Forms of Alternative Transportation to Work? 154
puargsss asks: "For many people a bicycle is not a viable form of transportation to work due to lack of storage space. Are there any products out there suitable for transportation to a working environment (the ability to store them inside is essential), or a detachable/retractable set of wheels similar to heelys that are built for a working environment? I normally rollerblade for sport/exercise, but it is fairly unprofessional to show up in my workplace with the rather large and clunky traditional equipment. Any ideas?"
Your feet. (Score:4, Funny)
it's not a lack of storage space (Score:4, Insightful)
Cycling is quite safe (Score:5, Interesting)
It's that I'd have to ride on busy streets to get there, and I'm too young to die (or worse).
You might be surprised to find that cycling is no more dangerous than driving [bicyclinglife.com].
Follow that link. It leads to a "cycling safety perception" quiz, with some pretty surprising answers.
Re:Cycling is quite safe (Score:2)
You might be surprised to find that cycling is no more dangerous than driving.
Depends on where you're driving/riding. If it's a road that wasn't built to handle bicycles, then it's most certainly more dangerous, not to mention illegal, to ride a bike.
Re:Cycling is quite safe (Score:5, Informative)
Otherwise, it's not illegal, and it's just about as dangerous as driving a car on the same roads.
Plan your route to stay on back roads with speed limits of 35 or less (occasionally up to 45, but try to avoid these if possible). When riding on roads without dedicated bicycle lanes, you should tend to ride in the middle of the lane, to discourage cars from trying to share the lane with you. You may wish to move over and allow cars to pass when it is safe for you to do so (wide shoulder, middle turning lane, etc.). You should be able to sustain a pace of 20mph or faster, you should have high visibility lighting (not just reflectors) in the front and back of your bike, and your clothing/pack should be made from brightly colored fabric with reflective material for additional visibility.
But most of that is just common sense.
Regards,
Ross
Re:Cycling is quite safe (Score:3, Interesting)
I do believe that being able to maintain a reasonable speed is essential in order to be safe, and if you can't maintain a speed that won't frustrate car drivers, then I suggest limiting your riding to roads with dedicated bicycle lanes and clean, wide shoulders until you are fit enough to "get on the road". Not judgemental, as
Um... No, at least not here. (Score:4, Interesting)
I live in Cambridge, UK (the old university city) where cycling is a Very Big Thing. Many people use it as their main form of transportation, not least because 15,000+ university students aren't allowed to bring their cars with them when they come here to study.
Our accident statistics show that cycling is far more dangerous than driving by just about any measure you care to pick. Involvement in accidents, and the results in terms of injuries and equipment damage, are far worse at all levels for cyclists than for cars. And of course, many relatively minor accidents involving cyclists go unreported, whereas almost all accidents involving a car and causing serious damage or injury get into the records.
The quiz you linked to is a fascinating exercise in defending a position, but certainly isn't anywhere near representative of the situation in this cycling-heavy city. The questions are almost all loaded. In particular, the accident statistics for what they call an "enthusiastic cyclist" are much better than the average. They do concede that in Britain, cycling is more dangerous than driving, while apparently it's not in a few other countries. I'd be interested to see how many of those other countries use cycling as heavily as we do here in Cambridge. And I've never heard of the "Cyclists Touring Club", despite knowing people (and for several years being one of them) who cycle almost everywhere.
Perhaps we really are uniquely bad in this respect. God knows, there are plenty of local cycling enthusiasts pushing ideas to make cycling safer around these parts, and the local councils' pro-cycling measures are frequently attacked as being ineffective. But I'd like to know how many average people (not "enthusiastic" cycling club members) use a bike as their primary means of travel in the other places considered before accepting their conclusions.
Re:Cycling is quite safe (Score:4, Interesting)
Here's the thing - no matter what anyone says about how "bicycles are vehicles" when I'm in my car, driving at 60 down the road, they sure don't SEEM like vehicles. My CAR is a vehicle. It is big, and heavy and moves fast. A bike is small and slow and so light you can actually pick it up and carry it. A car offers a measure of protection, bikes just don't. In a fight between my car and your bike, my car will always win.
