Co-Workers, Geez.

[indigoiis]

I can understand why people might not be able to conceptualize a two mile ride and see it as a short ride, if they rarely ride or don't use their bikes often. I only started riding regularly longer than five mile distances last year; at the time, I was wicked proud of myself and considered that "a lot."

People can't conceive of the extra steps it takes to commute as far as clothing choices, carry choices, time planning, etc. And if you are a Dad or Mom of a school-aged child, particularly if you are a single parent, it limits your commuting by bicycle options considerably. That's not to say it can't be done, only that given the choice between the ease of driving on a rainy day and getting your kid to daycare on time and riding with a trailer and a briefcase and a few hills and running a little late - the car usually wins.

Commuting by bicylce takes planning and commitment and understanding of all kinds of variables - weather, traffic, road conditions, and at least a vague idea of how a bicycle works. Your co-worker is not only marveling at the 2 miles - she or he is marveling at the fact that you are willing to make that planning and that commitment. Take it as a compliment.

Should more people do it? Sure. But I don't get mad when I hear that they don't, or won't. Who am I to judge? I just try to promote it.

[Geonz]

What I found was that driving also takes planning, though perhaps not as much, but it's routine so we don't notice it. When my commuting ritual became routine, it was when I drove that I needed extra time to figure out what to do. That was a total surprise so I agree that it's hard to conceptualize! About the only thing that would help people conceptualize it might be if there were just more people doing it.