Today, I drove to campus for the first time since the beginning of the year. After taking the train regularly since the start of last semester, it felt like a bit of a novelty to be able to stay dry, control the temperature, control the soundtrack (no hockey fans or NJ Transit announcements), control the air quality (nobody pretending they didn't notice the no smoking signs).
I can understand why so many people prefer the comfort of their own little cocoon rather than having to face the indignities of public transit.
At the same time, I will be glad tomorrow to be back on my bike and, yes, back on the train, thumbing my nose at the elements, enjoying my solitary ride along the river at the ends of the day.
And the contact I do have with humans -- pedestrians or other cyclists along my route, train conductors, other random people along the way -- is not mediated by a pane of glass or two.
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I take the bus three days, work from home one day and drive one day. Of course, my commute is much easier than yours--Andrew drives me to the bus-stop and then I take one bus to work. I love the downtime on the bus, and I also enjoy the one day I drive--it's comfortable, a little faster and I like not having to deal with the bus schedule. I feel like I have a nice balance.
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