Commuting - gas savings vs. startup costs

[danadear]

It sounds like your schedule is your biggest barrier. Maybe you can ask around with some of the other moms and possibly take turns picking up and dropping off? Good luck!

[PscyclePath]

Geo:

Commuting is not about style... you don't need the latest fashion, the fanciest bike, or to keep up with the roadies across town. What it's about is function and practicality, that is, what works for you.

Sounds like you've got the bike end of the deal squared away... you just need clothing that is comfortable and practical for you to ride in, and maybe a different set of work clothes stashed in the panniers.

The primary problem is the pre- and post-school sports schedule with the girls... Are they old enough to ride with you, or maybe ride on their own? (what's sauce for the goose can work for the goslings as well )

I've been doing the commute thing 3 to 5 times per week since the end of April, where I drive my Dodge Ram pickup to a commuter lot on the south side of town, lock it there, then unload the bike and ride across town to my office on the north side of town. It cuts my driving each way from 25 miles to less than 12, plus it keeps me off the freeways and out of most congestion. The bike part is 9 miles each way. And, at the day's end, I still have my truck if I need to run an errand or two before heading back out to where I live way out in the sticks. I don't have to deal with the sports thing though... other than dodging a bazillion other soccer moms dropping off their kids, since the commute route runs past a magnet school in the morning rush, and the local soccer/sports complex on the way home in the evening...

If you can resolve the sports deal, you've probably got this licked...

Tom

[tulip]

It sounds like your schedule is your biggest barrier. Maybe you can ask around with some of the other moms and possibly take turns picking up and dropping off? Good luck!

+1. Cycling, and commuting by bike, should be fun. If your schedule doesn't allow for you to commute by bike reasonably easily, you probably won't stick with it.

If you can change your schedule by doing some carpooling or a similar situation, it might work. Carpooling by itself with save gas.