife doesn't like when I take longer rides, even though everyone benefits from me riding ( less irritable).

DVC45 05-03-12 07:56 PM

I need to get to work.

Chesha Neko 05-03-12 08:33 PM


Originally Posted by cjewett65 (Post 14176705)
Well the thread may exist already but i specifically would like to hear from people on why they chose to commute.

1. They won't pay be to stay home.
2. I refuse to own a car or get a driver's licence.

colleen c 05-03-12 08:41 PM

Commuting to work with my bicycle is my motivation to go to work, otherwise I find myself calling in Sick way to often.

lungimsam 05-03-12 08:42 PM


Originally Posted by HardyWeinberg (Post 14177916)
Also a $1000 bike is wayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy better than a $1000 car


Nice Jack Casady bass!!

daredevil 05-03-12 08:57 PM


Originally Posted by snowman40 (Post 14178398)
Not for me...my wife doesn't like when I take longer rides, even though everyone benefits from me riding ( less irritable).

I get to ride while the wife is either sleeping or already at work. That's what I call minimal impact on family time....perfect.

Besides the other obvious benefits of commuting of course.

osephjey 05-03-12 09:36 PM

It started as a hobby and to lose weight just over two years ago. I would ride 4-5 miles a day, and work on pedaling for as long as I could without stopping. After about 2 months I realized I may just be able to pull that 20 mile round trip commute to work over the summer. So I did, and eventually I built up to getting 10 miles in 35-40 minutes consistently on my (since traded) Trek Soho S. My wife complains about how I jump from bike to bike, but hey, I just love all kinds and she will only let me have one at a time. ;) Anywhosit. I've ridden 3000 miles since I started, and I'm not looking back. But yeah lose weight, have fun, save money on gas/insurance/car payment/repairs. Plus that urban hipster thing ;) HAHA I too have recently been visiting my local farmers market, BY BIKE!

WonderMonkey 05-03-12 09:42 PM

In order:

Fitness/Weight Loss
Mental Clearing
Save some gas money so I can spend more money on stuff for commuting so I can save some gas money so I can spend more ...... etc

clawhammer72 05-03-12 09:50 PM

The wind flowing past, the freedom riding straight and fast, or slow and curvy, mashing uphill, and gliding down, the feel of my heart, the rush of adrenaline that lasts all day till the ride home, the cool misty mornings, the bright sunny days, the places I see in more detail, the people I see every day and get to know, that I would never pay any attention to in a car, the challenge of packing gear, the pleasure of beating the system, the pride in doing something clean and joyful, the rain on my face in my eyes soaking my clothes knowing that it's ok to get wet, breaking free of the chains of convention and realizing that I can do so much more than I ever realized.

alexaschwanden 05-03-12 11:06 PM

1. Exercise, good cardio
2. It's fun, and cool
3. I hate driving, in general
4. I don't want to be depended on cars for transportation
5. To brag of the vast distances I can travel with my own legs on a bike

bragi 05-03-12 11:46 PM

I originally started to ride because of environmental reasons (i.e, freaking out because of global warming). I've continued to be concerned about the environment, but in all honesty I continue to ride mostly because driving a car turns me into an angry impatient *******. When I ride, I'm happy.

caloso 05-03-12 11:49 PM

Too lazy to walk; too antisocial to take public transit; too cheap to pay for parking.

VintOrbea 05-03-12 11:57 PM

I own a jeep but i choose not to drive it because 1. Gas is ridiculous and a 16mpg jeep is not economical 2. I can get anywhere i need to just as fast on a bike if not faster so why kill the environment when i can enjoy the open air without being trapped in a cage 3. I just love to ride

stockholm 05-04-12 12:09 AM

Simply because it's the fastest way to get to work. And most fun.

ben80south 05-04-12 04:39 AM

I commute by bike:

1. The freedom I feel riding is a direct contrast to being jammed in the subway with several million people where the AC rarely works on the trains (Beijing) -- prefer to be smelly and sweaty on my own in the open air.

2. Exercise -- means I don't have to schedule extra time in to exercise

3. Maintains sanity

4. a) Explore new places on the way home and see crazy things almost daily (Beijing)
b) Beautiful scenery -- along the rivers in Taipei

5. I have no car.

6. Usually faster than public transit

7. Saves money

AdamDZ 05-04-12 04:54 AM

I commute because I need to get to work. I use a bike for it because it's fun and I like riding bikes. It's also a lot more reliable and less frustrating than mass transit. Everything else is secondary.


Originally Posted by caloso (Post 14179182)
Too lazy to walk; too antisocial to take public transit; too cheap to pay for parking.

LOL. I often don't want to walk a few blocks to get lunch and people would say: "So you ride several miles to work but you don't want to walk a few blocks???" Yeah, walking is boring, so last century :D

And yeah, I don't like to be surrounded so closely by people on a crowded subway.

me and my bike 05-04-12 05:00 AM

someone with a bmw m3 once told me that commuting by bike was inefficient...i waved to him on my bike while i saw him at the pumps

Ridefreemc 05-04-12 05:10 AM

Because riding bikes is cool (i.e., I like it cool, far out, enjoyable, etc.) and having a destination gives my ride more purpose.

Ridefreemc 05-04-12 05:25 AM


Originally Posted by caloso (Post 14179182)
Too lazy to walk; too antisocial to take public transit; too cheap to pay for parking.

They say the first step to recovery is admitting you have a problem. Now if we could only get those that drive exclusively to do so we'd all be better off:roflmao2:

sci_femme 05-04-12 05:25 AM

a. To stop middle age spread
b. To flip my finger at people flying occupied aircraft into occupied buildings.
c. To say "tee-hee, suckers" at Friday night traffic.
d. To maintain "Mommy is badazz" reputation with my teenagers.

As far as whole "green" thing goes - pffffttttt! Due to my professional training I am saving Mother Earth at my desk 9 to 5, five days a week.

essiemyra 05-04-12 05:36 AM

I commute to work by bike because I love riding my bike. My best part of the day is riding. All the other benefits I get from riding to work are just bonuses.

osephjey 05-04-12 06:28 AM


Originally Posted by clawhammer72 (Post 14178890)
The wind flowing past, the freedom riding straight and fast, or slow and curvy, mashing uphill, and gliding down, the feel of my heart, the rush of adrenaline that lasts all day till the ride home, the cool misty mornings, the bright sunny days, the places I see in more detail, the people I see every day and get to know, that I would never pay any attention to in a car, the challenge of packing gear, the pleasure of beating the system, the pride in doing something clean and joyful, the rain on my face in my eyes soaking my clothes knowing that it's ok to get wet, breaking free of the chains of convention and realizing that I can do so much more than I ever realized.

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