Bus Moan (and why the bike is so good)

[mgarl10024]

So, I needed to commute 5.8 miles today, and having a cold I thought I'd have a day off the bike.

Bus 1 was about 10 minutes late, which meant that I missed connecting Bus 2. But that didn't matter as Bus 2 runs every 15 minutes. Except two in a row failed to show and almost 45 minutes later I'm still at the bus stop. Overall, that 5.8 miles commute took me 1h 55 minutes. I literally could have walked it faster.
On the way home, Bus 1 was a little late. Bus 2 (which runs every 15 minutes) also failed to show twice. Return commute was 1h 30mins.

When the bike (even at my snail-like pace) takes 33 minutes; gets me out in the fresh air; gets me the odd cheery hello off a fellow cyclist; gets me exercise; and costs less than the bus - it's a clear winner.

I reckon I'd rather be on the side of the road in the rain repairing a puncture than go through today's commute again.

 

[KneesUp]

Rubbish, expensive buses coupled with a commute too short to justify a second car were the main reason I started cycling again. I did used to walk quite often. By the time you'd factored in walking to the bus stop from work, waiting there and walking from the bus stop to home, it was hardly any slower. At rush hour the bike is quicker than the bus and the car

 

[summerdays]

Have you got the bus app for your phone, not that it's perfect, for my bus, it counts down the minutes till it's due then when it doesn't appear it often just disappears and you're left wondering if it is going to turn up late or not at all!

Actually I'm not sure reading my previous sentence why I'm recommending it, but if it doesn't turn up I sometimes tweet that and they give me an update on what the bus is doing. The app is Travel West's Bus Checker.

 

[KneesUp]

There is a live checker for the bus I used toget as you say, knowing your bus isn't going to come isn't much comfort!

 

[mjr]

Cold? Just pedal slower, as long as you can still balance OK. Still quicker than most bus trips

 

[snorri]

I reckon I'd rather be on the side of the road in the rain repairing a puncture than go through today's commute again.

I hope you will add the above to your strongly worded letter to the management of the bus company.

 

[summerdays]

Cold? Just pedal slower, as long as you can still balance OK. Still quicker than most bus trips

I don't agree, there have been a couple of times when I've realised that my road awareness is well below oar and that I'm making serious mistakes, occasionally you do have to accept that it's worth giving the bike a miss.

 

[andyfraser]

To get to my office for 8:30am I have to catch the 7:10am from the stop near my house. I have 9 minutes to make the second bus. At the other end I have 13 minutes to get to my office. If one or other of the buses is late I could be screwed.

It takes me 25 minutes to cycle. I leave at 7:45am and have plenty of time to make tea and get changed. No brainer.

Coming home, if everything goes well, I would get home just after 6pm. If the first bus back is too late or I miss it I get home after 6:30pm.

Cycling gets me home at just after 5:30pm. No brainer again.

Using buses is too stressful.

 

[mgarl10024]

Cold? Just pedal slower, as long as you can still balance OK. Still quicker than most bus trips

I thought the argument was that by having a day or two off the bike, your body had more energy to fight off the cold - but by soldiering on and cycling the cold was dragged out for much longer.
That said, with all the bus stress, I'm not sure I saved much energy!

 

[midlife]

Also cycling whilst having a viral cold can give you a bout of viral myocarditis, always best to have a rest

Shaun

 

[mgarl10024]

Have you got the bus app for your phone,

My Nokia 3510 came off the ark I'm afraid. I keep looking at smart phones, and to be fair one would have been useful today - but I still think they're quite an expensive toy. :-)

 

[Pat "5mph"]

That is the reason why I started cycling at "granny age" (no previous cycling efforts), my commute of 5 miles takes 90 minutes with public transport, early/late shifts would be a taxi, bike 30 minutes max, popping into a shop won't make you late either

 

[mjr]

"Because exercise may help to boost immune function, it's usually safe to exercise with a cold as long as you listen to your body." http://www.webmd.com/cold-and-flu/cold-guide/exercise-when-you-have-cold

 

[Supersuperleeds]

So, I needed to commute 5.8 miles today, and having a cold I thought I'd have a day off the bike.

Bus 1 was about 10 minutes late, which meant that I missed connecting Bus 2. But that didn't matter as Bus 2 runs every 15 minutes. Except two in a row failed to show and almost 45 minutes later I'm still at the bus stop. Overall, that 5.8 miles commute took me 1h 55 minutes. I literally could have walked it faster.
On the way home, Bus 1 was a little late. Bus 2 (which runs every 15 minutes) also failed to show twice. Return commute was 1h 30mins.

When the bike (even at my snail-like pace) takes 33 minutes; gets me out in the fresh air; gets me the odd cheery hello off a fellow cyclist; gets me exercise; and costs less than the bus - it's a clear winner.

I reckon I'd rather be on the side of the road in the rain repairing a puncture than go through today's commute again.

I'd have stayed at home, "to ill to bike = to ill to work" is my mantra

I live 5 miles from work and if I can't bike I'd rather walk than catch the bus - or just use the car

 

[deptfordmarmoset]

I'd have stayed at home, "to ill to bike = to ill to work" is my mantra

Perfectly logical. Godwin's law, the Naismith Rule, Occam's Razor, and now we have the Supersuperleeds principle!

I reckon it's the loss of independence that hits cyclists the most when the bike's out of the question.