Co-Workers, Geez.

[Jolt]

That is pretty ridiculous--heck, 2 miles can still be considered reasonable WALKING distance depending on the area. I walk one mile to work unless it's a late shift or the weather is really abysmal (which doesn't include cold--more like pouring rain or the sidewalks are a skating rink) and sometimes people act like that's a little crazy. And I'm in healthcare too--working on a cardiac floor no less!

[Di bear]

I live in a remote area with a bunch of little odd towns. It's heaven! Our little peninsula borders Lake Superior. There is a HUGE cycling population here. Many of us have lived and worked in other areas, areas where driving 30 minutes each way to work was the norm. Now, work is usually 10 or 15 minutes away.

A friend of mine and his wife moved to the town north of mine last year. We picked on him for moving so far away. lol...he lives probably 20 minutes from the "city".

Ok, keeping in mind what I just said, a 30 mile ride for many of us is moderate. Yet, a 30 miles drive is far. We are strange folk.

I started commuting by bike, today. So, with the wind, it felt like 9 this morning. It felt much nicer coming home this evening. I got 22 miles in. I'm doing it again tomorrow.

[cyclinnewbie]

HI there...new joiner here. And I am actually considering a 13 mile one-way commute to work. Am I crazy? My husband commutes 12 miles one-way, and loves it, although he only does it during the spring and summer...washington winters are WAY too cold and rainy to commute that far! I figure I get my cardio done, so won't have to stop by the gym so often; it's a no-lose situation! Or a big lose situation for my thighs...however you want to look at it!

[shootingstar]

I'm not sure how to read my current workplace.

It is 80% male workforce where I am. (construction engineering firm) I am 1 of 2 female managers among 10 other managers.

I have to park my bike halfway during my bike commute...so I have to walk part way to my worksite. So my cycling attire...plus by now, some folks do know I genuinely bike...the guys who do initiate any chat on sport with me..do backcountry hiking/skiing, rockclimbing, snowboarding and a few jog. But not all. But these guys I speak with are alright...they are appropriately "impressed" with my cycling. 30 kms. sounds real long to them...

When i sent an organizational-wide email to all employees (160 at that time) last year with me offering free local bike route maps, I got 10 employees interested. Which surprised me.

There are approx. 2-3 employees who cycle directly to our worksite..not exactly a joyous, safe place... thick with multiple backhoe machines, crawling cranelift machines, transport trucks galore and roads under reconstruction/realignment...potholes, etc. I mean, an employee did get accidentally hit by one of the machine drivers...just 400 ft. away from my office window. Most employees drive to work. I am the very rare employee that walks from bus stop to construction site. In a cycling outfit. Damned wierd site!

Other workplaces there have been the minority group of cycle-commuters that I was part of. We shared caged bike lockers, etc. Another workplace had a fantastic workplace fitness and health program in place....which some employees lost weight ...and some returned to cycling regularily several times / wk.!

[Crankin]

When I first started commuting, about 3 years ago, most of my co workers thought I was nuts. Not so many think so now (the teaching staff is now around the age of my kids), though only one other person rides in once in awhile (and he is older than me). It's the kids who think I am nuts. They could picture it when I lived 6 miles away, but not now, when it's almost 15. There is a new bike path in their town, so they can visualize what 5 miles is. Most of them say, "it's really far!"

[susiej]

A few co-workers live within a few miles in West Philly, and bike. Another lives just outside the city, and it is faster for him to bike than take the trolley and subway, but not drive. Everyone else in the office takes public transportation because parking passes are hard to get. They view my biking to the train then walking the mile from the station as perfectly normal, as most of them do the same thing.

[Andrea]

I can't believe how many people freaked out that I walked 10 miles home then rode 20 miles back one day after work because I'd locked my keys in my car.

I'd love to commute, but even on the safer route, the rush hour traffic is dangerous and verges on violent towards cyclists. I had one guy take the time to u-turn after he passed me and make a 2nd U turn to get behind me just so he could drive up behind me & start honking his horn and yelling. I've also had a couple of instances where people swerve towards me as they pass me. Riding in the city of Memphis (rather than the suburbs that I normally stick to) is a virtual war zone. I'll be very happy once they get the rails-to-trails project started here, because it will be like a bike-highway for me to get to work!

