Discuss: The Commute

Beautiful - I have begun commuting this year. The vibe you described is what I am experiencing out there as well. Thank You for sharing.

namaste’

As a college student in Peterborough, Ontario, Canada I would cycle on my little red racer to/from campus from the apartment I shared with a Kenyan, a Colombian and Burundian. I had bought the bike with some money earnied planting trees near Thunder Bay in northern Ontario. I loved the route along the river, the warmth and freshness of the spring and summer days, and marvelled at the changing colours on the drumlins in the fall. I admit that I couldn’t brave the winter cold and the icy/slushy streets on my bike. And then one sad day, a campus van saw it fit to run over my parked bike! I never replaced it. Now, I have a major hankering to commute the 934 metres from my home to my office in the heat, humidity and dust in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania! But the lack of guarantee of water in the office shower always makes me think twice about buying a new bike for the commute. I would hate to offend my colleagues and clients with a smelly office environment! Therefore, my chauffeur-driven, gas-guzzling, air-conditioned 4 wheel drive SUV retains a certain appeal. What environmental sins the erratic public service delivery can cause us mere mortals to commit!

I live on a very flat island south of Vancouver and started riding my youngest son in a bike trailer to his daycare 20 minutes away this fall. I’m 55 and he’s four. I’m badly out of shape and wondered if it was too much, but the beautiful fall beckoned. Now we look forward to our early morning trips together. He calls the trailer his space ship and even on a sickly cold day with the liquid sunshine of our temperate rain forest slanting onto my knuckles I like the ride. I am a life long driver and used to live for road trips, but I feel much more connected and involved on the bike. It barely snows here. Thank god!

Beautiful piece! Sounds like you have a wonderful route. Thanks for sharing your experiences.

Cycling is dangerous! What we should have is dedicated cycle paths. Also for me a rear view mirror is essential on a bicycle.

Bobby: cycling isn’t not intrinsically dangerous.  Unlicke cars, bikes operate at relatively slow speeds with a clear view of the road in all directions.  The main danger to cyclists comes from motorized vehicles running into them.

That should read “Cycling is not ...”

I am proud of you.  I also commute, amid the NASCAR crowd in South Carolina.  I don’t ride in the rain, my 77 years tell me that it’s a bad thing to do.  The cold and the heat do not bother me.

I have been buzzed a number of times, and was given the bird when i shook my head.  Flipping me the bird does not hurt, but a 3000 pound car can. 

My commute is only 10 miles each way, but the feeling of freedom is overpowering. I love it.

Besides, when I get there, I can shower and even take a swim in the schools pool.

I count myself lucky to have all this.  Beautiful country, clean air (except when passed by a school bus), and mostly careful drivers.

KEEP TWO WHEELING