Forms of Alternative Transportation to Work?

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?"

Comments

Xootr Scooter

[VermifugeRT]

I know this is SO 2001 but the scooter has really been a life saver for me. I was never happy with the cheap $50 scooters you can pick up at the local Toy Mega Stores so I did a little research and found the Xootr Scooter.

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 ($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 to make transportation even easier on crowded streets or into your place of business.

Lack of space...?

[merkac]

Get a Cubicle bike rack!

cross-pollinated via Make.

Yes, it's called a FOLDING bike

[linuxwrangler]

I've ridden my Brompton to various jobs for years. I don't know how many miles are on it but well over 4,000 since I finally put on a bike-computer. I got (at the time) top-of-the-line version along with extended seat-tube due to my leg-length, rack, and the nice removable front bag. I also added some more lighting and reflectors and replaced the standard seat.

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:Unprofessional?

[Baloo Ursidae]

Most people commute 30 miles or more.

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.

Cycling is quite safe

[driptray]

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.

Follow that link. It leads to a "cycling safety perception" quiz, with some pretty surprising answers.

Re:Cycling is quite safe

[cecille]

You know, I don't know where those stats came from, and they may well be true, but it sure doesn't seem like it. And this is coming from someone who commutes to work every day in a car and has never been in an accident, but got hit while riding a bicycle. Although, admittedly, I don't ride much anymore.

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.

Bicycles...

[DavidNWelton]

... are the way to go. They are the most efficient means of transportation in terms of how many kilometers you can go with X amount of energy (or so my physics professor said). This also means that, if it's hot out, you can go nice and slow and not arrive all sweaty. Things like scooters or in line skates might be ok if you have to involve a bus or some other public transport in your commute, but... otherwise nothing really beats a bicycle. And riding a bike is just so much more fun than walking or driving a car!

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.

Um... No, at least not here.

[Anonymous Brave Guy]

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.