yea, what they said.

If it makes you feel better, my list of potential obstacles was twice as long...

Bringing your bike to the office might be the best bet, then you have the option of using it for lunch errands (rides!) too, assuming that there is a place to park it at your office.

A washcloth is fine to clean up, and I don't need padded shorts for < 10 miles personally, but you will not be the most oddly dressed person on the bus, regardless. Even if you do tend to sweat a lot when riding, it won't make you stink. If you want, take a small hair dryer and some scented lotion or similar.

Our public transit program here has a 'guaranteed ride home' program in case of emergencies, etc., but honestly most co-workers that know I ride my bike tell me that if I ever need a ride anywhere just ask. And when it rains the offers pour!

As for the time it takes...think of bus time as time you can spend reading or writing or working or any number of things. I meet a lot of cool people when I take the bus too.

Getting the logistics sorted out so that it works for you will take a little bit of time and effort, but I'd bet that you will find that there are so many more benefits than obstacles in the long run.

Here are some things I like:

1) I don't leave the house late. I have a bus to catch, so while leaving 5 mins late in my car meant I'd get to the office 5 mins late, not so with the bus. As such, I am more organized and on time in the morning. I usually have 5 to spare.

2) I get to work and am awake. I don't need an hour before I can respond to people with more than a grunt, and it takes an extraordinarily boring meeting before I will doze off.

3) people see my helmet and bike, and they ask me about them. I work with so many cyclists, & meet so many cyclists on the bus. Even non-cyclists are curious and want to ask about your bike, your route, etc.

4) Work doesn't start until I am at the office, it ends when I leave the office. The commute home is my time, I'm riding, or reading, or whatever, whereas commuting by car was just a stressful, boxed-in extension of the workday that didn't end until I walked in my front door.

I could go on and on and on...

You'll love commuting by bike and transit. It is really not difficult, just different than what you are used to.



Anne