Monnster

I live in Northern Ohio and work at a large company(500+). I commute year around and the only thing that keeps me off my bike is when the weather gets incredibly nasty or I have long mileage errands to run after work. So, it's not unusual for me to bike for weeks even months straight. My commute is short(about 12 miles round trip). Somehow my coworkers think this is crazy. I am almost always the only one parked at my works bike rack, they actually made a formal bike policy because I was having problems getting in and out of security.

My coworkers view me as being kinda "out there". I , on the other hand, see this as saving money and getting exercise at the same time. I have been commuting now for 4 years. It is hard for me to believe that with people hurting as much as they are these days that more people aren't commuting, maybe I am crazy . Do any of you commuters go through similar circumstances?

I-Like-To-Bike

What "circumstances" are you going through? Does your co-worker "view" of you affect you or your work in any negative way?

wphamilton

After three or four years everyone accepts it as the normal status quo. Privately who knows what individual attitudes about it are and really why care? In person those who mention it are respectful and sometimes even complimentary about it.

I sometimes wonder myself why there aren't more bicycle commuters to the office when to me it seems so easy. But I know it's a combination of concerns about the traffic, the weather and the distance most people have to get there. It's only easy after you've done it for a while and pretty daunting to jump right into it, especially over any distance in rush hour traffic.

wolfchild

Typical behaviour from people who don't understand the joys of riding a bike to work... Just ignore them and continue to do what you enjoy doing. Do any of your co-workers harass you because of riding a bike to work ??

Monnster

No, it doesn't affect my work negatively. Associates have told me about people saying I must be broke, or maybe I got a DUI. People have called me an Idiot for biking on snowy days. Just things like that.

Monnster

Harass is a pretty strong word, but most people have no problem with criticizing my choice (too cold,or hot, or rainy or snowy).

dynodonn 

After 4 years, one would think that their co-workers would now have found a better or different subject to direct their idle chatter at.

Telly

Picture a Clyde riding into a secure site featuring several high profile companies with some of the most stuck-up people you will ever meet in your life!
Do they think I'm crazy???? nahhhh!

DJ Shaun

I'm only known as "the crazy one" in the winter since I'm the only one who commutes with any sort of regularity when it's bellow -5C.

rubic

I used to get that "crazy' comment years ago at work. The usual bad comment would occur on stormy days with the typical comment of, "Well, did you ride today?" I would disarm them by replying, "I didn't ride in today since the windshield wipers on my glasses were not working", or something to that effect.

Now, things have changed. Physical fitness has become a big part of the culture of our company. More and more employees are cycling and there are organized rides to boot. I feel more admiration than disapproval. Perhaps the ones who still consider me 'crazy' keep their comments to themselves now. I don't mind.

tahoe_girl

I have been commuting every summer for 4 years now and have lost 100 lbs in the process. my co-workders definitely think I am obsessed with my bike, but being 100 lbs lighter, they can think whatever they want

dynodonn 

Damn, I feel like the only cyclist on BF that GAINED weight from riding a bike, 17 lbs to be exact.

Burton

Sort of but respectfully. Interestingly enough because I work in a bike shop and most other people there drive cars as their primary vehicle. For the past four years I've made it a point to drive and commute exclusively by bicycle year round rain or shine because I feel its important to know firsthand what works and what to recommend to customers without simply just quoting the product marketing blurbs.

Sell a custoner junk and you'll never know cause they usually won't come back. If I ride it and it fails prematurely - I won't recommend it and eventually it gets dropped from the product line.

Which doesn't necessarily mean I'm not crazy ...

KonAaron Snake 

I'm definitely regarded as a little nuts at work, but it's not because of my commute. People really don't care if you bike to work, take the train, etc. I don't proselytize and no one cares.

