tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36250316.post1590009629084338104..comments2023-11-05T01:50:47.040-07:00Comments on Bike Commute Tips Blog: American Insanity: Killer CommutesPaul Dornhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03893190816290007375noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36250316.post-45679887899372625482008-02-12T14:10:00.000-08:002008-02-12T14:10:00.000-08:00i guess what bugs me about the article, is the und...i guess what bugs me about the article, is the underlying assumptions: they're not necessarily saying housing isn't available closer-in, just that it's high-priced and in unsafe areas. if you really start to parse it, to my more paranoid side it sounds like code -- for needing to get to suburbs that are white enough! and the people who decide they really need that 2,000+ SF and a double car garage, regardless of the commute -- this is the inevitable end game. downsize and reclaim the abandoned areas closer to the center.clarkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10860613460678917845noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36250316.post-59685565122385891192008-02-12T11:07:00.000-08:002008-02-12T11:07:00.000-08:00... And silly me is just now understanding that th...... And silly me is just now understanding that the article was a commute of an hour BY CAR each way ... <BR/><BR/>I haven't driven to my job since May 25th, and it was a few months prior to that when I drove before. <BR/><BR/>My bad, in that case. An hour by bike really seems pleasant to me. An hour by car... Well... That sucks.Noahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15271155305943176738noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36250316.post-32494415463985829042008-02-12T09:34:00.000-08:002008-02-12T09:34:00.000-08:00noah -30 miles round trip is *nothing* - I think I...noah -<BR/><BR/>30 miles round trip is *nothing* - I think I have as many co-workers with a 15 mile or more one way commute as I have with less! On the extreme I have 2 co workers who commute from Folsom to Sunnyvale - that's 100 miles. Each way. There are 1000's of new (facing foreclosure) homes in places like Tracy, Ca. There are very few jobs within 50 miles of Tracy.<BR/><BR/>Your experience is not what Paul is talking about. Wait until your kids grow up, and your current suburb has a 3x price increase relative to inflation, and your kids want a starter house. When they end up buying 70 miles away from KC and commuting to downtown, you'll see the dilemma already starting in places like SF, LA, Chicago, Denver, Atlanta, etc...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36250316.post-33685250681297967742008-02-12T07:13:00.000-08:002008-02-12T07:13:00.000-08:00I tend to disagree that long-distance commuting ex...I tend to disagree that long-distance commuting excludes community. For example, my round trip is a little over an hour each way unless I hammer it -- but then I'm not enjoying myself. I still make it to city hall meetings. In fact, because of my long-distance commuting I can often make it to city hall meetings in the urban core over lunch, then make it to advocacy planning meetings and evening city hall meetings out in the suburbs from which I hail -- And I often do!<BR/><BR/>Keep in mind that I spent the first 21 years of my life living in rural areas. From birth to age 9 I spent in a small farm town in Nebraska. The next 12 years of my life were spent growing up 30 miles from Kansas City. Towards the end of my stay out there, I had two jobs and a fiancee to visit almost daily and would often put as many as 80 miles per day on my poor, little car.<BR/><BR/>Since then, I've moved twice but I still live in your vision of a suburban hell. That said, I now have a 30 mile round trip by bicycle. Round trip, riding my bike adds only 45 minutes to my commute, and that 45 additional minute gains me 2 hours or more of daily cardio. <BR/><BR/>I rarely disagree with your stance on an issue, but I really couldn't be happier with my current situation.<BR/><BR/>Keep in mind, however, that Kansas City's urban core is fledgeling -- just now starting to mature and develop into a place that's livable without a car. There's still not a proper grocery store within easy walking distance from the new lofts and apartments being wrought from the old, blighted structures here.Noahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15271155305943176738noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36250316.post-75131753295717552332008-02-11T22:25:00.000-08:002008-02-11T22:25:00.000-08:00agree with all -- except i still kind of like the ...agree with all -- except i still kind of like the single family dwelling, the yard and even the cutting of the grass. i suppose it's burned into my psyche. i know it's still sprawl, even if it happened many decades ago -- but in a lot of cities you can find plenty of single family dwellings in reasonable proximity to the workplace, if you are willing to live in an area that's not considered the best part of town. and in a house that might seem too small, especially if you have too much stuff. if a lot of people do this -- display some confidence and belief in all of the city instead of the suburban fringe -- the whole city will be better off.clarkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10860613460678917845noreply@blogger.com