Usually I don't have to get on the freeway to go to work. But yesterday and today I had to get to Costa Mesa at 9 AM, from the San Fernando Valley, about 5 miles of surface streets and 60 miles on the 405 Parking Lot, err Effway. :o
Yesterday I took the company car, spent 2 hours 15 minutes each way. Lots of steam coming out my ears. ;)
Today I took the VFR, spent 1 hour 15 minutes each way. Saved 2 hours of traffic hell, a lot of ear steam, and even had a little fun. Not so much the 10 or more miles of freeway lane splitting in each direction, but just getting past all the slow brain drivers, and on to my destination. Oh, and the carpool lane is mine! :wheel:
Monday I took the car to work 50 miles from Canyon Country to Thousand Oaks. 2 1/2 hrs. :( Teusday took the other bike as the VFR is just about a week and a few parts from being finished. 1 hr. :D I agree traffic sucks. <_< Got passed in the carpool lane by a chp on a BMW. He Auctually waved as he went by cause I moved over to let him by.
Reseda to Thousand Oaks 23 mi. slow 45 min. fast 28 min. do it every day, cage some times went it rains and wife has day off rare.Gee Friday my day off and it gonna rain.Oh well...
Well I have a company vehicle(utility truck), and my coverage area is the same area I live in. I work for the local utlity company(Pacific Gas & Electric). So my commute is basically from my front door to my truck, once in my truck I sign in on my laptop and they issue me my work via cell network to the truck and I go to work in the area I live in. So I cant complain.
Wearing my Aerostich, I too commute on two wheels every day from Santa Clarita to Hollywood. 33 miles each way takes me 40 minutes, unless I detour over to Little Tujunga and the 210/118. Even with some bonehead drivers and the occasional rain, it is usually the best part of my day.
I have a 1.2 mile commute each way to the front gate of the base. If I drove, I'd have a half mile or so walk to the mechanical engineering building. Riding my bike gets me parking right by the front door. Only PITA is that stupid vest thing the Navy makes us wear...not like people would notice my headlights or anything first! How many drivers who hit riders say "I didn't see him" instead of "I wasn't looking because I'm an idiot?" Oh well, I digress :)
Anyway, I'd prefer to bicycle it since its such a short distance, but I live on the hill behind Monterey Peninsula College. I don't mind climbing hills at all, but not in khaki slacks or uniform!
I commute on the motorcycle except for rainy days or when I have to schlep too much work home.
22 miles one way to my office. 10 additional miles to remote office 2 or 3 days a week.
Normal commute is 30 mins. by motorcycle because of the HOV lane. 2 options if I take the car - 30 mins. on the tollway at $7-8 roundtrip, which gets expensive, or 1 hr 15 min. if I take the car.
Worked an 18-hour day on Wednesday. Funny, there is no one on the 405 at 2 a.m. so no need to split lanes -- just one large bag full of garbage that I narrowly missed going 85.
In the past, whenever I have owned a street bike, I always rode to work or school, (except winters in Vermont where I grew up) Now with the VFR, I suspect I will use the bike for 90% of my work related commuting and travel. The only exception would be when I have to be in Court, I just don't think carrying a helmet into a courtroom goes over that well. :wheel:
However, my office is only about 2 miles from my house, so I am sure I will go back and forth to the office everyday that I am not in Court. Although I think I will have to take the long way around the bay to the office a lot. (about 40 miles around perdido bay.) :D
I modified the poll, because I commute on 4 wheels and 2 wheels. 4 wheels mostly, but 1 day a week in the winter and 3 days per week in the summer, I take my bike. :rolleyes:
Two wheels for me, in the summer barring any heavy rain days (mainly to keep the bike clean, which is helluva more important than keeping me dry!! :beer: ).
I only have about a 10 minute ride, but have some very nice curves in there so I can play boy racer on my way to and fro'.
martincaf1, Feb 11 2005, 10:01 AMI drive everywhere - gotta carry a laptop, dress in suit'n'tie... as a finance broker people expect a certain standard of presentation.
So the bike for me is a fine-weather, no-appointments vehicle.
I fixed this one with rain gear from Tourmaster. I'll wear my dress blues under the rain gear and put my hat (cover for us military types) in the tank bag or saddlebag.
Of course, military haircuts are a little more resistant to helmet hair syndrome than financier haircuts... :beer:
In winter I drive the leased 4 wheeler - but in the better weather I plan to two wheel it as much as possible. Have 50 miles to go each way across the top of Toronto - I might as well have some fun before and after the daily chaos called work.........besides I can save some $ on mileage when I hand the car back at the end.
Anyone ever seen any contraptions that conceal a bike licence plate against things like photo toll booths? (Not that I'd ever so anything like that - just curious) :rolleyes:
Commuting on foot is great, sometimes I commute to the bedroom we've set up as an office, and turn on the computer. Mostly I drive the company car, due to the carrying crap issue, and the company pays the gas and everything. Most fo my work is local, and the office is only 3 miles away, so it's hard to justify suiting up and strapping down the laptop and bag. :D
But commuting on the freeways can really suck, and riding can save a lot of time. When I have to fight the traffic that be, it's worth it to me to pay for 3-4 gallons of gas and leave the car at home. :wheel:
I hated commuting to work on my bike, only slightly less in the car. "The Morning Drive", followed by "The Evening Drive" with bonus inclement weather <_< yay
Guessing your weather tends to be more inclement than the traffic, Safe-T. Around here it tends to be inclement / fubar traffic, but nice weather. So, ymmv. :D
And yeah, commuting sucks either way. The best commute is a walk into the next room to log on. :D
I use the cage because I deliver the rug rats to school, then to work, and then home since the wife picks up the kids. Grand total 3 miles. I'm home and on the bike for a nice afternoon ride before most of you commuters have reached the freeway! HAH. :wheel:
