So why doesn't everybody (who is able to) do it?

[Deleted member 1258]

Interesting thread, I came back to cycling in the late seventies and have been commuting ever since, I'm a manual worker and have always cycled in my work clothes. When I first started a lot of Coventry's big factories were still going and had large cycle racks that were well used, there were a lot of us cycling, but even then we were a minority, but over the years the number cycling have diminished and I rarely see another cyclist whilst commuting now, it seems that cycling has become a leisure activity round here, when out on a Sunday there are a lot of cyclists pedalling round the lanes and the cycle club is well supported.

 

[HLaB]

My first job was only 11 miles from the door but I also got my first car at the same time as in theory I had to go to other sites during the day. If I got up early I could do the journey in under 15minutes by car but a few minutes lie would see the journey going to 30mins+ Looking back I wish I'd cycled but for some reason the idea never popped into my head at the time

 

[TwoPosts]

Hello everyone, as a new member thought I would answer this thread rather than just say hi

Six years ago, I lived about one mile from work and just over a mile from the town centre. I smoked 20-30 roll-up cigarettes a day (and had done for nearly 20 years). I drove everywhere, admittedly I lived in a flat and didn't have anywhere to store a bike, but still, walking would have been no trouble.

Got made redundant, moved to a new area and job. My new home came with a place to store a bike and was less than two miles from my place of work, for whatever reason I made a conscious decision to get a bike. I had not ridden a bike since I was 18 and got my first car.

I got a Claud Butler Hybrid with suspension forks, so I could go on and off road to get to work. I only cycled to work and back, about three miles a day and to the pub sometimes. Say 20 miles a week. I still smoked, sometimes while I cycled; yes I know.....please stop shaking your heads, so did not get any fitter or do any great distances and always avoided hills.

I stopped smoking in February 2008, took up walking regularly a year later and in August 2009 walked up my first mountain, Scafell Pike.

So the dreaded weed was conquered and my fitness was returning, Last year I got an itch to get a road bike, I kept looking at those Boardmans in Halfords but couldn't bring myself to buy one. Then in the end of season sale in March, I cracked and bought one and set myself two goals for the year end:

• Cycle the 100 mile round trip to my Dad's house in Northwest London and back over a weekend at an average of 15 mph and
• Cycle up to the top of Watership Down, north side.

After getting my bike, it was a shock to discover that although my average speed increased for the same amount of effort, it was still hard work. I honestly thought I would be flying.

Time to put in some miles, my first long run of just over 30 miles took 2.5 hours, I had trouble with some of the hills and had to stop to regularly to catch my breath and take on water and nobody warned me about the cramps.

Two months, 300 training miles and a waiste size reduction later I did the same run in 1 hour 50 minutes. The next weekend I cycled to London and back on separate days at an average of 15 mph, one goal down.

I still can't cycle up Watership Down, either my lungs give out or I cramp up, but I haven't tried for a couple of months and my fitness is definitely on a different level. I now think nothing of cycling 30 to 40 miles on the Hybrid, when I fancy a little off roading on a distance ride, 'Old Clunky' as I now refer to it must be more than twice the weight of the Boardman.I hate punctures and have 700x40c Marathon Plus ATBs (1.1kg each) on the Hybrid, the Boardman is fitted out with lighter weight Ultremo DDs, did I mention that I really hate punctures

.

I hate being categorised as a MAMiL but if the SPD-SL shoe fits.....rest assured my road bike will not be going on ebay in a few months time. When the weather turns I will simply do my miles on the Hybrid and pick up speedy longer distance road riding again next spring.

Now if I can just cycle up that damn hill, my skills as a jedi, sorry roadie, will be complete, at least for my current home county. Whilst on another walking holiday in the lake district this year I was looking at those hills with a cyclist's eye. There is no way I will ever be fit enough to get up "The Struggle".

Given the above, lets go back six years again, why didn't I cycle? because I did not know any better, cycling as a form of transport or leisure activity did not cross my mind once. It took a change in circumstances, a conscious decision and a desire to change.

 

[ManiaMuse]

Think a lot of posters missed that the OP is from the States where car culture is really quite different to the UK?

 

[Moodyman]

Think a lot of posters missed that the OP is from the States where car culture is really quite different to the UK?

Might be wrong, but I thought the OP is from these Isles living over there.

And yes, you're right about the car culture in the USA

 

[Angelfishsolo]

Just a few thoughts.


Lack of facilities
Requirement to use a car for work
Lack of fitness
Lack of a bike
Health conditions

 

[jig-sore]

currently commuting 8.5miles each way 5 days a week all year round cos i have no other options. yes i enjoy it and yes its made my cycling faster BUT...

1. this "season" i tried to do time trials as well. to be honest i just couldn't give 100% to the TT's after the commuting miles and weekend rides

2. it does take me a lot longer to get over colds etc.

as a solution i've just bought a 125 motorbike and aim to reduce the cycle commute down to two days a week during the next TT season. still think I'll be leaving the motor bike at home in the snow and ice.

 

[Nigeyy]

What a great reply! I doff my hat off to you sir; i am way impressed.

Hello everyone, as a new member thought I would answer this thread rather than just say hi

 

[gavroche]

OK, new job, now 8 miles to work, instead of 24 miles. I used to do a "full" commute once a week, and 2-3 other days park the car halfway and do a "half" commute.

Started a new job a couple of weeks ago. Now, I will admit to the fact I'm incredibly lucky in that I need to only take 9 turns in total to get to work, and the roads I'm on are fairly conducive to cycling -reasonably flat, nice wide roads for the most part And don't get me wrong, I won't cycle when it's icy or snowy. But....

it's so blessed easy and pleasant. I mean getting home only takes 10-15 minutes longer than driving the car (which I still have to do for picking up the kids once a week). I get home in such a good mood.

