Toys for Transport?

EvilCabbage asks: "Let's imagine I have a distance to travel to get to my office. Much of this is done on a train line, but there is a distance of around 10klm (aprox 6.2miles) from my home to this train station. A little too far to walk, but not quite far enough to justify use of my car every day. Fortunately, the Segway isn't on my shopping list. I'm wondering what parambulating devices are available to make this journey a little easier, without turning the key in my car. Bicycles are generally too large to carry on the train, and couldn't be left in my office all day. I've seen some scooters that fold to rather small sizes (perfect for lugging to the office and back), but are these things still for kids? What small urban transport devices are fellow Slashdot readers using (assuming we are still going outside)? What can you recommend and what won't cost me an arm and a leg to run?"

Comments

Brompton!

[fatrat]

You want a

Brompton Bicycle (Bromptonbicycle.co.uk).

Ride to station, fold it up, ride to work, stash it under your desk. Sorted.

Unicycles!

[phraktyl]

Especially if you've got some rough terrain to traverse, unicycles seem to be your best bet. Small, lightweight and rugged.

Sure, your first day's commute to the train would take 8 hours, and end with you throwing your unicycle 8 feet up the road, dragging your bruised and bloody carcass up to it, giving it a swift kick, picking it up and throwing it again, but that's what learning how to ride a unicycle is all about.

Disclaimer: There is no way in hell I would ever try this.

perfect for short trips

[flikx]

I had the same issue. My solution was to buy a 1985 GMC Suburban. It's cheaper, and much better than a dinky little scooter.

It's hip! It's happening!

[orthogonal]

A Big Wheel!

San Francisco even has an annual Big Wheel race in , and we all know that San Fran is trendy, e-hip and e-happening.

Or gay and campy.

But either way, it'll help you release your inner child.

Rollerblades

[Vaevictis666]

If you're worried about the security of a bicycle, get a pair of rollerblades (inline skates) and stuff them in a backpack when you get to the train. I find they work just as well as a bike, except when going downhill and trying to stop. If the terrain is not very hilly then they're ideal.

Folding bikes

[FattMattP]

Why don't you look into a folding bicycle? I see people with them on the train all the time and you can get one for about $200. Maybe less used. They'll fold up small enough to carry if you need to. Here in San Francisco folding bikes are allowed on the trains at all times (if they are folded up) as opposed to regular bikes which aren't allowed during rush hours.

Back in the day...

[wfbush]

It would have been no problem: since everyone had to walk uphill all the way in both directions, it would've been possible to get a Razor and coast downhill in the opposite direction.

Wait a minute...

Public Transit

[BSDevil]

Get a metropass (that's what they're called here) and take the bus/streetcar. Or if you're afraid of that, find a few people who live near you (I'm guessing you live in a suburban subdivision) who need to get into town in a similar timeframe, and get a carpool to the station going.

Re:Public Transit

[greenhide]

Yeah, that was my idea as soon as I read this too. I mean, unless this guy works at some place that's located six miles from a train stop in the middle of the salt flats. That's the only situation I can think of where it would be flat enough to use a scooter, but there wouldn't be a bus that dropped him off closer to his work.

Sounds like this guy just wants an excuse to use one of those Razor scooters.

Hey man, you wanna play? Go for it. But I'd recommend choosing a more standard route. Either take the bus, or use a bike. There may be an arrangement that the public transit people make for bikes -- maybe you can store them somewhere at the train station or something. Who knows. I do know that most cities' public transit systems now realize that they need to start catering to bikers, since they tend to be a nice portion of the users of public transit. All of the buses in our town have a bike rack in the front and back.

Commuting by skateboard

[driptray]

I sometimes ride a skateboard to work - a distance of 5 km, and flat all the way. It is more work than cycling, and similar to walking, but much faster. My 5 km trip takes about 22 minutes, and the roads I skate on are not particularly smooth.

If you are a coordinated/athletic person you should be able to learn "pumping", which is a skating technique that allows you to propel yourself without pushing with one foot. If the road is smooth it's even possible to propel yourself up slight hills, although this is seriously hard work.

Ideally you will want a longboard rather than the sort of skateboard you see every day. But don't go too long! A long longboard is good for going fast, but is harder to pump at slower speeds. The best "commuting" board would be something similar to a GS board - around 25 " wheelbase, and with large (~70 mm) and soft (~78a) wheels. Check out NCDSA for more info.

Skating is a seriously fun method of transport, although not nearly as practical as a bicycle.

All bikes weigh 40 lbs...

[YrWrstNtmr]

A 10 lb bike needs a 30 lb lock
A 20 lb bike needs a 20 lb lock
A 30 lb bike needs a 10 lb lock
A 40 lb bike needs no lock at all.