I've been gleaning useful info from this and other bike-commuter discussions over the years, trying to piece together a viable plan of my own to use a bike and/or public transportation to get to work. So, now that my commute downtown has been Range Rover-free for an entire month, I thought I'd share the experience.
I have no desire to shower downtown, or wipe down with baby wipes, and then put on a suit, so I designed a route that requires only a few miles on the bike - a sweat-free distance. I ride to a bus stop, the bus picks me up and then jumps on the interstate to the Art Center Station where I transfer to a MARTA train. I get off the train at the Civic Center Station, and then ride to my office. My former fifteen minute commute now takes forty-five, but part of it is spent riding a bike, and part is spent reading a book.
I signed up for the Cash for Commuters program, which provides up to $180 over a 90 day period (recently reduced to a cap of $100) for new commuters. This, coupled with the $270 I'm saving on parking over the same period funded a folding bike, which allows me to bum rides or meet the wife for drinks after work without worrying about a bike rack for the car. It also eliminates the worry about the bike racks on the bus being full, because I can fold the bike in 30 seconds and carry it on.
I keep two suits on the back of my office door. I wear jeans (it will be shorts in the Summer) and a t-shirt for the commute, then change. My dry cleaning is done at the office, so the only clothing I ferry back and forth are dress socks and undershirts.
I enjoy having the bike at work, as it expands my options for lunch by a mile or so. For $25, I signed up for Zipcar, so that if I need to run an errand I have access to a fleet of vehicles ranging from Mini Cooper convertables to pick-up trucks, all housed nearby. I also signed up for Guaranteed Ride Home, which provides five cab rides home over the course of the year in case your schedule changes unexpectantly and you need an alternative.
This is certainly not a "pure" bike commute, but I get to feel the wind on my face at the beginning and end of every workday, and despite its 10 MPG thirst, the Rover hasn't been to a filling station since 2008.
thankz - I have also parked my cars - it's a little hard at first to get used to, but I am less stressed and I have gotten rid of my beer belly in under 3 months.
Yeah, it has those dinky wheels...and I'm 6'4", so with the handlebars and seat raised to riding height, it looks like a clown bike. It is an alloy Citizen ($260). It rides surprisingly well. The tires are plump, which makes it nice on rough urban terrain (riding off curbs, etc.). It is quite compact, so I don't feel as though I could stand up and really torque my way up a steep hill. And coming down a decent hill on Whitewater Creek is more exhilarating than flying down a 6-gap pass on a road bike. I love it, but I wouldn't recommend it for a hilly route, or more than six miles one-way on a flat route. Don't know what part of town you are in, but if you are thinking of getting a folding bike you are welcome to take mine for a test-ride.
Printable version View next topic View previous topic
You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum
Home
|
Ride Calendar
|
Shop
|
Contact Us
|
myBikeSBL
|
FAQs
FAQ
Search
Memberlist
Usergroups
Register
Profile
Log in to check your private messages
