Happy Bike to Work Day

[mschol17]

It was kind of a miserable morning here in DC, which meant that there was more food and free t-shirts for the hardy. How many people attended a gathering and how were the crowds this morning?

[konstantkarma]

Dumping buckets outside in Baltimore today. Drove to work. Will stay dry :crap: .

[palincss]

It was kind of a miserable morning here in DC, which meant that there was more food and free t-shirts for the hardy. How many people attended a gathering and how were the crowds this morning?

Actually, the rain slacked off to an occasional drizzle just minutes before I rolled out at 7. The ride into DC wasn't bad at all. The roads & the Mount Vernon trail were wet, of course, and there were many spots with ponding and standing water, but my Honjo fenders & large Berthoud mud flap kept all the road spray off me. All in all, it was a nice ride in.

I didn't stop at any of the official pit stops - they're off my commute, and at mile 3 (where I passed the sign for the Crystal City pit stop) I don't need a stop - and I went straight to work, 4th & G NW, rather than detouring to Freedom Square.

This is my 28th year commuting to work in downtown DC, and to commemorate the occasion my wife took a few of those badges you get when you attend conferences and made up a "28 years of commuting" badge complete with purple ribbon for outstanding performance and 28 colored stars, and hung it off my bike last night. It's hanging off the back of my bike in the bike parking room right now.

[taz-t]

I rode in to town 10 miles before catching the train up to my office. This took me from East Point to Peachtree/10th Street and I saw a total of two other cyclists (not including the guy towing a shopping cart behind a Magna around Abernathy Dr.).

This was fewer than I normally see when I drive to work. ???

Weather was fine - overcast but no rain.

- Taz in Atlanta

[CMY]

I totally forgot. :crap:

[BURCH]

I work from a home office, but I will ride at lunch :D

[H1449-6]

I rode in. As far as I can tell, though, no one else in my 200+ person company did. At least there are no other bikes in the workout room.

Here in Chicago, we also have a "bike to work week" that happens in June; this year it's June 7-13.

[rpm]

I rode in, as I always do after the snow melts. The ride alongside Big River was delightful. The leaves are coming out, the sun is shining, and it's going to be over 70 degrees today. Spring has been way too long coming to the tundra.

Not that many people along the route. We're in a May session at the big U, so there weren't the usual numbers of young hipsters on their fixies.

I took my go-fast bike today, and that's just what I'll do over the lunch hour!

[djg]

Rode in a bit late, but I stopped at the Rosslyn pit stop and then again downtown, at freedom plaza. There was decent turn-out in each place, although not as big as it has been at some times with better weather. I was able to pick up some WABA literature for my agency (there's a sort of fitness day thing coming up) and the usual swag -- t-shirts, water bottles, some pomegranate iced-tea stuff.

[thejen12]

This is my 28th year commuting to work in downtown DC, and to commemorate the occasion my wife took a few of those badges you get when you attend conferences and made up a "28 years of commuting" badge complete with purple ribbon for outstanding performance and 28 colored stars, and hung it off my bike last night. It's hanging off the back of my bike in the bike parking room right now.
Okay, we HAVE to see a picture!!!

Congratulations on your great achievement!

Jenn

[72gmc]

-1: I was 5 minutes away from the house, right down by Greenlake, when a middle-aged man who had clearly spent a bunch of money on a coordinated road bike and outfit (look at me! I’m yellow!) blew by me as I was stopping for a red light. No “on your left,” no courtesy at all, he just zipped between me and the car next to me with inches to spare, ran the red, and kept going. Halfway around the lake I saw him strutting around in front of Starbucks, looking impressed with himself. I bit my tongue. His type is out in force on every Bike to Work day.

+1: I also had the chance to pump up a tire for a nice woman on the Burke Gilman Trail today. She had an old, old Raleigh three-speed with old, old tires that were coming apart. Said her newer bike had a flat so she took her “pretty bike.” She made up for yellow guy; she was genuinely nice and just happy to be out on her bike. I recommended some shops to her so she could get new tires and built up a little pump karma.