Honestly, when I'm driving, I try to leave as much space as possible between my car and a bike and I think a lot of people do the same. It's dangerous becuase it crowds the other lanes and forces people into quick lane changes that can be dangerous to the cars as well as to the cyclist. I've been told (and told off) about this before because "bicycles are vehicles" and "cars shouldn't have to do this", but there is always that fear that something bad is going to happen, and the cyclist may need some space. How do I know that the bike won't hit a rock/grate/curb and tip right on over? Fall into the road, and if I'm too close, guess where my right tire is...yeah, that's right...not somewhere good. So I clear away. Because let's face it...even if you've given the bike space, if the biker falls into your car it is ALWAYS the car's fault.
Look, I don't mean to be down on cycling - I really admire people who ride instead of taking cars - it's great for the environment and for health. But when I'm in my car, it also seems like a great big giant hazard.
Re:it's not a lack of storage space (Score:2)
Plenty of people ride bikes in busy areas, and are not dead, myself included.
Ride with traffic, follow the rules of the road, ride conservatively (never assume a driver can see you), have proper reflectors and wear bright colored clothes at night (a white t-shirt will do). Oh, and don't ride in the gutter. Occupy your space in the lane, so that everyone knows you're not kidding... you're IN the lane, they HAVE to move.
The good thing is that sensible drivers will go out of their wa
Re:it's not a lack of storage space (Score:2)
For one thing traffic is moving slower and drivers are generally watching for hazzards such as other drivers, pedestrians, and even bicycles.
Also in a built-up area there are often quieter streets running alongside the busy arterials that can be used for bike commuting.
The biggest trick to safe bike-riding in traffic is to be aware of your surroundings at all times. Mostly this means looking around wh
Xootr Scooter (Score:5, Interesting)
They are a little expensive starting at $150. But you will find the construction to be far superior to any razor scooter with its sturdy frame and large 7" (180mm) wheels. It cruises like nothing else. Taking very little effort to gain and maintain momentum.
I opted for the Xootr Mg [xootr.com] ($189) with a solid magnesium deck. It comes in under 10 lbs and is east to fold and carry. Fits nice under my desk at work and take up very little space in my home. Pick up the shoulder strap [xootr.com] to make transportation even easier on crowded streets or into your place of business.
Re:Xootr Scooter (Score:2)
Re:Xootr Scooter (Score:2, Insightful)
A kick scooter is great for getting to and from local public transportation, or quickly (and effortlessly) to a destination within your major metropolitan area. But hey
As a bicycle commuter... (Score:5, Insightful)
The only such situation I can imagine is where you ride so far that you need a good road bike that you can't leave locked to a parking meter. But if that's so, wheelie shoes are hardly a workable alternative.
Re:As a bicycle commuter... (Score:2)
Re:As a bicycle commuter... (Score:3, Interesting)
Many workplaces pay building fees for a security person, and also parking fees per employee. If you explain to your boss that the cost of installing a bike rack is smaller than what they're paying in parking fees for just one month, and that a bike rack could be placed either right by the security kiosk, or right under the nose of a security camera, you
Bicycles... (Score:4, Interesting)
I agree 100% with the strategy of having a clunker for use around town. It might be more fun to ride a nice mountain bike around, but the peace of mind is really worth it.
Re:Bicycles... (Score:2)
Check with your local transit agency as many have bike racks on buses nowdays. Even if they don't or you need to take a train or tram some have bike storage on board.
A bike can make a commute via public transport practical as you can ride to a transit center or area with a lot of commuter routes, throw the bike on-board, then use the
Re:As a bicycle commuter... (Score:2)
I have a fairly nice bike but it has a bean-green paint job which seems to deter theves a bit. At the very least it gets messed with much less than my old hardtail MTB with a flashy paint job did.
FWIW most bike thieves are opportunistic so even using a cheap lock to secure a wheel to the frame is enough in most places to ensure your bike is there when you get back. (note I don't reccomend this in high-crime areas, for stops of more t
Try a folding ccooter (Score:2)
On flat ground you move about two to three times the speed of walking & if it rains you can fold it up and take it in a bus or taxi.
