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rfmcdonaldExtraordinary Observation's Rob Pitingolo blogged last Monday about how cuts to Cincinnati public transit have left him increasingly disenchanted with the idea.
Me? The first couple of weeks this month, I'd experimented with combining cycling with the occasional token when needed, but I've reverted to the weekly pass with the cycling secondary. I'm lucky enough to live in neigubourhoods that are very TTC-accessible--the Dufferin bus runs every few minutes a couple minutes away from me, the subway line is a dozen minutes walk south, and every quarter-hour or so the eastbound Dupont bus stopped on the corner of the intersection opposite mine (the westbound stops a dozen metres from my alleyway). Biking, while fun, and a useful backup if need be, and something I might be able to integrate into my commuting--might; I can't take my bike onto the subways during peak commuting times, although the buses do mostly have racks--isn't as easy a ritual, as comfortable, as stepping onto the bus and showing the driver my Metropass.
But then, I'm lucky to have those two options, especially since I don't own or operate a motor vehicle. What would things be like for people in greater Toronto--or other cities--who don't have the options of good mass transit or cyclable commuting routes or their own vehicles?
It's now been almost a month since I've ridden public transportation. I've replaced almost all those trips by bicycling. I've found that biking around is ideal for short trips (less than two miles), usually the best option for medium-length trips (2 to 5 miles), and at least as (in)convenient as public transit for long trips (up to 10 miles).
I think what I liked, in principal, about public transit is that it's so cheap (compared to driving) and (in theory) gets me to the places I want to go. I don't have to worry about actually driving (a stressful activity, in my opinion) and I can read a book or a magazine as I'm ferried along to my destination.
Over the past month I realized that bicycling is cheap too - cheaper than riding public transit, in fact (assuming you aren't riding an expensive bike). And while I might not be able to read or write emails or sleep while I'm traveling from one place to another, I am exercising, and that's a form of multitasking about as good as any. I don't have to visit a gym. I don't have to schedule a workout into my day. I don't sit around at the end of the week feeling guilty because I've been "too busy" to exercise all week.
Me? The first couple of weeks this month, I'd experimented with combining cycling with the occasional token when needed, but I've reverted to the weekly pass with the cycling secondary. I'm lucky enough to live in neigubourhoods that are very TTC-accessible--the Dufferin bus runs every few minutes a couple minutes away from me, the subway line is a dozen minutes walk south, and every quarter-hour or so the eastbound Dupont bus stopped on the corner of the intersection opposite mine (the westbound stops a dozen metres from my alleyway). Biking, while fun, and a useful backup if need be, and something I might be able to integrate into my commuting--might; I can't take my bike onto the subways during peak commuting times, although the buses do mostly have racks--isn't as easy a ritual, as comfortable, as stepping onto the bus and showing the driver my Metropass.
But then, I'm lucky to have those two options, especially since I don't own or operate a motor vehicle. What would things be like for people in greater Toronto--or other cities--who don't have the options of good mass transit or cyclable commuting routes or their own vehicles?