Now I’m in the office, freshly showered and sunblocked, and I feel great. That’s the beauty of biking to work. Exercise flushes the jerks out of your system.

[staggerwing]

Rode in today, but it was hardly unusual. I have been cyclo-commuting and average of almost 4 days per week for the past year.

People want to give you a pat on the back for being green and saving the planet, but for me, the truth is a bit more vain. I'm doing it primarily for me; general cardio fitness and tone were the primary instigators, although, ironically, it has had wonderful mental benefits too.

There have been a few more riders out recently, but I'm chalking it up to better weather rather than "bike to work week."

As an aside, I work for an organization that has a large "employee social engineering" program. Recently, all employees were encouraged to fill out a survey about commuting to work. The whole thing revolved around how much would gas have to cost before you, as an employee, would consider either car pooling or riding the bus. And, would an employer contribution/subsidy make either of these options more palatable. Despite their socialist bent, the concept of human powered transportation is not even a dust spot on the radar screen.

[CNY rider]

Did my usual ride to work today; didn't know it was an official celebration day.

As usual I passed by the legions of morbidly obese taking the shuttles from the outer parking areas rather than walk 1/2 mile or so.

Somewhat depressing in a societal way.

[staggerwing]

As usual I passed by the legions of morbidly obese taking the shuttles from the outer parking areas rather than walk 1/2 mile or so.

There is a lot of that where I work. When I first started, I gave it a try, but quickly figured out I could save 15 minutes by simply walking from the outlying lot. Relaying the epiphany to coworkers generated the kind of incredulous expression reserved for those venturing to the moon without a spacesuit.

[JKlash]

I rode 15.5 miles from Seattle to Renton in to work on the nicest day of the year so far, by a wide margin. It was so warm that I stopped and took my jacket and gloves off at the halfway point. The sun was resplendent as it reflected off Lake Washington. I could not have asked for a more beautiful day to ride in. Sadly, I arrived at my place of employment to find the bike rack completely empty, just like every other day. None of the 300+ people that work in my building had seen fit to take advantage of the day. I guess that is what I get for working in the suburbs. I’m sorry to hear the weather was such a drag in the D.C./MD area.

[Orin]

Well, I rode, but it was the third time this week. Woodinville to Bellevue, about 10 miles with a gentle tailwind. It's warm and sunny today in the Pacific Northwet so I rode the Legend rather than the fully befendered, low trail, handlebar bagged Rambouillet. Not that many out at 10am, but I'd imagine the trail is going to be chaos this evening. I think I'll avoid it more than usual!

Orin.

[taylorj]

And every day is a celebration on my bike. I love seeing the "new commuters" trying it out for the first time. I only recently had to deal with the fact that sometimes it is "Run to work day" or even "walk to work day" due to snow (living in Minnesota/Boston/and even Reno)...But really the best way to start the day is a ride into work. Commuting is the best part of my day! Has been for the last 15 years! Have a wonderful Bike Home from Work day!

Hey Sellwood---we're heading to Markleeville again this weekend!! Forecast on the passes is in the 80's! :banana: :beer: :banana:

[thejen12]

That’s the beauty of biking to work. Exercise flushes the jerks out of your system.
Quote of the Day!

Jenn

[bumperjohn]

Soggy ride in this morning in DC as has been said before. I took it easy and just enjoyed the ride. I stopped in Rosylyn and Freedom Plaza. I really wanted to ride some miles before work this morning but I found it peaceful and serene riding this morning in the rain so I just took it easy and took in the sights. Riding past the Jefferson and Washington monuments every morning really takes my breath away!

john

[NicaDog]

Our Bike to Work day is June 25th.
Looking forward to it. Though the only difference will
be getting a free breakfast on the way in.

Glad you all participated.