My personal experience is pick one with relatively large wheels and stay very alert at all times, stones and broken paving that you wouldn't even notice on a bicycle will throw you off.
Sorry, that should be "Try a folding Scooter" (Score:2)
Re:Sorry, that should be "Try a folding Scooter" (Score:2, Funny)
Unprofessional? (Score:5, Insightful)
This makes about as much sense as those people who judge employees based on whether or not they're married and have kids.
Get to work however the hell you want. If your boss somehow insists that you use one method over another, the fat fucker can pay for it.
Re:Unprofessional? (Score:2)
Re:Unprofessional? (Score:2)
I must admit I'm a bit confused by the assertion that commuting in roller-blades is "unprofessional." This isn't the '60s -- it's quite common these days to see young professionals in expensive suits showing up to work using whatever wacky transportation is fashionable and freshening up once they arrive (well at least i
Re:Unprofessional? (Score:2)
Well, in a word, "yes".
Especially when you consider the following:
Try going to work in 90% of the companies in America and you'll find the same thing true.
I'm in a horrible condition. I work in Detroit at one of the Big Three automo
Re:Unprofessional? (Score:2, Interesting)
Bicycle to the gym, use their shower and locker room. Walk or bicycle the rest of the way.
I live in Seattle. Last year, I lost 5400 lbs in one day!
I traded in my car for a road bicycle, pedaled 40 lbs off of my body and I have been commuting by bicycle for almost a year. I love bicycling to work, even in the rain. My employers have locker rooms where I can shower and stow my sweaty clothes, and I save time by exercising while I commute.
BTW, when I started bicycling, I
Re:Unprofessional? (Score:2)
However, for those in the right place, bicycling to a gym near your place of work to freshen
Re:Unprofessional? (Score:2)
The point isn't to save time. It's to make yourself healthy, while not polluting the environment.
Re:Unprofessional? (Score:3, Interesting)
For a while, my bicycle + bus commute from Seattle to Redmond over the 520 bridge was only about 15 minutes slower than by car.
That said, depending on the urban planning of your area and distance between your home and work, commuting by
Re:Unprofessional? (Score:2, Interesting)
I'm a tech geek in a 40,000 employee technology company. I don't interface in meatspace with clients, so as long as I'm not showing my nuts and disrupting coworkers with my manner of dress, nobody could really care any less. I presume(d) that most of the
Re:Unprofessional? (Score:4, Interesting)
Only if they're dumb enough to live in a different city than the one they work in. Or Los Angeles (but that's kind of redundant, calling Californians stupid).
Many companies have dress codes that might make you rather sweaty in July and August if you biked to work (or any other human powered method).
Most bikes equipped for commuting have plenty of space to carry a change of clothes as well as personal effects. I commuted 15 miles by bicycle for years wearing a t-shirt and jeans or shorts. Get to work, change in the restroom.
Companies believe in an image. Even if that means aristocratic demonstrations of hierarchy.
Thus damaging their own image and alienating their talent pool.
Detroit has effectively no public transportation that anyone would consider without a large hand gun and you are expected to drive into work in a shiny new clean 6,000 lb SUV because you're supporting the company.
That's like saying folks who work at Bombardier have to drive to work in a Type II LRV, even if there aren't any light rail tracks and they aren't qualified to drive a train.
You have options. You refuse to acknowledge them. This is your own fault.
Re:Unprofessional? (Score:2)
Re:Unprofessional? (Score:2)
Nope. And I hate to break it to you, but California is a conservative state. You inflicted Reagan on your neighbors. You're trying to inflict Arnold on your neighbors. You enabled both Bush presidencies. You caused the power crisis, then blamed your neighbors. Your trash visits then forgets to go back to California (folks in Washington, Colorado and Arizona can also attest to similar Californication of their states). Fuck California a
Re:Unprofessional? (Score:2)
Arnold's approval has declined to 30-something percent.
Califonia went to Gore in 2000.
The power companies illegally exploited the poor wording of CA's power deregulation.
