tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18676999.post3659747818715065529..comments2024-02-27T01:52:06.519-08:00Comments on Kent's Bike Blog: Why Don't You Commute By Bicycle?Kent Petersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12906603746565831689noreply@blogger.comBlogger59125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18676999.post-16164531537998215032014-06-26T19:05:34.964-07:002014-06-26T19:05:34.964-07:00I do now every day but didn't when my kids wer...I do now every day but didn't when my kids were babies.<br /><br />When my kids have special events at school I will not commute by bike Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18676999.post-65931833119879288242009-05-21T13:05:55.710-07:002009-05-21T13:05:55.710-07:00I do commute by bike most days in the warmer six m...I do commute by bike most days in the warmer six months of the year. For the other six months I take public transit instead. Primarily this is because I do not feel safe cycling a) when the bike paths are closed (the barriers are removed, others with no barriers are not cleared of snow), b) in the snow and ice.Montrealernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18676999.post-46415145487402290552008-03-08T12:48:00.000-08:002008-03-08T12:48:00.000-08:00I do commute via bike, but the best excuse I've he...I do commute via bike, but the best excuse I've heard for not commuting is this one:<BR/><BR/>"I race, and if I commute, the slow miles hurt my training."<BR/><BR/>Who knew that sitting in a car qualified as race training?<BR/><BR/>HAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18676999.post-48497961798111979812008-03-07T19:14:00.000-08:002008-03-07T19:14:00.000-08:00I have a broken Collar bone.for now, I take the bu...I have a broken Collar bone.<BR/>for now, I take the bus.<BR/><BR/>March 18th, this changes, and my response to your question would be 'huh, what are you taking about... have you met me?'Cholehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15753412349017043609noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18676999.post-71290401481079718022008-03-06T21:53:00.000-08:002008-03-06T21:53:00.000-08:00I have a new 3-month-old baby who requires a carse...I have a new 3-month-old baby who requires a carseat. <BR/><BR/>I towed my now 3-year-old boy to preschool last spring before heading onto the office. Then I got too pregnant to keep it up. It still took quite a bit of time getting to and from the office since I had to take longer routes to be safer. Plus, I am a lot slower when I'm towing the kiddo. Still, I hope I have it in me to tow the two of them when they're both big enough for it. <BR/><BR/>Even with a "safe" route, I won't tow them in the dark winter months. The cargo is far, far to precious to risk in the dark commute hours with fast-driving car commuters.M.J.https://www.blogger.com/profile/12330870732679694203noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18676999.post-76668456059526311032008-03-05T23:36:00.000-08:002008-03-05T23:36:00.000-08:00When I don't bike it is usually because of the wea...When I don't bike it is usually because of the weather. Here in Toronto we just had a record-breaking amount of snow in February at over two meters.<BR/><BR/>A car is not an option since there is no car parking where I live or where I work. So like most people in Toronto I do not own a car.<BR/><BR/>I could get snow tires for my bike, but changing tires twice a year is too much work. So I take the streetcar after major snowfalls.<BR/><BR/>Within 24 hours of even the biggest snowfall, the city will have my route ploughed down to bare road. So I'm back on my bike again.<BR/><BR/>If I have to go somewhere very far away I'll take the subway and/or train.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18676999.post-72638088529449179572008-03-05T16:01:00.000-08:002008-03-05T16:01:00.000-08:00I did... last summer when I was house-sitting in B...I did... last summer when I was house-sitting in Ballard. Then I was too tired to train :P<BR/><BR/>I'd say the reasons I don't use bike for short trips, like grocery store, etc, is no security for my ride when I'm not on it. I don't have a "cheap" bike... but how cheap does a bike have to be to be safe from being stolen... and would I enjoy riding that bike?... I'm sure someone will jump on me for this, but thems my thoughts on the matter.<BR/><BR/>And you and I have already had the "mass transit" conversation, haven't we? <BR/><BR/>See ya this weekend? Hope so!Tammyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18040822286301328877noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18676999.post-67348724718061199872008-03-02T07:45:00.000-08:002008-03-02T07:45:00.000-08:00I am a spring/summer/fall commuter. I know I'll re...I am a spring/summer/fall commuter. I know I'll repeat some, but I wanted to speak as someone commuting from Brooklyn to Midtown Manhattan in New York. Reasons I don't commute sometimes:<BR/><BR/>- Drivers. The volume of traffic in the city is wild, and consists mainly of psychopathic cabbies and FedEx drivers. While drivers in New York are quite aware of pedestrians, they sometimes have issues with cyclists. There are a good number of bike food delivery boys and bike messengers in NYC, but they tend to be reckless in the extreme and do little to smooth car/cyclist relations.