How can I turn a 30+ minute walk, into 10?

October 26, 2008 8:16 PM

Help me shorten my new 1.5hr commute, or, recommendations needed for short-hop bicycle-type things

Tomorrow I start a new job (yay!) which will involve a significant commute via public transportation. Overall commute time, as it currently stands, is 90 minutes (sigh). The train station is 1.4 miles from the office door, and there are no public transit options (buses, etc.) for this last leg of the journey.

As someone who hasn't owned a car in years, I enjoy walking, but am a slowish walker (much to the chagrin of the missus....) ; and, more importantly, my main aim is to decrease the time spent commuting. I expect that walk will take me at least 30 minutes. So, I'm hoping that I may be able to find some sort of conveyance that will help decrease that time period, from ~30 minutes, down to, say, 10.

"GET A BIKE!" is the first answer, I'm sure. I'm reasonably fit, and could definitely use the exercise / strengthening that regular bike-riding would entail / require. However I do have a history of problems in the lower back, SI joint, and pelvic floor. Again, I'm sure that biking -- the "right" way -- might help out with this, but history tells me that I will likely encounter some significant, possibly debilitating, exacerbation of these existing issues.

So I guess I'm looking for tips regarding....

1. If I do decide to get a bike, I'm not looking for speed or fanciness. Just something with two wheels and some pedals and a seat that won't bring pain and ruin to the already-troublesome pelvic floor. I have no idea what to look for, in terms of "road bike" versus "cruising bike" versus..... yeah, I'm pretty clueless about bikes, in general.

2. Good "commuter" bikes. Again, I'm just going to use this for the short trips between the train and the office. The train has accommodations for bikes of all types and sizes. Sometimes I have seen weird-lookin' foldy bikes... what's them's all about? Something I might look into?

3. Other alternatives? Those little razor-scooter things?


Thanks!

posted by armoir from antproof case to Travel & Transportation (13 answers total)

Can you tell us where you are? It's hard to advise you what to get or what the best way to get there would be. (a folding bike may be the only option if the train doesn't allow bikes during rush hour, for example)
posted by waylaid at 8:50 PM on October 26, 2008

Response by poster: SF Bay Area. The train in question is Caltrain; it appears that bikes are allowed on all trains, but sometimes the capacity for bikes is quickly filled.

FWIW, that 1.4miles I'm focusing on 'shortening', is 100% flat.
posted by armoir from antproof case at 9:00 PM on October 26, 2008

Yeah, never assume you can put your bike on Caltrain these days. A folding bike, the smaller the better, is the only option if you don't want to get bumped from a full bike car.
posted by zsazsa at 9:07 PM on October 26, 2008

Also, another option would be to keep a bike in the bike lockers at the station on the work end of your commute. Bike capacity on the trains is not going up anytime soon, and Caltrain's current bicycle master plan is focused on making bike lockers available instead of increasing bike car capacity.
posted by zsazsa at 9:12 PM on October 26, 2008

So, I'm hoping that I may be able to find some sort of conveyance that will help decrease that time period, from ~30 minutes, down to, say, 10.

If you stick with walking, this isn't a realistic goal. But I think you could easily get your speed up. I'm a mediumish speed walker with short legs and I walk a mile and a half to school every day in 20-25 minutes.

I would try music to get your walking speed up. Load up an mp3 player with fast paced, poppy stuff. It's difficult to walk slowly if the music you're listening to is rhythmically quick.

I'm reasonably fit, and could definitely use the exercise / strengthening that regular bike-riding would entail / require.