CA didn't have a negative net domestic immigration rate until 1990. [census.gov] Frankly I think the influx of illegal immigrants has played a large part in causing that.
When BART struck and the trains stopped, traffic on the fr
Re:Unprofessional? (Score:2)
Yes, eliminating legal safeguards and allowing critical utilities to privatize was in everybody's best interest. Catering to illegal immigrants is in everybody's best interest. Oh yeah, that's sure liberal all right, you don't put money exclusively in the pockets of the rich at the expense of the entire region, oh no...
The power companies illegally exploited the poor wording of
Re:Unprofessional? (Score:2)
About the power situation, I acknowledged that mistakes were made, but the companies were at fault also.
Funny thing about illegal immigration, the voters passed prop 209, which was very anti-illegal immigrant, but the courts struck it down. The Border Patrol is the Federal government's job. I blame them. Liberals tend to be compassionate, but even many of them realize one state can't affo
Re:Unprofessional? (Score:2)
Sigh, I must admit I liked this area a lot better before everyone went and 'discovered' it.
Still as you point out it isn't as if we can stop people from moving here. Besides I'm not sure I'd like to see the changes that might cause people to start moving elsewhere.
Re:Unprofessional? (Score:3, Insightful)
Only if they're dumb enough to live in a different city than the one they work in.
Umm it is not dumb when the cost of living 30 miles away from the city could be half of it is in the city, as well as fewer crimes and a quieter area. I would gladly travel 30 miles and back to get to work even if gas as at $5.00 a gallon. Because the price of my house that distance away is much more affordable and taxes are way cheaper. The $10 dollars a day for an average good mpg car,
Re:Unprofessional? (Score:3)
Umm it is not dumb when the cost of living 30 miles away from the city could be half of it is in the city, as well as fewer crimes and a quieter area.
That explains why one might want to live 30 miles from the city (though it is probably an exaggeration, I doubt the cost is half). Doesn't explain why one might want to live there and still work in the city.
Personally I'd be willing to do it temporarily, and I have. But as a permanent solution, it sucks.
and here is a news flash. Not all people live in
Re:Unprofessional? (Score:2)
Re:Unprofessional? (Score:2)
That said however, a staple of a business such is this is that there are times that emergencies happen, and we have to get to the client's site in a hurry.
Re:Unprofessional? (Score:2)
It's called a sponge.
Re:Unprofessional? (Score:2)
The cost of living, especially when working in a city like NYC, consists of much more than just the cost of an apartment. The train alone is going to cost hundreds of dollars a month. Now add parking fees at the train station, because you're not going to get a place within walking distance to the train station very cheaply. This is without even mentioning all the indirect costs. Adding 10 hours to a 40 hour work week is going to raise at least some of them.
Re:Unprofessional? (Score:2)
Well, I can confirm that for cities like San Francisco and Toronto, the cost of housing right downtown (or near downtown) is massively more expensive than housing further out in the city or in the surrounding suburbs.
I knew people in San Francisco who had commutes of up to two hours because they could ei
Re:Unprofessional? (Score:2)
To each his own, though. I know many people who'd rather have the extra space and stuff than the extra time. We all make our own trade-offs, I suppose.
Re:Unprofessional? (Score:2)
Well, the persons in question were all married and had several kids.
I'm sure for a bachelor, or a couple wi
Re:Unprofessional? (Score:2)
I don't want to work in the city, I want to earn enough money to pay for my life, have room for my hobbies, and neighbors that don't complain about my hobbies. (See the typical restrictions on a townhome) Jobs that will pay for that are much easier to find in the city, thus I live 50 miles from work.
Your right it sucks. It is a compromise. I'd love to work from home, but I'm not allowed with this job. I'd love to live next door to work, but their offices are not next door, and the other people I wor
Re:Unprofessional? (Score:2)
Let's say you commute 30 miles each way with $3/gallon of fuel, get 30 mpg, buy a $10,000 car every 5 years, and pay $100/month in insurance.
