After many years of daily bicycle commuting, I was forced to drive a car to/from work this week to pick up some out of town visitors.

This driving had to be done among the masses - during the heat of rush hours and along the most congested roads.

God almighty, when did it ever get so bad and how did I ever miss it? Things changed so much in about eight years!

What a terrible experience it was. Cars backed up for traffic light after traffic light. You would be waiting to get through one light and could see a mile ahead that it was one continuous stream of people waiting at lights.

Drivers took dangerous risks in order to get ahead of other car in the sludge of metal, rubber, and exhaust.

A car broke down and rather than feel compassion and helping the poor driver, people were angrily shouting curses at the stranded fellow-motorist. Guess what. I didn't stop for her either and I also felt some seer of intolerence.

Why would anybody go through that if they didn't have to? Surely many of those drivers look forward to the weekend so they can, for example, ride a bicycle. I guess they are as ignorant to the pleasure of bicycle commuting as I am to the ugliness of motorized commuting.

My reintroduction to the real world was shocking. I am going to go climb right back under my rock and back into the bicycling world.

It's ok, Mike, it's ok, just calm down, now...

Sorry you were reduced to cage jockey status. On occasion it's good to experience the ties that bind them to their staid chaos. It helps you to maintain a sense of humility as you remember "This could happen to you!"

I was going to write a scathng tease about your driving, but I don't know you well enough for that. I suppose there was no option that the company might have had a rental waiting at the factory while you rode your bike? Too bad. Or is it, you had to pick these people up on the way to the factory? No matter. You did it; you survived; and we're all proud of you. Now don't do it again for another eight years.

Oh, great! Now we'll have to do one of those cleansing rituals to rebalance the karma of the forum.

Seriously, though, Folks, one thing that was almost frightening was how much worse the traffic has become in a few short years.

If you drive the same route regularly, the intensity probably creeps up on you like age. However, I experienced the difference in one mighty blast.

If the traffic has increased this much in eight years, imagine what it will be like it eight more years!

There is certainly no noticeable trend away from driving.

Where I live, it's the same exact problem. All of these new spoiled teenagers with nice cars bought by their parents. My parents were to poor to get me a car, so instead, I got a nice bike. The traffic is really congested around here. It's kinda funny though. While my friends in their nice cars are waiting in traffic, im just zooming past them on my bike.

>>>>"Seriously, though, Folks, one thing that was almost frightening was how much worse the traffic has become in a few short years."<<<<<<


I know exactly what you mean. It's not much better for those taking public transportation either since we have to fight the same traffic. I have the option of taking either buses or tains into Manhattan and neither is a good option.

My express bus (if you can call it) takes an hour and 15 minutes to get into New York City. It feels like I put in a full day of work by the time we reach the bus terminal. It's exhausting.

Taking trains is not much better either. Every car is jamed packed like sardines cans and you better hope the other person used deodorant or it's going to be a long ride.

The Port Authority of New Yorkstated a while back that in 10 years congestion will increase by 20% going through the tunnels into Manhattan. This is why I use both bike and bus for commuting to work. The ride is often the best part of the commute while making the bus only a 45 minute ride.

Man, you said it. I went back to my alma mater high school to give a presentation last year and was amazed that they had paved over all of the tennis courts and a good portion of what once was a park - to make an ocean of parking for the students.

Last year, one of the top school board members retired. In her interview with the local newspaper, she said that in recent years, the biggest issues and biggest challenges has been computers and parking. Parking?! I thought she was joking until I talked with her recently. She said that it was a serious problem as virtually none of the high school students walk or bicycle to school anymore. They all arrive by their own private vehicles.

These are VERY fat times, my friends.

I think we are selling the next generation short if we don't teach them the necessity of physical conditioning, lifelong. That means more than trying out for the football team or being on the wrestling team. It means adopting lifelong habits of physical training for everyone, not just few elite "athletic types."

(...now for the part you've come to expect: )

Bicycling as transportation is an excellent way to get and stay fit, lifelong.

This is the exact reason I'm getting back to the bike. While, it is faster, and easier to commute.. I don't care for other's attitudes in cars. I'm fairly relaxed in all calm. Other drivers don't aggrevate me, though, I've been known to do the bike lane block to those who try to drive down a bike lane...

But, I'm giving up on driving for some selfish reasons. Exercise, money, and to not let myself become a victim to someone who HAS TO GET THERE, WHILE ON THE PHONE AND NOT USING A TURN SIGNAL.

That gets old.

One day, I realized that riding to work would be more of an adventure (28 miles round trip) that I loved when I rode to work (the feeling) and it really freaked out the people that worked for me.
So, I'm giving up driving. Once a week I'll do it so I can bring uniforms, and restock stuff at work. But that's it.
At least until it rains hard. But, hey, I live in socal!

Good for you, William!



Say, Mike, your original thread idea was not lost on me! I just figured you were getting something off your chest and I just wanted to cheer you up!

I just want to ask one thing, Mike: don't fall asleep again, I hate to think how bad traffic will be next time you wake up!