<BR/><BR/>- The streets are not bike-friendly. While the current trend is towards fixing that, there are few bike lanes in the city. Those that exist are frequently rendered impassible by potholes, Con-Ed, or millions of delivery trucks parked in the bike lane. Biking is a pleasure for me, but biking in fear for my life (which happens) is a joy-kill. <BR/><BR/>- Seasonal issues: I don't do well in the cold weather, partially because I grew up in South Florida and went to college in Georgia. I didn't see snow until I was 22. So the cold weather, combined with the dark mornings and evenings that make me nervous to bike in Manhattan at rush hour, usually do me in for late fall through winter. <BR/><BR/>- A lame one: My office doesn't have showers. They would be nice tho! This only discourages me on meeting days.<BR/><BR/>When I don't bike, I have the luxury of being able to hop on the amazing NYC public transportation system. I have never owned a car in my life and am glad I am able to continue that. I am looking forward to spring and getting back on my bike to work.Melhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17042558894550180660noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18676999.post-21347442759529491292008-03-01T09:27:00.000-08:002008-03-01T09:27:00.000-08:00Seems to be currently impossible. I have only 20 m...Seems to be currently impossible. I have only 20 minutes from the time class gets out to the time I have to be at work. <BR/><BR/>Next quarters schedule seems like it would allow me to bike to work possibly 3 days a week.Jaredhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14004053505032598036noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18676999.post-81586925275070188142008-02-29T19:55:00.000-08:002008-02-29T19:55:00.000-08:00I am a part time driver and part time bike commute...I am a part time driver and part time bike commuter. Reasons I don't ride include:<BR/>- Taking kids to a rehearsal or practice after work and not having enough time if I ride<BR/>- It takes longer to ride, so I miss or make our family diner later than it should be<BR/>- Sometimes I get tired and need a day off of the bike (50 mile round trip commute)<BR/>- Sometimes I want to be dry<BR/>- If I have a series of mechanical problems I sometimes need a breakGordonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04306073865036971583noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18676999.post-81544275085671217292008-02-29T12:24:00.000-08:002008-02-29T12:24:00.000-08:00I usually commute by bike, but when I don't it's i...I usually commute by bike, but when I don't it's if I have to stay in town late or have plans with my wife in town (she doesn't bike as frequently) or if the weather is especially nasty. Or if I don't have my lights or gloves or some other such nonsense.<BR/><BR/>In this spirit, I'd like to encourage folks to check out the "Burn Calories, Not Carbon!" pledge sponsored by Rails-to-Trails Conservancy (where I work): www.railstotrails.org/pledge<BR/><BR/>Thanks.kartiksrinivashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16617825570811369672noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18676999.post-87806632369778659382008-02-28T18:27:00.000-08:002008-02-28T18:27:00.000-08:00I haven't read all the answers. I'm sure mine wil...I haven't read all the answers. I'm sure mine will be redundant, but...<BR/><BR/>Sometimes I just don't have the time. Today I had lots of work. I sprinted home and scooped son #2 to go to soccer. Part of the parenting thing is offering things that don't always jibe with the bike schedule.<BR/><BR/>I don't b/c I'm lazy. <BR/><BR/>I don't b/c I have too much wine the night before.<BR/><BR/>I don't b/c I have work responsibilities in spring that require me to carry a bunch of shit in a truck.<BR/><BR/>That said, I do a pretty good job fall and winter when I'm not lazy, too busy, or feeling crunked from that extra glass I should have avoided. I'm one of those 'tweeners. I hope those non-commuters become 'tweeners like me and that 'tweeners like me give up the ghost and go whole hog.LvilleTexhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16733840950451530910noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18676999.post-63170816008876859962008-02-27T09:15:00.000-08:002008-02-27T09:15:00.000-08:00Short answer why I don’t bike-commute: A pinecone....Short answer why I don’t bike-commute: A pinecone. What, you might ask, does a humble pinecone have to do with bike commuting? That is where my long answer comes into play.<BR/><BR/>I used to count myself as a bike commuter. 