$6/day for fuel * 52 weeks * 5 days/week = $1560 / year in fuel
$100/month for insurance * 12 months = $1200 / year for insurance
$10,000 for a car / 5 years = $2000 / year for the car
Throw in car washes, repairs, and parking = $500 / year
So, that car is costing you $5,260.00 per year.
Next, what is your time worth?
Re:Unprofessional? (Score:2)
Before you attempt to remove the speck in your Californian neighbor's eye, remove the chip on your Oregonian shoulder first.
Re:Unprofessional? (Score:2)
These results are atypical. Your mileage will vary.
Re:Unprofessional? (Score:2)
See, I really hate people like this -- people who have no problem with uprooting themselves every year or two to shuffle 20 miles away because their job has moved. People who can find work that allows them a salary in which to house themselves and their family in the same dense urban overpriced core -- or who don't mind spending way too much for housin
Re:Unprofessional? (Score:2)
So you hate common sense and love urban sprawl.
Wait, these people don't have families, because they have no social skills, and so remain loners and put
Re:Unprofessional? (Score:2)
In Oregon, that alone is grounds to quit and still draw a salary due to hostile work environment. I suggest you do the same if this is a problem for you.
These companies expect their employees to support the company, and punish those who don't.
In the manner you describe, it's 100% illegal for them to do so.
Re:Unprofessional? (Score:4, Insightful)
Your clothes, where you live, what kind of car you drive all factor into your career options in the 'professional' world..
Be it right or wrong, its reality.
Re:Unprofessional? (Score:4, Informative)
Re: (Score:2)
Re:Unprofessional? (Score:2)
Quit living in the past! (Score:2)
Ah, you must not work in the 3rd millennium yet, where these things DON'T matter. You might want to join us, things are better here in the future. Even the September That Never Ended [ursine.ca] ended earlier this millennium.
Re:Unprofessional? (Score:2, Insightful)
Re:Unprofessional? (Score:2)
Re:Unprofessional? (Score:2)
If you don't want to ride a bus, bike or train to work, take a cab.
Skates, of sorts... (Score:2, Funny)
Eliminate the need for transportation... (Score:2, Funny)
Bonus: You can then read slashdot in office all day.
Cubicle Bike Rack (Score:4, Informative)
Folding bikes (Score:5, Informative)
Or as you said roller blades, they'll do the job just fine.
Re:Folding bikes (Score:3, Interesting)
Lack of space...? (Score:3, Interesting)
cross-pollinated via Make.
Dance your way to work. (Score:2, Interesting)
did you ask? (Score:2, Insightful)
If you work someplace with tedious people who are not accomodating, maybe transportation is not your number one problem.
unprofessional? (Score:3, Informative)
If this is your excuse for not rollerblading, you're not likely to like anything anyone here has to pitch.
But honestly I think the problem is all in your head. I think if you had a backpack and stowed all your gear in the pack before walking in the door nobody could possibly object.
Re:unprofessional? (Score:2)
On the other hand, this is slashdot. The guy probably works as a t
Re:unprofessional? (Score:2)
I work at a fairly large company and there have always been at least a few execs who bike to work. But this is SoCal, where a newspaper column I read several years ago pointed out that you could be sitting in ratty cutoffs and a tank top at a sidewalk cafe
Yes, it's called a FOLDING bike (Score:4, Interesting)
Folding or unfolding takes 15-20 seconds and it is very small when folded so I can put it in any number of out-of-the-way places. It will fit under my desk if no other spot is available.
All told I probably have spent ~$1,400 on the bike, upgrades and maintenance. Assuming a very conservative 4,000 miles, my per/mile cost is $0.35. If the current IRS business mileage deduction rate of $0.405/mile in some way reflects average operating costs, then the bike became "free" quite a while ago. At current rates, fuel cost alone for my 30-something mpg car is over $0.08/mile so given my approximately 13 mile round-trip commute, I save about $20/month on fuel alone. Parking in the building would cost another $60/month. Incremental maintainence on the car is probably at least another $20/month. All told, it's easy to save $100/month and get some exercise as well.
It doesn't take long to pay for even a moderately pricey bike at those savings.
