Car/Bike commute hybrid
John D. Hamalka MD is a Healthcare CIO who supports some 3000 doctors, 18000 faculty, and 3 million patients in Boston Massachusetts.
Experiencing a “there must be a better way” moment with a more than challenging commute/daily schedule, John chose the to replace his car in the city center with a folding bike in an experiment. After investigating folding bikes by Bike Friday, Brompton and Dahon , John chose the STRiDA as “the only one light enough, small enough, or quick to fold enough to just toss in and our of car/office/train in a few seconds.”
The goal here is to apply the appropriate tool for the job. In-city gridlock, caused by cars, has made them less and less useful. Bicycles are superb for inner-city trips and folders even better.
For many, an entire commute by bike may be too much; leaving the car as the best tool. If there is available rail or public transit the folding bike remains best of all,.
After many years of commuting entirely by car, I never do any more. Most days I travel by GO Train(Toronto’s public commuter rail) with a STRiDA folding bike under the seat. This a great way to go; the bike is always with me, no chance of theft, and I am never stuck in traffic or have to pay for parking. On those days when I need a car available, I drive to the Northwest corner of Toronto, park free, take the bike out of the car and ride the final 10 km (6Mi). This has worked wonderfully for me and I appreciate the longer ride.
I’m looking forward to an update on John’s experiment with this.
More reasons the world needs more girls on bikes.
Photo via Cycle Style Show.
I came across a post on treehugger.com
I know it’s an important idea, and it’s hard to articulate at times. However, I want to add to it as I get flashes of how to say it on my daily commute.
1. The World Will Be Better Looking.
2. There is Safety in Numbers.
3. Sweat Equity
4. Style Over Speed.
5. More Women Bikers Mean the Infrastructure Has Matured..
6. For Complete Streets.
My Additions
7. Women relate to bikes differently. There is a genuine feeling for the bike and what it does for them; how they go through their world together. Men’s perspective is often about the technology, speed, toughness and envy factor. Women can see their bicycle in a holistic context and that functional relationship with other parts of life adds emotional value to the bicycle.
8. Pleasure over Speed. Why is it that I have to go as quickly as possible from point A to B? I do not know. I get that there is joy in the journey, I just can’t seem to slow down and look for it. I do see that women can.
9 Decency, Humility. I notice this every day.
10. Further to TH’s Style over Speed. Women are not embarrassed to ride some really cool looking bikes, and then go even further and add some additional touches. While men can admire this, we would not want to be looked at.
11. It (more women on bikes) would be an indication that we have made progress on creating safe urban cycling conditions. See here and this article from Scientific American.
Transportation is wonderful freedom
Parking was provided for me in the office building. Once my car was there, it mostly stayed until I left for the day. I never wanted to get the car out to do things during the day simply because there was no where to put it when I got where I wanted to go. I walked mostly, all over the place; but that was limited to the amount of ground I could cover in a reasonable time. Except on rare energetic days, and if necessary, I never got north of Dundas , or over to Spadina
Once I bought a STRiDA everything changed. Anytime I had a desire to go anywhere downtown it was a 5 or 10 minute ride, then fold it up and go in, or out, or up or down. From a freedom of transportation standpoint, there is no better way to interact with the city.