I'm regarded as a little nuts because of my humor and world view.

irwin7638

I've been doing it for 40 years. Get used to it. I still hear dumb comments and ridiculous ideas. It all boils down to the fact that people look at cycle transportation as demeaning. Their identities are all wrapped up in that hunk of steel Madison Avenue sold them, and they wouldn't part with that unless it was absolutely necessary under the worst of circumstances. That's why they think it is weird, it is. The norm is to drive a car, an impressive car, no matter how counter productive and self destructive it might be. I still have people tell me how brave I am, or how sorry they are for me, or ask if I will be able to afford a car soon, or when will I get my license back. They are genuinely shocked to find out I have a car and can drive whenever I choose, I just choose not to.

Marc

Snowman219

This guy I work with changed shifts and biked to work the first day of his shift change. He's 55 years old, and rides farther than I do on a Wal-Mart bike, how hard can it be .

Matariki

Cycling is only one of the factors considered by others who may label me. I don't take elevators, walk instead of drive at work, don't like to eat lunch, have an intentionally corny stand-up routine, and the craziest of all - I tell people when they are wrong (and why) instead of worrying about their self-esteem.

wphamilton

Exactly but don't ruin our mystique with that sort of talk in public, OK?

caloso

Riding isn't everyone's idea of fun. (Shocking, I know.) So it isn't immediately obvious why we find it so satisfying. I had a coworker who was big into golf so I explained to him: if you could golf your way to work every day, wouldn't you do it?

stringbreaker

Everytime the temps here drop below 40 and I ride in people ask me "didn't you freeze" sometimes when I'm feeling like a real wiseacre I'll reply "do I look frozen".. Then when you explain cold weather gear. (read ski gear) they will understand and the fact that if you are moving you are gonna sweat and stay warm. Then they get it.

RGNY

i'm the only bike commuter at work.

they are all convinced i'll be killed on my bike, or freeze to death, etc, etc......

but they still look forward to seeing if my bike is locked up when they come in, almost like "if Rob rode his bike to work, everything is ok".

very strange.

I-Like-To-Bike

I suspect that "friendly" or "friend" are not labels that you don't have to not worry about.

xenologer

Sure, I do have somewhat of a reputation as being odd. My bikes all have 'wierd' handlebars (mustache, dirt drops, inverted northroads). Whereas all the other mechanics ride 'normal' bikes.

TOTAL CONTROL

So, I'm not the only one who is thought of in this manner. Good to know. Well its all been said. "Don't you freeze", "where's your car", "oh your not gonna ride in that are you?" LOL

& the strangest part of all.....is that THEY are the ones that look the most misirable at work. Now I don't mean to knock anyone who is taking them. & I CERTAINLY don't mean to imply that bike commuting is a miracal cure all for mental illness.......but the facts are very clear to me. I watch & listen to co worker after co woker talk about depression & all the pills they pop to "fix" what's wrong. I'm no doctor & if your on'em, keep on'em til your shrink says other wise. But I know the burn does SOOOOO much more than just burn calories.

& like others have said, people tend to look down on you for not driveing or owning a car. I've seen it first hand. I'll be talking with a co worker or even a superior & oddly the conversation will often turn to cars. I'm sure its cause they want to know what kind of car this intellegent man I'm speaking to drives, surly its something very sporty cause he's so smart & engageing. Then I drop the bomb on them I don't own a car & bike instead. I then watch as they try to conseal their disapointment.....or how their eyes will glass over & try to play it down.

But I can tell they feel as if I'm just not "man enough". If I still cared about being "man enough" i'd still be locked up in a closet. I know myself worth & have nothing to prove.

dramiscram

When I started bike commuting I had to prove to the boss that I still had my driving license. Working at the service dept. of a car dealer I have to drive company and costumers cars daily so my boss as the right to know and legaly MUST know if I got a DUI. At the time I was furious that he didn't believe me and had to check. I'm sure he still feel bad about it and that it's probably one of the reasons why he let me park the bike inside the drive-thru area.

Apart from that I'm just ''the cyclist''