I don't know that 20 minutes of bike riding (on a level surface) per day is really going to help with strengthening. As for exercise, you'd burn more calories briskly walking the same distance. I've actually found that walking regularly helps with the back pain that I have; since it's low impact, I think walking is sort of ideal for someone with your joint concerns.
posted by PhoBWanKenobi at 9:47 PM on October 26, 2008

I'm not sure how well this will work the bike locker, but with your potential for pain on a regular bike, I'd have a look at getting a recumbent bike - you may be able to get one made that will keep you healthy and store in a locker.
posted by bigmusic at 10:52 PM on October 26, 2008

If you want to try a folding bike, I would recommend the Strida. It looks weird, but it folds quickly and into a very convenient shape for an overhead luggage rack. They are also greaseless!
posted by mkb at 4:46 AM on October 27, 2008

a recumbent trike would fix a lot of your back problems with biking, and there are some that fold, but I don't know if they fold small enough to fit in a locker.
posted by jrishel at 6:19 AM on October 27, 2008

As a 25+ year bicycle commuter, I've got to tell you that folding bikes are awesome for commutes and for city riding in general. They are ultra portable, agile, and accelerate very quickly (there are some cycling folks who will tell you that folders are no good, but they generally have spent little to no time actually riding the current crop of excellent folders). Sounds like the perfect solution for you.

Warm Planet Bikes (right at the Caltrain station) specializes in folding bikes. Go there and try some and ask lots of questions. Best to visit at non-commute times, they are really busy with bike valet parking for rush hour commuters.

A bike does not have to be bad for your back if you get set up with the right riding posture (the more upright position most folders give would probably work for you).
posted by quarterframer at 6:51 AM on October 27, 2008

Yeah, get a folding bike. That is the surest bet for caltrain.
posted by waylaid at 8:51 AM on October 27, 2008

Biking definitely does nothing for your core strength. In fact, competitive racers have to cross-train or hit the gym to undo all the muscle imbalances that result from long hours in the saddle. And as someone with hypermobile sacroiliac joint dysfunction, I can attest to the troubles that racing will cause if you don't diligently strengthen your core.

But a leisurely 10-minute commute is a non-issue.
posted by randomstriker at 9:06 AM on October 27, 2008

This is my commute (or was, until I got laid off 2 weeks ago ... sigh ...). Anyway, I saw lots of folding bikes on Caltrain, and the best place to stash them is in the luggage rack of the baggage car. It's big and there's almost never any actual luggage in there, just folding bikes.

My own approach was to get a folding recumbent trike, as jrishel said, and keep it in a locker at the train station. I got a Greenspeed GT3 folding trike which fits in both styles of Caltrain locker that I've had (metal walls or plastic/chipboard walls). You have to flip it on its side to fit, though, so I put it on a dolly after folding and roll it into the locker. In other words, one wheel is flat on the dolly, resting on its rim. If you're interested in going this route, MeFiMail me if you want more explanation - it's easier done than said.

The upright posture is very comfortable and I find that cycling is easier on my knees than walking the same route. You mentioned other problems, not knees, but I'd expect you'd find the same thing for your situation. It's like riding around on a lawn chair! (In fact, MeFiMail me if you want to take a test drive on my trike - it's still down in the San Antonio station locker, though, and it's been adjusted for a very short rider.)

I got the trike from Zach Kaplan over in Alameda. He works out of his house, as far as I could tell, and he doesn't keep regular hours so you have to call and make an appointment. He's very nice and very helpful, and I think he's the only dealer in the Bay Area who carries Greenspeeds.

One last thing: the Greenspeed web site says you need an Allen wrench to fold the GT3. That's not the case for my trike, which has a quick-release latch. I'm not sure what the current model uses, but you could ask Zach for the specs. The frame is the only exotic thing about Greenspeeds - all the other parts are standard, so you can change the sprockets, pedals, etc pretty easily if you like.
posted by Quietgal at 9:31 AM on October 27, 2008

I own a Strida, and I don't recommend it. The idea is awesome, but the bike is still pretty large, heavy, and unwieldy when folded up. It wobbles around a little. It is also not comfortable to roll it along on its wheels -- you have to push it in front of you instead of pulling it behind you. It's rather wobbly when you're riding it, and the lack of multiple gears severely limits your maximum speed. Finally, for males, you end up sitting in a seemingly dangerous position; I have been lucky enough to not have to find out how dangerous.
posted by qvtqht at 10:54 PM on October 27, 2008