That's good; sounds like you live in a place that's just made for bicycle commuting.
Where I'm at the auto still wins the travel-time race hands down. But that's okay for me. That's not what I'm after.
Somewhere recently I saw a bicyclist's answer to that old question, "Why do you do it?"
"Because the more I ride, the more I hate driving".
One day, maybe, everyone will see it that way.
Unfortunately this is not the case, bluegoatwoods. Hawaii I swear is anti-bicycle. There are very few bikepaths. I'm just lucky that this section of the path is EXACTLY where much of the traffic gridlock is. Even though I ride slowly on the path I still beat the time.
Traffic congestion during rush hour is ridiculous. While commuting to night school last year, my best and worst travel times were 54 minutes and one hour 35 minutes!!!!! I was always stressed that I'd be tied up in traffic and be late for classes.
Now I know I'll never be late for school, flat tire and mechanical problems notwithstanding.
I know why I do it; it's the challenge of saving travel time, not being stuck in gridlock. It's about not paying $973.44 a year for parking and worrying about raising parking fees or bumping you off the waiting list. And I get to park in the same secured covered parking lot...FOR FREE!!!
I save $13.20/month or $148.48/year on gas, for a combined savings or $1131.84 for the year, $94.32/month for commuting via motorized bike.
The beauty of it all is that it takes the same time to commute as with my car. If there's a traffic jam then my bike reaches home first.
Sadly, bluegoat I don't think there will ever be the day that everyone sees it that way. I can tell by the look on the frustrated car drivers' faces. They feel that they are doomed to endure traffic gridlock. ANNND they know that traffic on this island will get WORSE as more cars and housing development make it worse.
The motorized bicycle is part of the solution. Sadly it'll never happen because people are addicted to their "stampeding metal ponies".
People look at me on my bicycle like I'm CRAZY! However, I have never been honked at, yelled at or cut off.
I LIKE that.