Email from temp. car-bound

[crazycanuck]

Nice thought but...what does one do if it's 41C outside w very little shade & no wind I plan on biking as much as possible to my new job but since i finish yet again in the middle of the day, i feel it's a wee bit crazy to be riding in that type of heat...

I also would love to be car free but we're mtn bikers & have to drive a good distance to the hills to ride..It's unfair to paint all drivers as bad people. Just because you don't require a car doesn't mean other cyclists might...

[lph]

No-one is saying drivers are bad people? I'm certainly not. Just pointing out some of the incongruities. I probably spelled that wrong. I get told every other day how stressful/dangerous/tiring it must be to bike to work/shopping/around town and how simple it is to use a car instead, while my experience is the exact opposite. Which goes to show how much of it is habit.

[ginny]

we're not bashing drivers. I still have a car. We are merely saying how much more pleasant it is to ride. When I find myself car-bound, I get grumpy. I used to live 37 miles from town and had to commute by car - bummer, but i did it. I just brought my bike with me

BTW, I agree, 41C is WAY too hot to ride through... do your brains turn to scrambled eggs in that heat??

[shootingstar]

CC, methinks the blame is on lack of adequate public transit/rail facilities for more sprawly areas, not on the drivers who may need to drive for certain situations.

I think the original email statement was more a reflection on how difficult it is for many people to leave the comfort of a car or break the routine of being in a car for alot of shorter trips/in good weather ..for even a 2-5 block route to get somewhere.

When I am in a car, which amounts to less than 5-10 different trips annually, I never take it for granted. It feels luxurious and special. And this feeling, should remain so. It IS luxurious and expensive.

By now, I probably sound like I've been living the rainforest jungle, isolated from reality. Or in the Gobi desert with camels.

[blackhillsbiker]

I've gotten so out of the habit of driving. DH works 2 blocks from me. When I am unable to ride my bike, I catch a ride with him. I didn't realize how stressful driving is (for me) until I hadn't done it in a long while. My commute has become downright pleasant. Even on days when I don't want to go to work, I enjoy the getting there. And I don't have to worry about leaving before or after the worst of the traffic. I'm glad we're fortunate enough to have the car. I'm especially glad I'm fortunate enough to have the bikes.

Deb

[bikerHen]

I've gotten so out of the habit of driving. DH works 2 blocks from me. When I am unable to ride my bike, I catch a ride with him. I didn't realize how stressful driving is (for me) until I hadn't done it in a long while. My commute has become downright pleasant. Even on days when I don't want to go to work, I enjoy the getting there. And I don't have to worry about leaving before or after the worst of the traffic. I'm glad we're fortunate enough to have the car. I'm especially glad I'm fortunate enough to have the bikes.

Deb

DH and I also commute on the days I can't ride. My problem with infrequent driving is speed. I feel like I'm really moving at 40-45 mph. My daughter is forever tell me to speed up and stop driving like an old lady. bikerHen

[Melalvai]

DH and I also commute on the days I can't ride. My problem with infrequent driving is speed. I feel like I'm really moving at 40-45 mph. My daughter is forever tell me to speed up and stop driving like an old lady.

Ha ha, my husband tries to beat me to the driver's seat, because it annoys him how slowly I drive. I'm ok on the highway, but on the in town roads I normally bike, I feel really uncomfortable going so "fast"!