You know you're officially a bike commuter when...

[Deborajen]

- you have a bad experience in the car and think "that does it - I'm taking the bike to work!

I get to use a good stretch of bike path on the commute. Granted it's after a few blocks of city traffic, but the city traffic is more time-consuming than scary. The drive, though - twice in less than a month, at the same intersection, I've had near misses by cars nearly blowing their red light - their car heading towards my driver's door, tires screeching, and the driver yapping on a **** cell phone. I hate cell phone drivers!

OK, so the bike isn't really safer - it's strange to actually feel like it is. The route sure is nicer. Too bad I can't drive that route when I have to drive.

Deb

[Adrienne]

- when you're away from your desk, your co-workers look for your helmet to see if you're working today
(Our hours, though full-time, are irregular.)

- you have a working clothesline discreetly tucked away out of sight under your desk

- you are on "wave-and-smile" terms with all the school crossing guards on your route!

[Jenerator]

- when driving you call out to other drivers:

On your left

Hold your line

[onimity]

...you walk past your car to find that yellowjackets have nested in the door!

[susiej]

... you almost turn to drive the car across the yard and park it by the shed where the bikes live.

(OK, check rearview mirror, back up carefully, turn into driveway, GET OUT OF THE DANG CAR.)

[CorsairMac]

.........you pick your outfit based on what's easiest to pack....even on the days you Aren't riding!

[RoseC]

I'm not even sure how to phrase this as a ...you... kind of thing, but it amuses me, nonetheless.

My dog mostly hangs out in the yard when I'm not at home, and has taken to sleeping under my van since it's always there. He has other nice shady places, and a dog house, but he likes that spot - I think because it's over nice cool gravel.

The other day I had to take the car, and when I got home, I pulled in and parked. He greeted me enthusiastically like he always does, and then went to duck under the car. He got just his nose under before coming back up looking baffled. "Where's my nice cool spot, Mom? Why is it *warm* under there??"

Silly pup!

[Voodoo Sally]

...you walk past your car to find that yellowjackets have nested in the door!

Love it.

You need to wash your car every time you take it out, because it is so long between uses, that dust & debris pile up on it. Poor car.

[7rider]

- when driving you call out to other drivers:

On your left

Hold your line

Ha. Not so much to commuting, but to group riding....
My DH and I find our in-car conversations sounding like this:

"Car right."
"Green up."

[MomOnBike]

When you discover that the bikes are in the garage and the car is parked outside - and hasn't moved in weeks!

I'm still not certain how the bikes moved into the garage, but I'm NOT complaining.

[light_sabe_r]

- You have to catch the bus in sub cyclonic conditions and realise you wouldn't have gotten as wet if you had've packed your rain gear...

- You own underwear that was bought from Woolies accross the street from your office. Just because of those days where you just "forgot" to pack your own

- You get real annoyed when people book a taxi to go to a meeting across the river, but you know each bridge and bike path and try and convince them to let you ride there instead! And you get there quicker than they did

[lph]

- - You own underwear that was bought from Woolies accross the street from your office. Just because of those days where you just "forgot" to pack your own

Hah!

My best girlfriend colleague used to tease me about this all the time, about how I bought "all my lingerie" from Rimi across the street from the office (Rimi being the absolutely cheapest supermarket chain in the country).

I just find it brilliant that a food store is so understanding as to stock underwear as well, so I don't have to spend the work day in sweaty bike shorts

[coyote]

You avoid lines and cracks large enough to eat your front wheel......except that your walking.

Did that this morning

[bikinNkc]

You realize you work in too trendy of an area because the only place to get undies is Vicky's.

(First commute ever and forgot to pack them)

[Tri Girl]

This whole thread has cracked me up!!!! Thank you for starting it. I've done nothing but laugh for the last 10 minutes.

I'm starting to do a hybrid commute to work (park 9 miles from home and ride the last 16 to work). 25 is just too far two times when it's this dark outside. Now, when the days get longer, I may consider the whole distance- but even then it's a long way (and 4 hours of riding a day is just a bit much for even me)...

You avoid lines and cracks large enough to eat your front wheel......except that your walking.

Did that this morning

I did that in the car yesterday when I had to drive in. Saw a huge groove in the road and moved over (I think the car tires are wide enough to not get sucked in, duh! ). Had my first crash last month when my tire got caught in a big road groove. Now I see EVERY one I pass (in vehicle or not).