[IFjane]

I plan to commute in just a couple weeks - I only have one bike, and I do not have night-riding gear and can't afford it at this time (spent too much on our bikes already this year!), so I will commute when it is light enough for me to take off at 6:30 a.m.

My commute will be 20 miles one way - almost all on back, country roads, with just a little on Rt. 15 (you C&O Canal ladies will know what I am talking about - same Rt. 15 that goes through Leesburg, VA). I can't wait to start! Regarding my co-workers - EVERYONE will think I'm nuts. My director, the Health Manager, and I discussed our staff not long ago - about 70% would be considered overweight, with a full 40% considered obese. Sad, very sad.

[tulip]

HI there...new joiner here. And I am actually considering a 13 mile one-way commute to work. Am I crazy? My husband commutes 12 miles one-way, and loves it, although he only does it during the spring and summer...washington winters are WAY too cold and rainy to commute that far! I figure I get my cardio done, so won't have to stop by the gym so often; it's a no-lose situation! Or a big lose situation for my thighs...however you want to look at it!

13 miles is definitely doable. Keep in mind that the best bike routes probably are not the same route that you drive. Go explore! Your hubby will likely have lots of experience and good advice to share. It's the ultimate multi-task: work out and get to work at the same time.

[tulip]

I plan to commute in just a couple weeks - I only have one bike, and I do not have night-riding gear and can't afford it at this time (spent too much on our bikes already this year!), so I will commute when it is light enough for me to take off at 6:30 a.m.

I hope you can bring your bike in and keep it safe and close by! With such a nice bike for a commuter, you definitely don't want to risk it getting stolen or rained on.

Congrats on the commute! Lovely roads out your way.

PS, I forgot to tell you that I rode Skyline drive last year from Front Royal to Big Meadow and back. Awesome!

[Deborajen]

After I made my first 4-mile commute to work, a coworker's response was "Four miles?? You athlete, you!" Four mile bike ride? Athlete?

But I can also remember - once upon a time, a long time ago (well, kind of - ) - I was a couch potato, no bike, and the thought of riding a mile was intimidating.

They don't know what they're missing.

Deb

[Meg McKilty]

My first ride ever, "The Llama Farm Route", was about 17 miles round trip. I was so excited, and couldn't believe I did that many miles, but wasn't surprised either.

Many people think of you doing 10 miles walking or running and see it as a big deal. When you're on two wheels, it can be much quicker!

[SouthernBelle]

Ah, the Llama Farm Route. Still one of my favorites.

[Tri Girl]

That's funny. Coworkers used to be amazed when I used to work 2.5 miles from home (sadly, I wasn't as into biking then as I am now that I live 25 miles from work). Now I've commuted the 25 mile route to work and back a few times. They really think I'm nuts- and make silly/snide comments some days. I don't mind- I hope it motivates some of them to bike or walk to work some day. My students think it's cool- and they are the ones that I hope to inspire, as my coworkers are a "lost cause" (three of my teaching partners in my hallway live less than a half mile from school and drive everyday).

Keep on riding- maybe someone will be inspired enough to give their commute a try.

On a side note, I've been much "greener" lately about my lifestyle. We walk or bike to the movie rental box, and I've ridden my bike to the grocery store and library a couple times. I even built a trailer to haul things on and I'm hoping to try big grocery shopping and errands soon with it. When I looked at my "two mile radius" it really IS amazing how many things are in that circle (too bad work is so far away ).

[invsblwmn]

Half of America would drive their cars back and forth between their couch and their refrigerator if they had the parking spaces available for it.

That made me laugh out loud. I used to commute 9 miles each way to my work, also a hospital, and I am the ONLY one that was known to ride in. I got hit in September while on the job by a dude than ran a red light, and now people say, "You've learned your lesson?" Like it was a crime to ride, to do right by the environment, my health, and my wallet. I cannot wait until I am well enough to ride in again.
Beside all that, last year I only filled my 4 runner's tank once every 2-3 months. And filling it twice a month at $50 a pop is painful. UGH!!