Morning Commute Questions

So now that we live closer to the urban Boston area, the T is about a mile and a half from home. And if I take that to the end of the line, I can hop onto a shuttle that’ll take me right to the building where I work. It’s a 2 dollar ride on the shuttle and a buck and a quarter on the T — overall, less than I pay for g)asoline (because my car apparently requires the highest octane).

Aimee and I walked it today to go meet up with Nichols for dinner. It took about a half hour to do it. However, when I arrived back home, I was pretty ripe. So that gets me thinking: I would absolutely love to do the more environmentally friendly commute to and from work. However, in the winter I would have all those layers on, and so I’d be sweating like a pig, really.

I have several questions for both of you readers of my blog: do you walk during your commute, and how long of a walk is it? What do you do about the sweat factor? If you shower at work, how icky is that experience? Where do you store your clothes? How do you carry your work clothes? Where do you store the soap? Yes, ladies and gentlemen, it’s these details that freak me out about this.

Flame away.

5 thoughts on “Morning Commute Questions”

  1. As you know, I’m from Germany. And the gasoline is more expensive over here, although we have cars which need less. But it’s still too expensive for a student like me.

    So, to university I usually take my bicycle, it’s only one kilometre away. Sometimes I also walk that way (especially when it’s raining, as there is no direct tram-line between my home and the university).

    Currently I take a one-hour walk daily, just for clearing my head. Some fresh air, some podcasts on my mp3/ogg-player, and some movement for my body. During that one hour I walk about seven kilometres. I was quite soaked some months back, but now I don’t have any problem. You become used to it 😉

    Also I like to hear that you think about not using your car. It’s quite unusual to hear it from a US citizen 😉 When more people would even do it, it will be quite positive for the environment and the future of our (single) homeplanet.

  2. Hi,

    I am currently living in New Zealand and I also go to work on a bicycle, 20-25mn each way. If it rains too much I have the option to take a bus, that’s a 10 mn walk from home and in my case, it is free (agreement between the community bus company and my employer, Massey university – both student and staff have free ride).
    I wish I could do something about the sweat on some days. I start quite cold so need some layers and finish quite hot. It’s a fine balancing act that you have to learn.

    Do you get flushed because you are lacking excercise [in which case it will get better as you do it more often] or is it a really tough walk?

  3. Thanks guys, for your responses!

    Francois, I’m definitely a bit out of shape, so that’s a contributor to my getting flushed. However, I feel that in the dead of winter, when you have all those layers on, any amount of activity will generate enough heat to have you sweat under them. As for how tough the walk is: probably depends on how well and promptly the streets are shoveled after a snow storm.

    Lars: when do you take your 1-hour walk? In the evenings?

  4. In the afternoon or evening. Sometimes also at 10PM (nightwalk when the streets are empty and the world is silent).

  5. As for the layers thing in the winter, as Francois said, there is a fine balancing act done to keep warm enough and yet not too warm, actually sweaty a lot in the winter will just make you colder. It would probably be a good idea to invest is some good winter outdoor clothing. The big things to look for in that case are moisture wicking and make sure it is breathable. I have spent many years cross country skiing, so all of this is like second nature to me. you will start out being kind of cold, but as you walk your body will warm up, and with practice you can wear just enough that you don’t get too sweaty. I’ve been out at -20f, -30f in not more than 3 layers(and no i did not get frostbite). Just thought I would mention

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