tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7015779968336479872.post6651299021010514666..comments2023-10-22T08:30:46.934-05:00Comments on Redd Shift: On Buses, Bike Racks, and Cheeky, Churlish ChildrenScott Reddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13769134824821490457noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7015779968336479872.post-37125609293744547272008-11-26T18:04:00.000-06:002008-11-26T18:04:00.000-06:00Thanks, Brady. I appreciate your cut of "Wholesom...Thanks, Brady. I appreciate your cut of "Wholesome" encouragement, especially as the days get gloomier, shorter, and foul weather starts getting in the way.<BR/><BR/>I rode buses years ago, and in recent history, would choose a bus over driving on a bad snow day here and there. When needing an auto repair, I would choose a shop on a bus line, drop the car off the night before with my wife trailing along in her vehicle. I'd then take the bus to the shop the next day to fetch the car.<BR/><BR/>Heck, one time I even walked home from the shop (around one and a half or two miles) when she was busy.<BR/><BR/>With yesterday's situation, if I weren't cycling and hadn't driven to work, I probably would have taken the bus home from Metro, or more likely, ridden home with my son in his car.<BR/><BR/>What the Shift has taught me so far is that there is a choice to the total car culture. I'm just an ordinary guy of average health, and if I can get around on a bike in a hilly city like Omaha, with the help of a bus on special occasions, then lots more people should be able to do it. <BR/><BR/>Like you, I appreciate the extra time I get in my day. It seems counter intuitive that taking a slow, human powered vehicle can give you more time, but like you said, it has the effect of slowing time down.<BR/><BR/>The 60 minutes I spend on my bike each day riding to and from work would be about 40 in my truck (at best). So for investing an extra 20 minutes, I get back 60 minutes of exercise, fresh air, time to take in the environment around me, getting closer to the community, and the satisfaction of getting places under my own power. Not to mention the free "rock star parking." :)<BR/><BR/>Even taking a bus exclusively can have the effect of decreasing the pace. I hear of people reading, talking, or watching movies, podcasts, etc, during a bus commute.<BR/><BR/>One thing I need to watch out for is to never let the ride become a rote activity. Sometimes in the morning when climbing a grade, I catch myself just zooming in on what's in the beam of my headlight, rather than taking in the whole view. Maybe it's because it's the morning and the brain isn't at 100%. Maybe I'm looking for sticks, stones, and potholes. Maybe with focusing on the ground in front of me, I don't get discouraged by seeing the hill rising up to challenge me.Scott Reddhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13769134824821490457noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7015779968336479872.post-14491220207074484202008-11-26T11:00:00.000-06:002008-11-26T11:00:00.000-06:00That's what I'm talking about. Before committing t...That's what I'm talking about. Before committing to commuting, would you have ever considered multi-modalling it to some place you've never attempted?<BR/><BR/>It's a good shift in thinking versus just rotely taking a familiar pattern such as driving a car to get to your destination and back. <BR/><BR/>I had a thought last night while riding home: spending a little more time on the commute by bike allows time to reflect a little more. In the end, it has the effect of slowing time down. I appreciate this in such a hectic world. <BR/><BR/>It appears that you've already discovered this. Good job, Reddbradyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12422901243969548083noreply@blogger.com