It's Official: I'm a Bike Commuter

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03-17-2006, 11:31 AM
CorsairMac

It's Official: I'm a Bike Commuter

Well - it's official. I just got my new truck and they worked out a special deal for me (I lease) that is based on 10,500 miles a year (not standard on a truck lease) and my insurance company just listed my vehicle as a secondary vehicle not used for work with an 8,000 mile annual limit. I got a great lease deal on the truck and my insurance rates are now lower on my brand new vehicle than they were on my 3 yr old one. The mileage on the vehicle I just turned in was 21,092 after 3 yrs but I'm still sweating bullets that I'm gonna mess up on the mileage!
Talk about incentive to ride my bike now! LOL :D
03-17-2006, 12:29 PM
Trekhawk

Quote:

Originally Posted by CorsairMac

Well - it's official. I just got my new truck and they worked out a special deal for me (I lease) that is based on 10,500 miles a year (not standard on a truck lease) and my insurance company just listed my vehicle as a secondary vehicle not used for work with an 8,000 mile annual limit. I got a great lease deal on the truck and my insurance rates are now lower on my brand new vehicle than they were on my 3 yr old one. The mileage on the vehicle I just turned in was 21,092 after 3 yrs but I'm still sweating bullets that I'm gonna mess up on the mileage!
Talk about incentive to ride my bike now! LOL :D

Wow Corsair thats fantastic. Yep you really are a hardcore bike commuter.
Im pretty sure the environment is smiling at you as well.:)

Well Done
03-17-2006, 12:48 PM
Veronica

It took Thom much time to convince our insurance company that I almost never drive to work. Our society seems to think cars are the only mode of transportation. :rolleyes:

V.
03-17-2006, 01:51 PM
Geonz

You're my role model... you've convinced me to try it, too - the insurance thing, not the commuting 'cause I do that (though I just paid up last month... but I suppose I should start the campaign *now* for changing it - I have put 260 miles on the car, 960 on the bike so far in 2006).
You rock!!!
03-17-2006, 02:24 PM
Lise

I love it! Good for you. L.
03-17-2006, 02:35 PM
Dianyla

Quote:

Originally Posted by Veronica

It took Thom much time to convince our insurance company that I almost never drive to work. Our society seems to think cars are the only mode of transportation. :rolleyes:

Awesome! You could have just rolled up a pantleg and shown them your calves to convince them, right? :p
03-17-2006, 02:38 PM
bikerchick68

that is soooo cool! I hope to start commuting once or twice a week next week again... time change is a comin! Comeon Spring!!!! :D
03-17-2006, 03:07 PM
MomOnBike

Good for you. When younger daughter goes off to college, I think we'll try something similar with our insurance. DH bikes to work, I work at home or walk to my paycheck job so surely we could save on insurance too, right?

I'm liking this...
03-17-2006, 03:17 PM
Deanna

Quote:

Originally Posted by MomOnBike

Good for you. When younger daughter goes off to college, I think we'll try something similar with our insurance. DH bikes to work, I work at home or walk to my paycheck job so surely we could save on insurance too, right?

I'm liking this...

I think you have to ask for "low mileage" discounts and make sure you have lots of maintenance records. My husband and I managed to get the discounts, but we had to supply copies of receipts that indicate mileage and they had to be spaced so many months apart. It was a bit of a hassle but worth it to be able to say "I told you so" to the insurance agents who refused to believe we don't drive everywhere.
03-17-2006, 07:05 PM
sydney_b

We have one car on low mileage rates

The car my hubby uses to drive to his parking lot where he catches the company bus for commuting the hour to work is on the low mileage rate. The other car is not as we use it for getting the family around to various functions and trips. Our insurance agent asked a few questions and took an odometer reading, but that was all. I guess we also are to save the maintenence records, but that's no big deal. You do have to ask them for it and be persistent b/c they won't believe you drive that little. But it's out there.

/s
03-18-2006, 09:06 AM
Quillfred

CorsairMac

You rule!!!!!!! Thanks for encouraging my bike commuting too. I love it. Now if I could convince my workplace to give financial incentives too.....
03-18-2006, 04:08 PM
nuthatch

That's great, Corsair! I'd try for it too if I didn't have to drive the kids around so much (they're too big to fit in a trailer :p ). Maybe in a few years when they fly the coop!
03-18-2006, 07:47 PM
Running Mommy

And if my memory serves me often this commute includes one HECK of a climb- into headwinds??? right??
All I can say is YOU ROCK!!!! :D
Of course I don't work, so my commute is down the hall to the kitchen to do the dishes! ha ha! Easily handled on foot! Though I do have two hoursebroken bikes who are just waiting for me to ride them if I'm so inclined... ha ha ha:D :D
03-25-2006, 02:06 PM
tulip

Congratulations on becoming a bike commuter. I've been commuting for over three years, and I really cannot fathom work without my bike ride! Driving makes me angry and the Metro can be slow AND very crowded.

My husband and I have avoided buying a second car because I commute by bike. In fact, we are able to hold on to our old car longer because we don't drive it much (it's a '92 Accord with 170k miles. It ain't pretty, but my bike sure are!) The hubby is a musician and needs a car to get to performances and rehearsals. I use the car for work maybe once a month.

My commute is 14 miles each way and actually takes me about the same time as driving, given traffic and searching for a parking spot (not to mention having to move my car every 2 hours or risk $$ tickets!). I'm healthier, happier, and more productive at work because I have more energy all day long! I also save a ton of $ and time by not having to belong to a gym. I still take pilates classes once per week and practice at home, however.

