Comments on: So … an Elephant and a Dragon board a bus. http://writinwrong.wordpress.com/2008/10/05/so-an-elephant-and-a-dragon-board-a-bus/ Just another Wordpress.com weblog Sun, 05 Oct 2008 17:06:53 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: writinwrong http://writinwrong.wordpress.com/2008/10/05/so-an-elephant-and-a-dragon-board-a-bus/#comment-61 writinwrong Sun, 05 Oct 2008 17:06:53 +0000 http://writinwrong.wordpress.com/?p=30#comment-61 PK: Yeah, compromise solutions like the motor on the bicycle are ideal (assuming its not absurdly costly to retrofit the thing). It makes me think of the calculations done on how its more environmentally friendly to buy a used gas guzzler than to spring for a brand new fuel-efficient hybrid. With the motor-added bike, though, its hard to imagine it being anything less than efficient and eco-friendly, bearing a small carbon footprint and being well suited to the straightaway between you and school. Weirleader: my bus ride is about 50-55 minutes in the morning and about 75-80 minutes in the evening, so combined, somewhere between 125-135 minutes a day. And, admittedly, I do have a bit more trouble focusing on the reading during the ride home because of the stop and go rush hour traffic on Sunset Blvd. But its hard to imagine missing my stop. It could be because I'm not nearly so self-immersive in books as you are ("Just one more chapter ..."). If anything, constant concern about missing my stop is causing me to misread passages--and I often end up repeating the same several paragraphs during more distracted moments. By contrast, by the way, my drive in the Hyundai normally is around 40-45 minutes in the morning and around 45-50 minutes in the evening. What really separates the two commute modes is the added time I have to factor in to walk to and from the various bus stops. That probably tacks on an additional 10-15 minutes total per day, versus jumping in my car ... All considered, good weather makes this a much more viable option here in Southern California. I can't imagine going through all this in Boston or Minneapolis. And yet we're such a single-occupant automobile town. A real shame. PK: Yeah, compromise solutions like the motor on the bicycle are ideal (assuming its not absurdly costly to retrofit the thing).

It makes me think of the calculations done on how its more environmentally friendly to buy a used gas guzzler than to spring for a brand new fuel-efficient hybrid.

With the motor-added bike, though, its hard to imagine it being anything less than efficient and eco-friendly, bearing a small carbon footprint and being well suited to the straightaway between you and school.

Weirleader: my bus ride is about 50-55 minutes in the morning and about 75-80 minutes in the evening, so combined, somewhere between 125-135 minutes a day.

And, admittedly, I do have a bit more trouble focusing on the reading during the ride home because of the stop and go rush hour traffic on Sunset Blvd. But its hard to imagine missing my stop. It could be because I’m not nearly so self-immersive in books as you are (“Just one more chapter …”). If anything, constant concern about missing my stop is causing me to misread passages–and I often end up repeating the same several paragraphs during more distracted moments.

By contrast, by the way, my drive in the Hyundai normally is around 40-45 minutes in the morning and around 45-50 minutes in the evening. What really separates the two commute modes is the added time I have to factor in to walk to and from the various bus stops. That probably tacks on an additional 10-15 minutes total per day, versus jumping in my car …

All considered, good weather makes this a much more viable option here in Southern California. I can’t imagine going through all this in Boston or Minneapolis. And yet we’re such a single-occupant automobile town.

A real shame.

]]> By: weirleader http://writinwrong.wordpress.com/2008/10/05/so-an-elephant-and-a-dragon-board-a-bus/#comment-60 weirleader Sun, 05 Oct 2008 15:50:49 +0000 http://writinwrong.wordpress.com/?p=30#comment-60 I've also been thinking about biking to work -- when we get an apartment much closer. I figured it'd be a lot cheaper and better for my fitness level. The two biggest concerns, however, are 1) (as pk mentioned) showing up sweaty to work isn't great, and 2) the Portland weather is pretty wet, so I don't know how often it'll be a reasonable option. I’ve also been thinking about biking to work — when we get an apartment much closer. I figured it’d be a lot cheaper and better for my fitness level. The two biggest concerns, however, are 1) (as pk mentioned) showing up sweaty to work isn’t great, and 2) the Portland weather is pretty wet, so I don’t know how often it’ll be a reasonable option.

]]> By: pk http://writinwrong.wordpress.com/2008/10/05/so-an-elephant-and-a-dragon-board-a-bus/#comment-59 pk Sun, 05 Oct 2008 03:04:06 +0000 http://writinwrong.wordpress.com/?p=30#comment-59 Good for you- that's excellent. Reminds me of when osu student body voted for all students to pay the metro bus $9/ qtr. to have unlimited bus access- I used it for over a year- great time to read ( don't worry WL, you won't miss your stop- set an alarm if you need to). LBCC now has plans for a shuttle between campuses. One of the chef faculty is very into sustainable living and just finished retrofitting his bike with an electric motor. Once we are back in the house, I plan to get biking to work. The motor seems like a great way to stay motivated to use it- not out of laziness, but a desire to go teach or hit a meeting without showing up sweaty when there is no down time beforehand. Good for you- that’s excellent. Reminds me of when osu student body voted for all students to pay the metro bus $9/ qtr. to have unlimited bus access- I used it for over a year- great time to read ( don’t worry WL, you won’t miss your stop- set an alarm if you need to). LBCC now has plans for a shuttle between campuses. One of the chef faculty is very into sustainable living and just finished retrofitting his bike with an electric motor.

Once we are back in the house, I plan to get biking to work. The motor seems like a great way to stay motivated to use it- not out of laziness, but a desire to go teach or hit a meeting without showing up sweaty when there is no down time beforehand.

]]> By: weirleader http://writinwrong.wordpress.com/2008/10/05/so-an-elephant-and-a-dragon-board-a-bus/#comment-58 weirleader Sun, 05 Oct 2008 00:18:49 +0000 http://writinwrong.wordpress.com/?p=30#comment-58 and here I thought you used bier just for the alliteration. :-) How long's the bus ride? I can't recall if I asked before... but for me to take public transportation here in Portland I'd have to ride for about 90-100 minutes - just to go 24 miles. I want to be green and all, but I don't have that kind of time, especially we you consider that it's both ways. I probably wouldn't mind nearly as much if I could really focus and read - I'm always worried I'm going to miss my stop. :-) and here I thought you used bier just for the alliteration. :-)

How long’s the bus ride? I can’t recall if I asked before… but for me to take public transportation here in Portland I’d have to ride for about 90-100 minutes – just to go 24 miles. I want to be green and all, but I don’t have that kind of time, especially we you consider that it’s both ways.

I probably wouldn’t mind nearly as much if I could really focus and read – I’m always worried I’m going to miss my stop. :-)

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