Getting to work

[equiraptor]

I recently started working for The Planet at their headquarters in downtown Houston. As a result of being downtown parking is limited. Most of us have to pay for car parking (motorcycle parking is freely available under the building and there's a bike rack available). However, the company will pay for a bus pass for employees. So I can either pay

Comments

[thatwesguy]

For what it's worth, my research indicates that ever since I got a phone capable of playing video (e.g. TV shows I otherwise would never watch, and TED.com talks) my bus rides have become 89.4% shorter (at least perceptually). This tips the balance of most commuting in favor of public transit, for me.

[equiraptor]

I use the iPhone pretty extensively while on the bus. Unfortunately, my ride home has a 15 minute transfer that, lately, has been too cold for me to want to be glove-less using the phone. There's not enough light to use the Kindle this time of year, either. So I spend 8 minutes on the bus, 15 minutes waiting around in the cold for the next bus, and then 11 minutes on that next bus. The ride in, 30 minutes on one bus, is a lot nicer, but that route isn't currently practical for the way home.

I get a lot of satisfaction from driving, from controlling my fate. I'll also gain experience, even on the street, that I can use in my racing. While some people would love it if their car could drive itself to work every day, I'd rather do the driving myself.

[thatwesguy]

Yeah, I see what you mean.

The "driving skills" aspect is an interesting factor. Most drivers don't consider the skill of becoming a better driver in their cost-benefit analysis of commute method. I like it!

[eliset]

I love my scooter, but it's not really logical to ride on cold/wet days, so you might factor that into your cost/benefit analysis.

[equiraptor]

They make rain gear for riding motorcycles that I hear is quite effective. That does add cost (buying more gear, and this'd definitely need to be good stuff), but a way to get to work on a motorcycle and stay dry exists. Honestly, I'm more concerned about my ability to handle a sport bike on wet ground. When the drive tires loose traction in the wet, the car stays upright. The bike? Well... I need some skill first.

There's a lot of "I'll pay more if I'm happier" in these equations, but there's also a lot of "how happy would X actually make me?"

There's also an aspect I forgot to mention. My group at The Planet is a 24/7/365 operation. The bus isn't available for some shifts. I may or may not be able to convince them to let me use some of the under building parking in "off" hours, but the bus may not always be an option if my schedule changes.

[eliset]

Makes sense.

My personal suggestions based on my experience:

- Absolutely take the class.
- Your gear, at a minimum, should include Snell-certified helmet, reinforced gloves, good boots (I wear Docs, but they make special motorcycle boots), and crash jacket.
- Don't give anyone a ride until you've been riding at least a year. I'm at 18 months, and I still haven't.
- spent a few months getting used to the bike before taking it out in inclement conditions
- install a louder horn (This is a good one - I literally met a Deaf guy who could hear it)
- assume people can't see you, and ride like that. I keep one finger near my horn at all times, and automatically give right-of-way to everyone else.
- get a used bike, not a new one. You will drop your bike. No sense in damaging a new bike unless you just love that model
- wave at other motorcycle riders. The wave is important! And scooter riders love the wave too. :)

[equiraptor]

Most of the riders I've talked to have provided similar (or identical) advice. I'll probably be going for the special motorcycle boots, just because I don't own boots yet. The helmet may end up being an SA rated instead of M rated. Apparently, the differences are that the SA protects better (multi-impact tested to more strict standards), but the M rules require a larger viewing area than the SA rules. So if the SA rated helmet I'll be buying for the track has a sufficiently large viewing area, I'll use it on the motorcycle, too. Either way, it'll be a full face Snell rated

[thomasj]

As a motorcycle rider

[equiraptor]

The 500R and a GS500 are the two that are at the top of my list, at the moment, not that I've ever actually been on either. The 500Rs seem to be a lot more common around here (I've been looking through both Houston and Austin craigslist postings). I kinda want to skip the 250cc stage - get a 500cc and stick with it for a while, instead - but I don't want to be one of those idiots who buys more bike than they can handle. The actual active "looking for a bike" stage will start after the course and after the gear.