21 miles a day and over one-mile of elevation gain each week. Life was good. Wind in the face, fresh air, the invigoration of a good hill climb and the thrill of a big decent. Doing my part to lessen our dependence on middle-eastern oil, it was the challenge of dealing with the elements and the satisfaction of moving from place to place under my own power...building my fitness level while doing a small part to help preserve the earth's resources for future generations. Can't get much better than that. Until the pinecone. Two blocks from home and a warm dinner waiting. I'd just rounded the corner into my neighborhood at speed, following a screaming 1.2 mile 400' drop. And that humble pinecone, though no fault of it's own, lay there waiting for me. The centrifugal force that was supposed to set my bike upright from it's precisely carved corner, a maneuver successfully performed 1000 times over, had somehow been amplified when my rear wheel bounced towards the inside of the curve, a bounce set in motion by the lowly cone. And when the wheel finished it's bounce it had no purchase on pavement wetted from the day's storms. So down I went, hard on the hip, a complete fracture that left me immobile in the middle of a wet dark road, wildly grateful for a cell-phone I could reach and a loving wife just two-blocks away.<BR/><BR/>I will bike-commute again. The hip is healing but my confidence still needs bolstering. There are times I've wished a car had caused the crash, so I could blame someone else rather than pure dumb luck. But dumb luck it was, and if I've been able to make it through 50-years with only one such occurrence, maybe that's not too bad. So I count my blessings, and wish everyone safe passage, whatever mode of transportation you choose. And if you are able to choose, the bike is a fantastically fun way to get about.Ron Cobbhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15917966351419940514noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18676999.post-71806324303385628022008-02-27T08:09:00.000-08:002008-02-27T08:09:00.000-08:00I"m scared of the crazy drivers. I think about thi...I"m scared of the crazy drivers. <BR/><BR/>I think about this every damn day though and try to figure it out.<BR/>I live in midtown Atlanta, and work in a little country town 18 miles (by interstate) away from my house away from the city. I often drive the back ways to try to figure out a safe route to ride, it ends up being about 28 miles through neighborhoods and there is a 7 mile stretch that has NO shoulder and ditches, not mention that it is a sketchy neighborhood. <BR/><BR/>The city has great bike lanes, while the country is NOT BIKE FRIENDLY!<BR/><BR/>I only have a road bike right now and am looking for a commuter that I can take on some dirt trails for some possible shortcuts.<BR/><BR/>I am also looking to get transfered to a project that I can commute to.<BR/><BR/>Cars suck. My boyfriend commutes on his bike, I'm jealous every day. He rides 6 miles each way in the city with bike lanes.AMIEhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16100337173745210495noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18676999.post-77248935044006560892008-02-26T16:28:00.000-08:002008-02-26T16:28:00.000-08:00"Seattle has crowded roads with grumpy drivers tha..."Seattle has crowded roads with grumpy drivers that are occasionally armed."<BR/><BR/>You need to ride in other cities. Seattle drivers are incredibly polite compared to Boston, NY, San Francisco or Phoenix! When I first moved here I couldn't believe how nice/attentive drivers are in this town. A little different in the rural areas though still better than anywhere else I've ridden.Chttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10767743759129493752noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18676999.post-54403134793259653322008-02-26T14:37:00.000-08:002008-02-26T14:37:00.000-08:00Well, having read through the comments so far, my ...Well, having read through the comments so far, my excuse seems to be a new one:<BR/><BR/>It makes me cough.<BR/><BR/>When I was in college, I came down with a really bad case of strep throat, which being as I was in college and had no health insurance (yay, America!), never got treated. It got better on its own after several very uncomfortable weeks, but ever since then my throat hasn't been as robust to exercise as it used to.<BR/><BR/>When I bike now (or run, or anything, really), my throat gets immediately dry and I start coughing. It feels like sandpaper in my throat. I've tried the obvious: taking a water bottle with me and sucking it down as I go. No good. I've tried putting other things in the bottle--mint tea, sweetened mint tea, a strong honey / mint / lemon concoction, all with no real results. They help, but even though it's only 2 miles to work, I'm still hacking and miserable by the time I get there. It usually takes a couple of hours for my throat to forgive me and let me get on with my day, too, which is just too much pain for the gain.<BR/><BR/>Anyone have a similar problem? Any help?Jason Blackhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01513547170663324976noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18676999.post-28115391880690009422008-02-26T13:20:00.000-08:002008-02-26T13:20:00.000-08:00I don't use the bike when I feel like walking.I do...I don't use the bike when I feel like walking.