It’s the start of the second week of the 30 Days of Biking challenge and I’m a little bummed out when I hear everyone’s daily bike stories. I’m bummed because I’m at a trade show in Las Vegas for a week, and between the heavy workload during the day and running around town with co-workers and partners in the evening, I knew I couldn’t pledge to bike every day. Not to mention that the Las Vegas Strip is not known for being bike-friendly.
Rather than whine about not being able to participate in that challenge, I propose a new one: the Anything Goes Commute Challenge, a face-off between all possible transportation options for your work, school or other commute. Why? Because most people select one and stick to it without trying all options, including me.
When I started my current job over a year ago I researched options for my 10+ mile commute: drive, bike, light rail and train + bike. The plan was to try them all, compare them, and write up the results. But after riding Caltrain with my bike a few times I settled into a routine and more or less crossed other options off the list.
So here it is a year later and I’m finally compiling my results and will share them with you this week, barring excessive work or late-night partying. I doubt I’ll have many bike stories from Las Vegas to share.
What about you? How many commute options have you tried? Two, perhaps three? Have you tried everything? Maybe you should take the Anything Goes Commute Challenge with me. I’d love to hear all about your varied commutes. I know some of you have some interesting commutes involving trail rides, bikes on ferries, running and roller skates. (Those were all from Californians, but I know there are creative people everywhere)
To join the challenge: Try two or more commute options during April. Think out of the box. There’s probably an option you haven’t tried yet, like the bus or multi-modal trips like bike + car. Record the distances, time spent in each mode and cost of the trip for each. If your work or school commute offers only one reasonable option, feel free to substitute another frequent destination such as a store or friend’s house.
On Monday, April 15, I will post my results give you details on evaluation criteria and how to enter. Note that there are no prizes since I’m not one of those sponsored bloggers who gets free stuff to give away. But I can give you a chance to be spotlighted on my blog during May, which is National Bike Month in the US. So take pictures. Lots of them (landscape preferred). The contest will end on April 30, so get started today!
Margaret
April 8, 2013 at 6:04 pm
When I was working during my college years, I biked. I remember doing my own ‘Anything Goes’ commute challenge, mainly because I got tired of just one mode of transport. The modes I remember taking were walking, skateboarding, rollerskating and of course biking.
Now I prefer to bike, bike, bike. I will walk some places, but not often.
Brian
April 8, 2013 at 10:59 pm
I’ve ridden the Strip. But my bike was a black steel Trek mountain bike that was almost exactly like the police bikes, so people gave me a lot of room. You can turn off the Strip onto any of those other streets and they’re just like any strip mall suburban artery in Santa Clara County. I think some even have bike lanes. But Las Vegas is my least favorite place in the world.
Richard Masoner (@cyclelicious)
April 12, 2013 at 1:49 pm
Here’s how the Strip looks during Interbike:
Safety in numbers. We basically just take over.
ladyfleur
April 12, 2013 at 1:50 pm
Bike Party!!! Except it’s obviously Interbike since it’s all dudes.
Richard Masoner (@cyclelicious)
April 12, 2013 at 2:34 pm
We have our token women, too. http://www.flickr.com/photos/bike/6152291226/
Andrew Boone
April 9, 2013 at 12:13 pm
I accept your Anything Goes Commute Challenge!
I already keep track of my daily miles and mode of transportation so it should be easy for me. I can’t record commute trips because I’m unemployed, so I just record all my trips no matter what the destination is.
In April I already ended up using a transportation mode I vigorously avoid but sometimes it’s super useful: transit. Took BART to Berkeley and most likely I’ll use both BART and Caltrain again before the month is over.
I already goofed and didn’t make the “30 Day of Biking” challenge by not biking on April 5, so I’m glad you created an alternative challenge!