I'm figuring on going to a local shop (or two or three) when it comes time to look for the gear, in part to help get a good fit, and in part to get advice. I figure I can figure out helmets - I have some experience with that - but suits, gloves, boots, I have no clue, and with my small size, fit is a concern. I do have an interest in a one piece suit I could just wear over my "normal" clothes, instead of dealing with separate pants and jacket. Thanks for the link to Aerostich. That'll definitely feed my curiosity.

[thomasj]

If you want over-clothing, aerostich is the way to go. I was also put off by the $700 price tag, but I talked with Aerostich owners, and some of them are wearing the same suit fifteen years later. They're really well made.

[equiraptor]

While spending more means it'll be longer before I get a bike, I'm definitely willing to spend for quality gear.

From a review of the suit:
"This will keep you dry for about 25 minutes, and then you get Aerostich Crotch."

HAH. Ride to work should be about 20 minutes...

[equiraptor]

Gear before bike was decided, oh, I dunno, a year and a half ago? It's definitely happening. I'm not sure how to try on the gear as though I'm on the bike without actually sitting on a bike, but I'll figure something out. Rigid full-face helmet and real bike pants and jacket (or one piece suit), not jeans, not fashion leather, were decided about that time, too. I figured I'd decide what sort of motorcycle gear closer to when I bought it, but it'd be gear designed for motorcycle use.

How bad are motorcycle boots for wearing throughout the day? I mean, other than they're really clunky compared with my normal style...

[thomasj]

I wore mine all the time for a while at my place, and they got to be a bit tough on the feet. However, I bought very high quality boots intended for the rigors of track racing; they're not made to be walked in, they're made to work correctly on a motorcycle and keep your ankle/leg rigid in a crash.

I started carrying clothing in a backpack, along with shoes, and it was only a few minutes to change at my office.

[equiraptor]

*nod* I'm thinkin' sandals in the backback on the not-so-cool days, and on the cool days maybe staying in the boots. Then again, the office tends to be nice and warm, even when snow's falling outside, so I can probably wear the sandals inside year 'round.

I discovered on my second (maybe third?) day that I have a coworker who goes barefoot. All the time. Sometimes he brings shoes but leaves them in the car. Not even socks. Somehow that seems... Potentially unsanitary.

[sfida]

Wow, I drive by The Planet every day on my way home. Our company has a contract with you guys, actually, but for the Dallas facility.

I wish I could ride the bus in. Parking is free in the Galleria Area, yes, but gas isn't, and like you, the company would pay my bus fare. The problem is that my 25-minute (in the morning) commute would become a 90-minute commute simply because Metro is so badly organized. Leaving the house at 5:45 every morning? Let's see how many ways to say "NO" I can think of...

As far as the 'cycle goes, I can't do anything but reiterate just what you've said, but please give some more thought to safety. Houston drivers are crap, and I think they're worst of all in Midtown.

[equiraptor]

The Alpha Services group actually works on all the servers in the various datacenters. If it's the downtown facility you drive by, that's where I work. Almost none of the servers are here, though - the Houston ones are out further north and there are multiple locations (both with servers and without) in Dallas as well.

I'm thinking either Kirby-> Allen or Kirby -> Memorial. While Houston drivers are CRAP, the traffic loads at the time of day I'm on those streets isn't excessively high. It looks to me like I should still be able to find escape routes, etc. The restricted access nature of Memorial and Allen reduce the risk of being rearended while at a stop light (fraggin' idiots).

[sfida]

Yeah, I found a while ago that it's faster for me to take Memorial through Downtown to I-10 than to take any of the highways anywhere in the neighborhood of 4:45 in the afternoon.

You're right about the Parkways, but Kirby is worrisome, especially with all that construction right now. Granted, during the commute, you'll likely be driving with people who know what they're doing, but even still. After you clear San Felipe, you should be good either way, but I'd have the willies about it for sure.

[equiraptor]

Oh, construction's done on the part of Kirby I'd be on! It's all broad and smooth and nice. =)