<BR/><BR/>I don't use the bike when it is too icy for me to ride safely without studded tires. I don't have studded tires yet, and it's silly to take damnfool risks.<BR/><BR/>I don't use the bike when the roads are a recipe for diversion falls. I'm getting better at dodging them, but 3" thick intermittent ice sheets are hard to manage.<BR/><BR/>I don't use the bike when the roads are so narrowed by snow that 2 lane roads are turned into one lane roads. If there's not enough space for car drivers to share with each other, they're not likely to share with me.<BR/><BR/>If I need to get around and the roads aren't safe for me, I walk or take a city bus.Emilyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15212663858639818685noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18676999.post-31917319264105840722008-02-26T09:57:00.000-08:002008-02-26T09:57:00.000-08:00I typically carpool and sometimes bus in or SOV. A...I typically carpool and sometimes bus in or SOV. A few excuses...<BR/><BR/>Due to distance, I have to take a bus for part of the trip. Coupling the bus route with the bike would add about an hour to my daily commute time.<BR/><BR/>Second, bike riding along the routes I'd have to take does not seem safe. I'd be biking for sure if in the Netherlands, but Seattle has crowded roads with grumpy drivers that are occasionally armed. No thanks.<BR/><BR/>Finally, I rationalize. My driving impact is light as I typically carpool and drive a del sol. Plus, I'm vegetarian and give lots of money away every year. So there.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18676999.post-33810515792379510862008-02-26T09:49:00.000-08:002008-02-26T09:49:00.000-08:00Safety. Too many blind curves on a very narrow ro...Safety. Too many blind curves on a very narrow road in my rural environment. If I want to ride I have to take my bicycle to the greeenbelt path.<BR/><BR/>I used to commute eight miles each way when I lived in a different location.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18676999.post-5262249820544694502008-02-26T07:17:00.000-08:002008-02-26T07:17:00.000-08:00No good excuses, but these are the ones I use...- ...No good excuses, but these are the ones I use...<BR/><BR/>- I like to sleep. With a hour commute each way that means waking up around an hour or two earlier.<BR/><BR/>- I work in a suit and tie, so it is either bathroom showers or finding a new job.Wreckhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14013894461149027873noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18676999.post-41918151204095646922008-02-26T04:30:00.000-08:002008-02-26T04:30:00.000-08:00I am a Field Service guy which means I could be an...I am a Field Service guy which means I could be anywhere that day. I also have to cart around a fair amount of tools, test equipment, parts. Top this off with the area I service is Hospitals and Health Care centers and some of them need their equipment fixed right away. <BR/><BR/>Otherwise I would. Ugh, I do miss the bike commute.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18676999.post-50083984916159452042008-02-25T22:28:00.000-08:002008-02-25T22:28:00.000-08:00It's cold and wet, and I have to look reasonably n...It's cold and wet, and I have to look reasonably nice for work. I have too many things to do and too many things to carry to do them. It's too far, on scary roads. I lack health insurance -- I'm covered by car insurance but have no backup if I get hurt on a bike.<BR/><BR/>I miss biking. I don't miss it enough to make my life more complicated than it is in order to feel virtuous than I am.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18676999.post-24854994604413735132008-02-25T19:52:00.000-08:002008-02-25T19:52:00.000-08:00This comment has been removed by the author.velobenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06323777941712170231noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18676999.post-73911617795458900752008-02-25T16:21:00.000-08:002008-02-25T16:21:00.000-08:00I have a 2 month old, and a 2 year old. Wife need...I have a 2 month old, and a 2 year old. Wife needs me at home as much as possible before and after work. My commute is 15 miles, takes about 55 minutes on my road bike.<BR/><BR/>I tend to do aggressive lunch rides, and before work rides early in the morning, 5:45AM or so to get in 3 hours of riding, starting and ending at my workplace.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18676999.post-12855789532194766402008-02-25T14:32:00.000-08:002008-02-25T14:32:00.000-08:00We've had 80 inches of snow here in South-central ...We've had 80 inches of snow here in South-central Wisconsin this winter and the roads are icy and narrow as a result. My 8-mile commute is a pleasant though vigorous (hills and usually windy) ride 6 months of the year, but this time of year only someone younger and crazier than me would ride it.<BR/><BR/>Dan S.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com