2000 miles with infinite MPG

[MeteorGray]

I used to cycle until I became increasingly wary of all the traffic zooming around me and began accumulating the inevitable multitude of incidences.

I finally concluded it was too dangerous a pursuit to justify if good health and longevity was the goal.

Walking seemed to be a better plan since it doesn't take as much territory and I can do it away from the street. Besides, the air seems a bit healthier.

[Lemmy]

Statistically speaking at least, lack of exercise is far more likely to kill you than cycling.

If "risk" is your concern then you've evaluated the entire scenario incorrectly.

[AdrianD]

What about pollutants in the air adding to the risk?

I cycle to and from work and the smell of exhaust fumes is nasty if I take my cycling mask off.

[MeteorGray]

Originally Posted by Lemmy

Statistically speaking at least, lack of exercise is far more likely to kill you than cycling.

If "risk" is your concern then you've evaluated the entire scenario incorrectly.

Well, there are choices.

Some of them avoid competing with multi-ton hard-bodied vehicles and their fumes on public streets.

Those are the ones I choose in my effort to evaluate the entire scenario correctly.

[Xist]

My profile picture is Miracle Max from "The Princess Bride" and I chose the picture after telling people that running made me feel mostly dead. I had not realized that life-threatening health problems were that common, but I am glad that you guys have been able to make improvements!

I went to the gym New Year's Day, but didn't go inside, I just walked home the long way. When I was going to bed on the second I realized with disappointment that I had not gone for a walk, besides walking to the end of the block and back twice with my brother, but I had around forty progress reports to write, and then apply to grad school by tonight.

Who sets a deadline at 10pm?

[teoman]

Oh nowadays with online applications they set a deadline and dismiss anyone who submitted 5 hours before the deadline. That is what one of my friends in HR told me. He said something in the line of “we want people that are well prepared in advance”.

I told him that was BS. Everyones time management algorithm is different.

[AdrianD]

Originally Posted by MeteorGray

Well, there are choices.

Some of them avoid competing with multi-ton hard-bodied vehicles and their fumes on public streets.

Those are the ones I choose in my effort to evaluate the entire scenario correctly.

Well, in my case going to work and avoiding exhaust fumes would mean taking the helicopter. Quite readily available for an average Joe

[RedDevil]

My commute is clean enough but over 20 miles is a bit of a stretch to walk or cycle.

[The Other Andy]

I can understand avoiding the bicycle. I used to bike my commute. It involved a terribly-designed freeway/surface street interchange* and high-speed traffic whizzing by, nearly all of whom seemed to be on their cell phone. It definitely required an incredibly high awareness of everything going on around me (and the loudest bell I could find).

Though I quit riding in because our lunchroom is disgusting and the boss is a dick.

If you have the willpower to keep up the walking, great! Walking is not only good exercise, but I find it pretty therapeutic. If you need a bit of help, and don't mind the extra expense, get a dog. They'll encourage you to walk regularly, albeit with several stops for relief and sniffing things.

*All the traffic coming up the I-41 Northbound off-ramp to Eastbound Main Street immediately tries to cross 3 lanes to make a left onto Fountain Blvd, including many semi trucks. The design of the off-ramp means that their vehicle is already pointed East though, making it very difficult to see what's coming from the West. Cutoffs are a daily occurrence.

[MeteorGray]

My tipping point in deciding that cycling amongst the traffic on public roads may not be as good as it feels was when I was passed by log trucks after seeing logs that had fallen off in the breakdown lane where I was biking.

Actually, I was riding illegally in that side lane, since technically riding bikes is supposed to be only done in the lanes of the regular roadway. No way I was going to do that.

So, I simply found other ways to keep active.

It's good to have choices.