Re:Yes, it's called a FOLDING bike (Score:2)
Re:Yes, it's called a FOLDING bike (Score:2)
I'm cheating, but I think this line may have given it away:
I finally put on a bike-computer
Re:Yes, it's called a FOLDING bike (Score:2)
Sweat (Score:3, Interesting)
In my workplace, it's unprofessional to show up soaking wet and smelling like a pig, which is what I'd be if tried to rollerblade or bike to work. I might consider a motorcycle for myself. But you might want to see if your employer will let you chain a bike to something that's not really for that purpose like a lamppost.
There Are Solutions (Score:3, Informative)
Agreed, that's why you should shower once you arrive and change into a new set of clothes which you brought with you to work.
I have the good fortune to work in an office attached to a factory, which for OSHA reasons needs an emergency shower. I shower off, change into dress pants, shirt, and tie, then go sit in my "open concept" office all day.
The only exercise I
Re:There Are Solutions (Score:2)
Re:There Are Solutions (Score:2)
I'm sorry, but when my body starts to freeze to a block of solid ice while cycling, it's time to put the bike away.
Lightweight (but what do you expect out of California...).
You're only 42 degrees north, you still have plenty of light after work and in the morning. And you know not what weather is. Shit, Vancouver and Whistler, BC are at 50 degrees north. Many winter mornings have snow at the uppe
Re:There Are Solutions (Score:2)
Right now I take a bus to work, its about 2 hours each way. (on a good day) but I can't afford a car yet and need the job.
Re:There Are Solutions (Score:3, Insightful)
It's pitch black during the morning and evening commutes
It's cold outside, with snow on the ground
I'm sorry, but when my body starts to freeze to a block of solid ice while cycling, it's time to put the bike away.
I live in SoCal now, but spent 6 years cycling to work year round in Minneapolis, and a year in Boston before that.
It's really not so bad biking in the cold (I still do it on vaca
Want alternatives? Lobby your company for them (Score:3, Insightful)
Folding Bicycles? (Score:2)
Folding Bikes (Score:2)
Transporters (Score:2)
Beam me over Scotty.
Oregon (Score:3, Interesting)
Alternatives (Score:3)
Skateboard
Cross Country Skiing
Moon Shoes
Stilts
Dog Sled
Hot Air Balloon
Ya know, this is why you're not getting that promotion. Fred's getting promoted cause he wears moon shoes. Get with the program slacker.
Re:Alternatives (Score:2)
e8e3d50494900a3608982b45c0e76383
Re:Alternatives (Score:2, Funny)
Efficiency? (Score:2)
Electric Bicycles (Score:2)
I had an idea for segway style footwheels (Score:2)
It has a built in 'balance' akin to segway, but instead of requiring batteries all it does is lift the wheel, and you are using your feet (roller lift also a bit), and you own (worse than segway apparently) bio balancing act. Want to move off? set wheels down and roll... dunno how tricky balancing would be though...
Proba
Any one from the north east? (Score:2)
Re:Vespa (Score:4, Insightful)
I ride a 1964 bright red Honda Super 90
Bought it as a basket case, spent 4 months rebuilding it. It gets 175 miles/gal, does 55 and parks like a bicycle.
It also is a great conversation starter "I had one of those in high school" is the most common.
Re:Vespa (Score:2)
If you look around there are options enough available.
Want to be retro/stylish ? Get a Vespa or similar.
I have an Aprilia Mojito custom myself, drive it since the beginning of this year, wish I had bought it earlier.. just as far as a car (faster if there's heavy traffic), doesn't use a lot of fuel,
There are scooters with luggage racks/boxes
Re:Vespa (Score:2)
A scooter is the one hole left in my Transportation Schema. I walk up to a mile or two for neighborhood errands, I bike or take the bus to work and bike for small errands up to about five miles, and I have a small car for laundry/grocery trips and out of town trips. What I still need is something that can take me on errands or to the movie theater across town without wearing m
Re:Segway! (Score:2)
Re:Segway! (Score:2)
What does it run on, air?
It has a battery that needs to be recharged. You pay for the electricity.
Of course, it is much more energy efficient than an SUV...