i have to disagree here (although maybe i'm biased)
OK, i'm associating 'advanced math skills' here in the realm of programming a little more broadly as 'theoretical approach' or 'advanced or abstract thinking' --- i.e. the hands-on practical type with no advanced math and theory vs. the academic theory type...
in my programming career (6+ years fulltime) there are plenty of great programmers w/o a strong math or theoretical background, and a few with a strong academic background that sucked, but the majority of those that have no idea what they're doing (and worse, thing they're all that) are the self-taught 'theory is a waste of time' types who can't do or never studied any math(uhhh, a deriva-what). -- the "the algorithm work's doesn't it?" types...
and i'm not saying this means all are this way, just that's my experience...
although i'm not saying that those with the academic/theoretical background and no experience are any good - you need both and theory w/o hands-on know-how is also pretty worthless but anyone competent can learn the hands-on really fast...
finally, i admit my bias with my background: BS in Electrical and Computer Engineering from a very theoretical program (University of Texas) -- and then on the other side of it, we _only_ took 4 semesters of calculus/math, so i'm not claiming to have a strong background in pure/abstract mathematics.
well, on the management issue: there are lots of factors, but one of the most important is usually a manager with BOTH the management and some technical background is sought. where do you find someone with tech skills? current techies... so many managers start out as techies and it's the 'standard' career migration path - into management. But most of the techies myself included would rather be techies than managers... is it more fun to go to a bunch of meetings and use Microsoft Project and deal with people's personal problems all day or write cool code and create new cool stuff??
but either because it's a promotion or more pay or just what they're pushed into, many techies try and make the jump... and most suck as managers b/c either they lack the people skills or they just don't like management. on the other hand, there are some techies that can do both AND enjoy it, as well as some non-techies who can be great managers too...
just as a side note - i studied Computer Engineering at the University of Texas in the early 90s - does anyone still see those T-shirts with 'limit of engineering as GPA approaches 0' on the front and 'Business' on the back? i know it's crass, but then it was funny AND so true back then when 70% of our class failed out/dropped out by the 3rd year...
Bike Friday: although i haven't owned one personally, i've thought about it. They're great although not cheap (i think $700-2000 or so). Except for racing or hard-core off-roading i've heard they ride as good or better than most regular bicycles. But, I believe they don't fold up really really fast and easily - i think it takes a minute or 2 and is more like 'disassembly'. I don't know what the rules exactly are for BART, but my guess is that completely folded it would be allowed, but also partly folded might maybe be OK too... that would probably work out OK if it takes a minute to fold and then another to unfold...
Scooter: i have a scooter (K2 Kicker) that i use with public transport (since May i've been in Munich Germany, although i was in Portland Oregon before). it is really easy to take on public transit - i usually don't even fold mine up - but i would say it's not so good for more than about a mile from the transit stop (i find the scooter's about 3 times faster than walking or about the speed of running) so a mile is about 10 minutes - anything more i don't find so great b/c the legs/back start to hurt and i really prefer my bicycle.
2 Bicycles: another option if bicyles are not allowed on transit is to buy 2 bikes and park one permanently at your destination transit stop. Of course, this only works for a single route but that is fine for commuting. In your case, i think you could buy a really cheap junk bike and leave it at your destination and then use a better bike for you home ride - since you mentioned you've got 1000' vertical a maountain bike with lower gears would probably be easier. just ride to the stop, lock the bike, ride public transit, get off and unlock your other bike and you're off... of course, you also need 2 locks but that's minor.
motorized scooters: although i personally find these quite annoying, but if you're the lazy type... i think there are pre-built models or add-on motors to human-powered scooters. many of these are still pretty small (i don't know if they fold and they're definitely larger and heavier than a Razor or my K2). although i think there's some question as to their being street/sidewalk legal - human-powered scooters themselves may be technically illegal, but you're unlikely to get in trouble, but with the motor that's a different story b/c of the speed and noise - the police may notice...
just a side note: in general i find the attempts to link bicycles and public transit really poor in most cities - Portland Oregon is an exception where major efforts are made to accomodate bikes, but then Portland is a cyclist's city... Munich also has block-out rush hour times 6-9am and 4-6pm when bikes aren't allowed which sucks. I currently commute by bike (7 miles one way) about 4 days a week and then take the scooter/subway 1 day, but it sucks that i can't take my bike on the subway when it's raining really hard (i can if i leave work really early or late, but...).
The coupling of bike and public transit is a great combination and i think the combination would allow many people who otherwise would not choose public transit a good option - to help get more people out of cars which is usually the goal of much of modern public transit. I do understand that public transit gets crowded and sometimes a bike just won't fit, but the solution should really be to try and add more capacity if it's full b/c not allowing bikes really limits people's choices 'forces' many people choose the car b/c the transit alone just doesn't cut it. If the train/tram's full then it's probably successful enough to warrant more and expanded service... i just don't see most public transit systems making any effort here.