Yes, I appreciate I'm really fortunate with proximity and the roads I have, but still, I just can't believe there are people who don't do it. There's a person at work who lived 3 miles from work -perfectly physically able mind you -but never cycled, walked or ran into work once. I just don't get it -maybe petrol over here has to increase to UK prices? I don't know.

it is probably because in the USA, the car is still king and used all the time, no matter how close you want to go.
When petrol hits nearly £1.50 a litre, as it will soon be here, mentalities might change and then you will see more people using other, cheaper forms of transport. In the meantime, just be thankfull for the money you are saving on fuel and wear and tear on your vehicle, as well as staying fit!

 

[Nigeyy]

Well to be honest, I was reading these forums at home, basking in the post glow of the commute back home from work and posted that question. I was on a bit of a "I-just-can't-believe-how-easy-it-was-to-cycle-home-just-now" kick. I say this also being overweight (American size food portions and not being particularly fit.

I didn't mean to offend anybody (which is why I put "who is able to") in the title. I really do appreciate there are people who need a car, don't have the time, no shower at work (though could be a positive if you really don't like your office mate), have a physical disability, etc. For example, I definitely admit there are times when I have to pick my kids up, and a car is necessary. I should have also added I can bring my bike into the office with me -so no worries about leaving it out of sight.

Yes, I am from the UK, been living in the States for over 20 years now. But you know what? I honestly believe that while the USA is a car culture, in many ways the UK -were it not for high petrol prices -isn't too far behind. I remember when my brother got his first car -I think he forgot what his legs were there for! However, this is not the case now as he is a very keen hiker, walker and occasional cyclist too -it was a temporary moment of insanity. Still, it's not unusual for me to see someone drive their car a couple of hundred metres to buy a coffee. Sad but true. I would love to live in a place where the only vehicles on the road were emergency vehicles -imagine the peace and quiet and how many less accidents there would be, but i digress.

Oh, one other thing I glossed over on my first post that I admit is a big factor: weather. I'm very fortunate here in that the amount of rainfall is less, though winter weather is much more severe, and i definitely don't intend to cycle through the winter.

Thanks for the really interesting replies.

Might be wrong, but I thought the OP is from these Isles living over there.

And yes, you're right about the car culture in the USA

 

[Nebulous]

Hello everyone, as a new member thought I would answer this thread rather than just say hi

Welcome to the forum twoposts, great post there.

For me I think it just wasn't on my radar at all. I rarely if ever cycled on the road, which meant I didn't really feel safe doing it. The car was too handy and was always there. About 4 years ago I tried it a few times on my mtb. I would cycle to work, leave my bike there several days or even a week, then cycle home.

I began to build up my miles as part of changed lifestyle / weightloss plan in October last year, and bought a road bike in November.

It took until late February though, and a semi-enforced loss of my car to make me commute. I kitted out my mtb with lights and mudguards and used it.

Even though I was cycling a lot in leisure time by then I could choose whether to go out or not. There just seemed something very restrictive and tying down in having to get on the bike every morning. It was my new hobby - it was fun- I didn't want it to become a ball and chain.

It's been better than I expected, and as my 2 miles is all uphill it has helped my hill climbing, but there are still times when it seems a hassle. Having to be really organised with packing all my stuff, being ready for any weather conditions, having to roll up my shirt and change when I got there can all seem a bit frustrating at times.

James

 

[Orange]

I really want to commute by cycling. I don't mind the 12 miles to work each way. I'm sure I won't mind the heat, the cold or the wet.

However there are two other obstacles: (1) No changing or showering facilities at work - can't sit at my desk all day stinking of sweat and there is a relatively formal dress code. (2) Although there are cycle paths and some sections of widish road on the journey, there is also an unavoidable 4-mile stretch of very busy and narrow A road, plagued by an almost constant stream of lorries.

Until the office installs showers and the council widens the road / extends the cycle path, I'm stuck in the car.

 

[Digital_Cowboy]

Think a lot of posters missed that the OP is from the States where car culture is really quite different to the UK?

Agreed, sadly here in the States, the car is "king" and everyone else is just in the way. As an example at the apartment complex that I live in there are two traffic lights within about a 1/2 mile of each other. They are timed from my experience so that when one is green the other is red.

I'd called the traffic engineer's office to see if they could be sync so that when one is green/red the other is also green/red as well so as to make it safer for people wishing to cross the road in between the two lights. I was basically told that to do so would create an unacceptable delay for motorists.

 

[Digital_Cowboy]

it is probably because in the USA, the car is still king and used all the time, no matter how close you want to go.
When petrol hits nearly £1.50 a litre, as it will soon be here, mentalities might change and then you will see more people using other, cheaper forms of transport. In the meantime, just be thankful for the money you are saving on fuel and wear and tear on your vehicle, as well as staying fit!

If that converts to 2.46 US dollars it's that and more and still people use the car for very short i.e. under 2-mile trips instead of walking, riding a bicycle, or even to take public transportation. Sadly, I think that most people would sacrifice anything in order to be able to continue to drive their car(s).

 

[Browser]

When I commenced my penal servitude to the world of paid employment many moons ago I was a cycle commuter as I did not have any other option apart from walking. My workplace was 9.5 miles from my house, bus service at the time I needed to get to work (07:30) was non-existent and my mum wouldn't hear of me getting a moped so cycle it was. I changed jobs and had to cycle 12 miles.
Come December 12th 1988 and I had a driving license in my hot little hand, all thoughts of cycling went out of the window.
People don't do it for many reasons, poor facilities at work (secure parking, changing room etc), lack of road confidence, embarrassment, status (look at my nice shiny new car), laziness, you can't nail it down to one specific reason.
There should be, however, far more people doing it, I agree with you.