How Was Your Commute Today?

[redrhodie]

I commuted yesterday. The forecast was for snow starting after 4 pm with light flurries to start. Plenty of time for me to get back to the park and ride, where I keep my car, if I went in a little early. Well, imagine my surprise when at 11 am there were already a couple of inches, and it was falling hard. I was thinking it would lighten up, and I'd still be able to ride, assuming the main roads were probably clear. I called my lbs for a pep talk, figuring they'd tell me it's cool, mellow out, you'll be fine. Instead, what I heard was concern about the plows, and nothing he said made me feel better, telling me the roads already looked bad. For the next few hours, I waffled about whether I would ride or take the car ride my friend was insisting on giving me. Finally, at 3:30, I decided to wimp out.

I realized I made the right decision after we were stuck in a several mile long traffic jam, on unplowed main roads, in heavily falling, slippery, heavy snow. I was glad to not be on my bike in that.

[kmehrzad]

I commuted yesterday. The forecast was for snow starting after 4 pm with light flurries to start. Plenty of time for me to get back to the park and ride, where I keep my car, if I went in a little early. Well, imagine my surprise when at 11 am there were already a couple of inches, and it was falling hard. I was thinking it would lighten up, and I'd still be able to ride, assuming the main roads were probably clear. I called my lbs for a pep talk, figuring they'd tell me it's cool, mellow out, you'll be fine. Instead, what I heard was concern about the plows, and nothing he said made me feel better, telling me the roads already looked bad. For the next few hours, I waffled about whether I would ride or take the car ride my friend was insisting on giving me. Finally, at 3:30, I decided to wimp out.

I realized I made the right decision after we were stuck in a several mile long traffic jam, on unplowed main roads, in heavily falling, slippery, heavy snow. I was glad to not be on my bike in that.

Wise choice you made. The DC area was in total gridlock yesterday. There were so many horror stories about traffic and the length of people's commutes - amazing. Car Mageddon for sure.

[laura*]

I was riding to the grocery store and waiting to make a left from a side street onto the main street. Right-of-way giver-uppers stopped in both directions even though there was a lot of traffic behind them. And then one of them honked at me!

The car on the far side was even indicating a left turn, seemingly for the side street where I was. This made it even more dangerous. Just who was giving up their right of way to whom?

[Tri Girl]

if I walked to work yesterday?
I can't ride- the streets are barely passable for cars. I don't want to drive on it- it simply terrifies me to my core. The only other option is walking. So that's what I did. Put on my yak trax, got my hiking poles out, bundled up and walked the 3 miles to work.

cheater alert: I did, however, snag a ride home because it was snowing pretty good when I left work and after an 11 hour day I was exhausted!

[azfiddle]

I am a wimp and won't even consider commuting (and then only about once a week) unless my morning start temps are 40 or above (and not too windy). But my DH has decided to go for the "perfect commute year" and so far is doing it. He has all kinds of wool sweaters, and gloves but rides in mountain bike shorts w/o any other leg coverings. No snow, but Tucson got hit with record-breaking cold temps this week (In the teens plus wind chill on Thurs and Friday). He was determined to ride. It was like pulling teeth to get him to wear sweat pants over his shorts on Weds at 30 degrees, and one more extra layer for the real cold on Thurs and Friday... He said he wasn't cold. (But I don't know if he would admit it if he was...

[Melalvai]

Tri Girl, I count it as a commute if it's active transportation. Walk, bike, scooter, roller blade, skateboard, wheelchair, however you move!

I've been walking the past few days, and the roads seemed mostly clear yesterday, so today I biked. No problem. It was unbelievably warm, by comparison--almost up to freezing temperature!

[redrhodie]

I also think that commute counts, Tri Girl.

The roads are still narrow because of snow banks, but I had plenty of room, even some shoulder most of the way. No one had any difficulty passing me, but a couple of kids in a car did slow down next to me on a road that was otherwise empty right then, and the boy said something out the window (which, as you know, you can never hear since sound doesn't carry that way). I kept my eyes on the road, ignoring him. No idea what he said, but he looked like a jerk. I felt sorry for the girl passenger, and wanted to tell her she could do better. They then slowed in front of me, probably wanting a reaction, which they didn't get. Ignoring them worked, and they sped off.

Evening commute was fun. It was twilight, and I used my new Bell Arella helmet with the attached Blackburn Flea lights. I seemed to get plenty of room by cars, so I think the tail light was effective, and I only used one (it has 3). It wasn't quite dark enough for the front light until I got home, but it lit up the driveway really well. It will definitely be enough light for my commute.