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i have to disagree here (although maybe i'm biased)
OK, i'm associating 'advanced math skills' here in the realm of programming a little more broadly as 'theoretical approach' or 'advanced or abstract thinking' --- i.e. the hands-on practical type with no advanced math and theory vs. the academic theory type...
in my programming career (6+ years fulltime) there are plenty of great programmers w/o a strong math or theoretical background, and a few with a strong academic background that sucked, but the majority of those that have no idea what they're doing (and worse, thing they're all that) are the self-taught 'theory is a waste of time' types who can't do or never studied any math(uhhh, a deriva-what). -- the "the algorithm work's doesn't it?" types...
and i'm not saying this means all are this way, just that's my experience...
although i'm not saying that those with the academic/theoretical background and no experience are any good - you need both and theory w/o hands-on know-how is also pretty worthless but anyone competent can learn the hands-on really fast...
finally, i admit my bias with my background: BS in Electrical and Computer Engineering from a very theoretical program (University of Texas) -- and then on the other side of it, we _only_ took 4 semesters of calculus/math, so i'm not claiming to have a strong background in pure/abstract mathematics.
well, on the management issue: there are lots of factors, but one of the most important is usually a manager with BOTH the management and some technical background is sought. where do you find someone with tech skills? current techies... so many managers start out as techies and it's the 'standard' career migration path - into management. But most of the techies myself included would rather be techies than managers... is it more fun to go to a bunch of meetings and use Microsoft Project and deal with people's personal problems all day or write cool code and create new cool stuff?? but either because it's a promotion or more pay or just what they're pushed into, many techies try and make the jump... and most suck as managers b/c either they lack the people skills or they just don't like management. on the other hand, there are some techies that can do both AND enjoy it, as well as some non-techies who can be great managers too... just as a side note - i studied Computer Engineering at the University of Texas in the early 90s - does anyone still see those T-shirts with 'limit of engineering as GPA approaches 0' on the front and 'Business' on the back? i know it's crass, but then it was funny AND so true back then when 70% of our class failed out/dropped out by the 3rd year...
Bike Friday: although i haven't owned one personally, i've thought about it. They're great although not cheap (i think $700-2000 or so). Except for racing or hard-core off-roading i've heard they ride as good or better than most regular bicycles. But, I believe they don't fold up really really fast and easily - i think it takes a minute or 2 and is more like 'disassembly'. I don't know what the rules exactly are for BART, but my guess is that completely folded it would be allowed, but also partly folded might maybe be OK too... that would probably work out OK if it takes a minute to fold and then another to unfold...
Scooter: i have a scooter (K2 Kicker) that i use with public transport (since May i've been in Munich Germany, although i was in Portland Oregon before). it is really easy to take on public transit - i usually don't even fold mine up - but i would say it's not so good for more than about a mile from the transit stop (i find the scooter's about 3 times faster than walking or about the speed of running) so a mile is about 10 minutes - anything more i don't find so great b/c the legs/back start to hurt and i really prefer my bicycle.
2 Bicycles: another option if bicyles are not allowed on transit is to buy 2 bikes and park one permanently at your destination transit stop. Of course, this only works for a single route but that is fine for commuting. In your case, i think you could buy a really cheap junk bike and leave it at your destination and then use a better bike for you home ride - since you mentioned you've got 1000' vertical a maountain bike with lower gears would probably be easier. just ride to the stop, lock the bike, ride public transit, get off and unlock your other bike and you're off... of course, you also need 2 locks but that's minor.
motorized scooters: although i personally find these quite annoying, but if you're the lazy type... i think there are pre-built models or add-on motors to human-powered scooters. many of these are still pretty small (i don't know if they fold and they're definitely larger and heavier than a Razor or my K2). although i think there's some question as to their being street/sidewalk legal - human-powered scooters themselves may be technically illegal, but you're unlikely to get in trouble, but with the motor that's a different story b/c of the speed and noise - the police may notice...
just a side note: in general i find the attempts to link bicycles and public transit really poor in most cities - Portland Oregon is an exception where major efforts are made to accomodate bikes, but then Portland is a cyclist's city... Munich also has block-out rush hour times 6-9am and 4-6pm when bikes aren't allowed which sucks. I currently commute by bike (7 miles one way) about 4 days a week and then take the scooter/subway 1 day, but it sucks that i can't take my bike on the subway when it's raining really hard (i can if i leave work really early or late, but...).
The coupling of bike and public transit is a great combination and i think the combination would allow many people who otherwise would not choose public transit a good option - to help get more people out of cars which is usually the goal of much of modern public transit. I do understand that public transit gets crowded and sometimes a bike just won't fit, but the solution should really be to try and add more capacity if it's full b/c not allowing bikes really limits people's choices 'forces' many people choose the car b/c the transit alone just doesn't cut it. If the train/tram's full then it's probably successful enough to warrant more and expanded service... i just don't see most public transit systems making any effort here.