Good move!
03-26-2006, 03:41 PM
molly_DC

commuting

Congratulations on your car deal!

Any tips on bike commuting? I biked my route this morning and tomorrow will be my first day commuting. I can no longer take the Metro DC traffic, which is funny because I have only lived here for a little less than a year! It is only 15 miles (30 round trip) so I just decided to dive in...
03-27-2006, 11:34 AM
CorsairMac

We've got a thread around here somewhere about bike commuting but basically I leave a pair of jeans, a bra and tennies at work and carry a shirt, undies and socks in a backpack with my lunchbag. Winter is tougher because I wear so many more layers in the mornings that I have to carry home at night but I have a rack on one bike that I can use to carry the extra stuff back home in. I also have WetOnes at work that I can use to freshen up when I get here or when I take a lunch ride. Plus a hairbrush and deodorant. On the very rare days I drive - I get almost cranky, I really miss that morning commute!

So - how did your commute go today??

and yes RM - my evening commute home is uphill the whole 6 bloody miles! Some days in some pretty nasty headwinds! (some days in some pretty awesome tailwinds! ;) )

and thanks Tulip but I've been a bike commuter for almost 2 yrs now - I just couldn't get my insurance company to see me as one - until my lease ran out and I traded in my truck.

My agent told me the insurance company would call me every year to check the odo readings on the truck to confirm I wasn't using it for work - now whether they really Do call me or not is to be seen. I just have to be sure it stays under 8,000 miles - which doesn't seem to be a problem anymore. :D
03-27-2006, 12:07 PM
nuthatch

Quote:

Originally Posted by CorsairMac

On the very rare days I drive - I get almost cranky, I really miss that morning commute!

And today is a cranky day for me! Rain and tired legs kept me on the trainer this morning instead of riding in to work. Really it's the evening commute I miss the most - it just makes me feel frisky instead of sluggardly in the evening. Of course, I don't have a six mile mountain to ride up! :p
03-27-2006, 03:36 PM
Blueberry

And...

Quote:

Originally Posted by molly_DC

Congratulations on your car deal!

Any tips on bike commuting? I biked my route this morning and tomorrow will be my first day commuting. I can no longer take the Metro DC traffic, which is funny because I have only lived here for a little less than a year! It is only 15 miles (30 round trip) so I just decided to dive in...

How did it go??? Inquiring minds want to know...:)

I can't imagine biking in the DC traffic:eek: :eek: You are braver than I am:o

Carrie Anne
03-27-2006, 04:54 PM
snowtulip

Corsair, you're a commuting maniac (I mean it in a good way)! I might have to post a picture of you on my door in the morning, so as I'm walking out I'll be reminded that you're commuting while I'm being lazy in my car!:p
03-28-2006, 05:50 AM
tulip

Quote:

Originally Posted by molly_DC

Congratulations on your car deal!

Any tips on bike commuting? I biked my route this morning and tomorrow will be my first day commuting. I can no longer take the Metro DC traffic, which is funny because I have only lived here for a little less than a year! It is only 15 miles (30 round trip) so I just decided to dive in...

Where are you commuting from and to? The beautiful thing about commuting by bike is that you do not have to take the same roads as when you drive. I've learned my way all around DC by trying out different routes.

Let us know how it went. It might take some tweaking, but I bet you'll be an old pro in no time.
03-29-2006, 07:08 AM
molly_DC

Commuting by Bike

Well it went great. I definitely need to reduce the amount of stuff I carry with me. My bag weighed a ton! I took the Mt. Vernon Trail in Alexandria to the Four Mile Run to the W&OD. I live in Alexandria and work in Viennia. It is 15 miles one way, so 30 miles was a bit of a challenge because I have not biked since July 2005. I had a wreck last July and broke my elbow. But more than the broken bone, it took me a while to get the confidence back up. The network of bike paths in this area are very impressive.
03-29-2006, 07:49 AM
nuthatch

Holy cow, you have paths and trails the whole way?!? That's great!
03-29-2006, 08:37 AM
molly_DC

Metro DC Bike Paths

While the trails are impressive, they do include some road riding. I did have a rather close call with a painting van. The metro DC area has a network of rail-to-trail paths, which are pretty nice. But once on the street, it can be a bit of white-knuckle experience, don't get me wrong.
03-29-2006, 10:42 AM
CorsairMac

yeahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh Molly!!! welcome to the wonderful world of bike commuting!! the streets can be a little hairy at first, I ride to work every morning down a very busy street with a bike lane but that doesn't mean they know I'm there. Just keep on eye on the cars front tire when you come to an intersection - it'll always tell you what the cars gonna do even if the driver can't. and like everything else - it will get better, no less cautious but less white knuckle! I had to smile at your pack being overpacked - I started out the same way until I learned what I could pare down, what I could fit in rack packs and what I could carry. Now my biggest fear is I'll forget something (like the other day when I forgot to pack lighter weight socks for work lol) and have to figure out how to make do with my bikie stuff! lol

and tnx Snow - but there are days as I walk my bike out past my truck that I think "why the heck am I even Doing this?? I have a Perfectly good vehicle sitting right here, nice, warm, enclosed, more than willing to drive me there"! I haven't given in to that - yet but some of those winter mornings I had to wonder whos bright idea THIS was?? lol