Biking vs. Driving: Which is better?

Honestly, life on two wheels is pure bliss🙂 since I got my bike. I can't even remember the last time I had to deal with a bus or a subway train.

Bicycles are such an incredible way to get around a city. Back when I was living in the urban core, I used to bike everywhere—regardless of whether it was pouring rain, scorching sun, or freezing snow... But now, since my commute to campus and back covers about 22 miles along busy main roads, I find myself opting for the car instead. Honestly, I’d probably be much more inclined to hop on a bike if there were actually a decent, dedicated bike path connecting the San Francisco Bay Area... but just not happening right now.

Some guy from the San Francisco Bay Area was telling me that crossing the Golden Gate Bridge is actually pretty fine

You little monster, you still there?
Or did you get caught up in the thick of things back during the Vietnam War...

I tend to stick to my bike whenever the weather permits 🙂 It is nice to have a few rideable days left in November, though the chill is setting in and the daylight is fading fast; unfortunately, drivers seem to develop this subconscious habit of assuming cyclists simply vanish during the winter months, which leads to them becoming much less attentive to everyone else on the road

Gregory Turner71 said:Bicycles are actually great for urban transit. Back when I lived in the heart of the city, I biked everywhere regardless of whether it was raining, sunny, or snowing. Now? My commute to campus and back covers about 22 miles on busy main roads, so I’d much rather just drive. Honestly, I might even consider biking again if there were an actual, decent bike path connecting the San Francisco Bay Area to the city... but we don't have that. :/

It’s possible, if you're determined enough. For over a decade, I commuted from the San Francisco Bay Area to NYC almost every single day. It’s just a shame they put up that barrier at the freight station. I’m not sure what the current situation is—do they let people through now? Either way, you can still cut through Buzina. Or, if you really want to live on the edge, you can take California straight—provided you have life insurance and small kids to worry about.

casualharbor9 said:It’s definitely doable if you’re willing to make the effort. For over a decade, I was commuting from VA to Chicago almost every single day—it just sucks that they installed that ramp at the freight yard. I'm not sure what the current situation is, whether they're letting people through now? But you can still take the route via Buzina. Or, if you really have nothing to lose—maybe you’ve got great life insurance or small kids to worry about—you could just cut straight down Broadway.

Well... there's this one stretch down there where I have to pass through some rural towns, and honestly, it's a nightmare to drive. The road is so narrow that two cars can barely squeeze past each other, there aren't any sidewalks, and people are regularly flying through at over 50 mph. It feels like a miracle that a cyclist hasn't been knocked down or pushed into a ditch yet...
Supposedly, as part of the highway construction project, they should be building a dedicated path leading into Chicago.

Gregory Turner71 said:Well... there’s this one stretch down south where I have to ride through some small towns, and honestly, it's a nightmare. The roads are narrow—barely enough room for two cars to pass—there are zero sidewalks, yet people are constantly flying through at over 50 mph. It hasn't happened yet, but you're just waiting for someone to knock a cyclist into a ditch...
Supposedly, they're planning to build a bike path leading into Washington, D.C., as part of those highway construction projects.

So, are you heading toward Cic, or maybe near Gradic? I spent over a decade living in Queens. Once I got fed up with wrestling with the bus system, I started biking. It was pretty grim until they finally finished that path by the airport; now it connects nicely with V. mlak, then you can head past the freight yard while it's still doable... and well, Brooklyn is right there... But if you take the route through Arlington and those rural outskirts, it's a longer haul, and the roads get sketchy, especially when dusk hits or if it starts raining (or when you're near Suburban Atlanta, Christmas, or New Year's Day 🙂 ). When the weather is actually decent, though, you can go pretty much anywhere.