CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Commuting

"Can you love your daily commute?"

(16 posts)
  • Started 8 years ago by wingpig
  • Latest reply from spytfyre
  • poll: What is your favourite part of a (working) day?
    The start of the commute in? : (3 votes)
    8 %
    The commute to work? : (12 votes)
    32 %
    The arrival at your workplace? : (0 votes)
    The beginning of the commute home, when you have both the commute and arrival home still to go? : (12 votes)
    32 %
    The arrival home? : (4 votes)
    11 %
    Any of the bits where you get to eat some sort of biscuit/cake as a reward for travelling actively? : (4 votes)
    11 %
    Waking up? : (0 votes)
    Going to sleep? : (2 votes)
    5 %
    Going for an extra commute at lunchtime? : (1 votes)
    3 %

    23 votes


  1. wingpig
    Member

    http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2016/apr/08/how-to-love-your-daily-commute-oliver-burkeman

    "I am all for diversity and nontraditional lifestyles, but what’s with that small percentage of the population who, according to numerous surveys, say their commute is the best part of their day? That’s just wrong. Everyone knows commuting is hell. It’s depressing; it damages your health; it’s associated with higher divorce rates – and the longer the commute, the more acute the effects. Even worse, because traffic jams and train delays are so unpredictable, it’s a form of suffering to which people never fully adjust. That’s one reason you shouldn’t trade your short commute for a nicer house a longer distance from the office: the fixed pleasures of the new house will fade, while the variable torture of the daily schlep never will.

    So who are the 16% of Canadians – to pick one representative study, highlighted recently in The Atlantic – who say they greatly enjoy commuting, or the 3% who appreciate it more than anything else? Cyclists, mainly."

    Posted 8 years ago #

  2. fimm
    Member

    I knew that last line quoted was coming from the moment I started reading...
    Sad quote from the comments (which are mostly full of happy cyclists):
    "I DID try to bike to work. My work is definitely in bike distance even for someone like me.
    But it IS impossible without putting my life on the line. The attitude towards bikes in this country means I cannot bike to work.    "

    Posted 8 years ago #

  3. Wilmington's Cow
    Member

    I stopped on the Innocent the other day to complete a Sustrans survey.

    Numerous questions in:

    "Why do you commute by bike?"

    "Because I enjoy it really. It's fun."

    "Hmmm, that's not on the sheet."

    Posted 8 years ago #

  4. PS
    Member

    The fun angle really should be pushed much more in cycle campaigning.

    It's certainly the reason why I ride my bike.

    I suspect it's also a much stronger selling point than the more "worthy" aspects of the environment, cost savings, fitness, weight loss etc

    Posted 8 years ago #

  5. gembo
    Member

    I had a curious commute today. I had intended going through Heriot Watt to go on the canal and then to Bike Service as funny judder on the headset. There had been some funny traffic shennanigans that maybe distracted me so realised around Juni Green I had not taken the turn. Resolved to bump up pont canal at Allan Park. Did this. Then omitted to turn right at the lift bridge and found myself back on regular commute route. Seems bike did not want a service. I had to re-route through a ginnel that took me out at the Cavendish Club now called Cav. True.

    Fun nearly always, twice going home this week in rain and high winds it has been less fun

    Posted 8 years ago #

  6. steveo
    Member

    You missed the ten minutes of peace between work demands and parent demands.

    Posted 8 years ago #

  7. Wilmington's Cow
    Member

    @gembo, getting caught in the absolute torrential rain yesterday, having watched it for the first 15 minutes of the commute advancing closer, was strangely fun. I could see it coming, I knew I had no waterproof gear, I knew I was going to be as soaked as I'd ever been on a bike, and I knew it was going to last about 25 minutes before I was home, dried, fed, and about to go out for cocktails.

    @PS, definitely. I always try and make a point of how much I enjoy the riding and how it de-stresses (even on days when there is traffic muppetry).

    Another of the questions was "Do you cycle because it's good for the environment?" and I had to say "No." It's a nice by-product, but it's not why I do it, yet it's definitely permeated the (non-cycling) public consciousness that cyclists knit their own tofu and grow their own sandals...

    Posted 8 years ago #

  8. paddyirish
    Member

    Fun is the main reason for me too; other more virtuous reasons are fringe benefits

    Even in journeys of gale-force headwind and driving rain/sleet, the thought of standing waiting for public transport and then being in a confined space with lots of people smelling of wet dog makes me realise I am doing the right thing...

    Posted 8 years ago #

  9. gembo
    Member

    @Wilmington Cow apparently there is a shop opened in Crail that sells six different types of tofu and four different types of quinoa. Better get there quick? Unless it is a money laundering thing? Or the population of Crail has changed. Even when I go there (and I can eat tofu and/or quinoa) it is the chipper for me

    Posted 8 years ago #

  10. neddie
    Member

    I can confirm I watched WC get soakedfrolicking in the rain as I sheltered under a bridge in Dalry.

    Does that count as a spot?

    Posted 8 years ago #

  11. Arellcat
    Moderator

    I would venture that cyclists and motorbikers, and to a lesser extent walkers, are the only people who make their commutes longer just for the enjoyment.

    Posted 8 years ago #

  12. chdot
    Admin

    "Does that count as a spot?"

    Yes.

    But you'll understand if you weren't spotted back!

    Posted 8 years ago #

  13. Uberuce
    Member

    I was in a Facebook conversation last night with a group that are going for an amusement jaunt. Turns out the return leg is my daily commute.

    I know it's just an accident of geography, but it's nice to know that the alleged horror of the mornin' 'mute is something people clear their evenings to do for fun.

    Posted 8 years ago #

  14. mmaohara
    Member

    I quite enjoy the cycle home but I wouldn't go as far as saying I loved it, that's reserved for going out on the bike without work being attached to either end of it.

    Posted 8 years ago #

  15. AKen
    Member

    I would venture that cyclists and motorbikers, and to a lesser extent walkers, are the only people who make their commutes longer just for the enjoyment.

    I have a special treat that I reserve for hot summer days on my commute home. If it's hot, sunny and not too windy, I leave work 30 mins - 1 hr early, stop somewhere to buy a bottle of beer and something to eat. I then head for my favourite spot up in the hills where I can see the city (in fact the eastern half of central Scotland) spread out before me. The climb up is hard work so I arrive at the top breathless and dripping with sweat. Nothing tastes quite as good as the first swig from the bottle when I finally get there.

    Now, this isn't my daily commute, but it's close enough to be only a short diversion and it's something I can only do because I'm on my bike. I've been doing it for a few years and it's something to look forward to through the winter.

    Unfortunately, I've only managed once this summer - the weather's not been hot and a couple of times when it has been nice enough I've had to be elsewhere but still sometimes I really love my daily commute.

    Posted 8 years ago #

  16. spytfyre
    Member

    I answered "Going to sleep"
    I am asleep right now...

    Posted 8 years ago #

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