How people get to work...

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3050 posts

Uber Geek

#708781 29-Oct-2012 22:34

I wish I could use a moped to get to Uni and back each day. Currently I drive from Wattle Downs to Point Chev, other side of auckland. I have to take two motorways to get there, and that takes me about half an hour on a good day. I can't imagine what it would be like when i have to take nothing but a suburban route. I spend around 15-20$ on gas each day depending on traffic (stop start stop start is killer on gas)

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amigo

161 posts

Master Geek

#708830 30-Oct-2012 01:12

Call me a geek, but a month ago I fitted my bike with an electric motor and 36V 12ah LiFePo4 battery pack.

It is a fantastic way to get around. Very cheap to run, no registration etc required. Can legally ride on cycle lanes, passing by all the traffic backed up at traffic lights, cut through parks etc. Much quieter than a scooter and environmentally friendly too. Can do as little or as much exercise as I like and still get to places pretty quickly and park up right at the door for free. Fast, effortless acceleration from stops. So even though my motor top speed is a moderate 32km/h, due to the extra efficiencies I still get to most places in the about the same time or less as the car driving in 50km city streets, especially for shorter trips. Haven't run the battery flat on a charge yet. The most I've needed to travel in a day so far has has been 55km and there seemed to be a bit a charge still left, so the range is more than adequet for my needs. If I ever do run out of juice prematurely I can instantly revert back to old fashioned cycling. Motor freewheels without any resistance.

Even riding in the rain or cold is refreshing, rather than a pain. Hills or headwinds no longer a burdon. I smile as I pass other cyclists struggling and leave them behind. I smile at the the frustrated drivers stuck in traffic or filling up at petrol stations. I smile at all the people who notice me now and comment on my ride. Really offers a sense of freedom and happiness!

Of course I'm in Christchurch which I imagine is a lot more cycle friendly and safer than Auckland or Wellington.

My poor old car won't even start these days due to leaving it parked up for weeks on end. I'm going to have to get a terminal switch on the battery lead so I can quickly disconnect the battery to slow the discharge when it is parked up. I think my 12 year old alarm's battery has probably had it and cosntantly tries to recharge, sucking the juice from the main battery.

Fraktul

836 posts

Ultimate Geek

Trusted

#708833 30-Oct-2012 02:03

I walk (~2KM) and get the overground (20 mins). I could bus instead of the walking leg, however the exercise is nice and it gives me time to think and relax, and the time on the train I spend reading.

dickytim

2514 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

#708839 30-Oct-2012 07:02

I commute 45km each way from near Pukekohe to Penrose, it is an easy commute as I leave at around 6am and leave work at 4pm missing the majority of the traffic.

I drive an FTO and pretty much potter along around 80-85km/h in the left lane, I have an awesome stereo so I listen to music all the way home and tune out the rest of the day!

As far as motorbikes and weaving thru cars going 10-20km/h under the speed limit, I'd say 50% do it safely and don't take risks but 50% of others is a huge amount, sure most accidents between bikes and cars are likely to be due to not been seen, but I would say a fair percentage of those are also attributable to dangerous behavious by the bikes, I constantly see them following too close, sitting in blind spots and passing between 2 cars at motorway speeds.

tukapa1

690 posts

Ultimate Geek

#708841 30-Oct-2012 07:04

I ride my mountainbike most days, unless I have big bulky items I need to take with me. Occasionally I will run or walk either way.

I'm only 5-6k from work and can do at least half of it on walkways so it's all good (but this is New Plymouth and not a Wellington or Auckland in sight).

I have plenty of wet weather gear for the crappy days and once I'm all kitted up then I don't get wet even in heavy rain.

Only takes 10-15 minutes to get to work and 20-25 to get home (uphill all the way home - but when all you've got at the end of the day is a bike at work then you don't have much option!). Of course earphones and some decent music help the homeward cycle ride a lot.

It's amazing how much money you save in fuel with daily commutes being on the mountainbike.

jaymz

1132 posts

Uber Geek

#708948 30-Oct-2012 09:42

I'm surprised no one else has added this to the discussion yet.

I have a company car that i use to drive to work and back again. Free fuel, free parking :D

But of course, prior to getting a company car i used to drive/walk depending on weather (or how i was feeling). The scottish side of me kicked in when i was doing that though, and would always find free parking in the surrounding streets, then walk the 10-15 mins from there to work.

tonyhughes

Hawkes Bay
8476 posts

Uber Geek

Retired Mod

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#708961 30-Oct-2012 09:45

Its clear that for many, the topic is not so much about how you get to work, but the comfort and activities whilst doing so (e.g. being comfortable, and having good sounds).

:)

BTR

1522 posts

Uber Geek

#708976 30-Oct-2012 09:59

Free on street parking for me and I spend roughly $80 a week on petrol (Car takes 95)

davidcole

5807 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#708991 30-Oct-2012 10:10

BTR: Free on street parking for me and I spend roughly $80 a week on petrol (Car takes 95)

Ouch, and here was me complaining about a $142 monthly train pass.

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Lurch

1054 posts

Uber Geek

#708995 30-Oct-2012 10:15

freitasm: Answering the question in the subject (not the one in the message)... I walk from the bedroom to the kitchen, have breakfast with family then walk 30 seconds to the office ;)

I'd love this, not only do I not waste hours a week in traffic I get more family time. However my efforts in find work along these lines have always been hit by a brick wall.

A shame as I often see myself writing reviews on tech gear as it's gadgets/computers have always been my passion in life. Plus I hate seeing people getting ripped off by biased reviews.

Anyway will keep on trying.

Back to being on topic, car at the moment but use to be bicycle. Thinking about a electrical bicycle in the near future though.

D1023319

498 posts

Ultimate Geek

ID Verified

#709017 30-Oct-2012 10:43

Wellington - Upper Hutt in 1993 ute * 82km per day @18cents per km
cost includes fuel, maintenance, RUC, Wof etc..

I dont care if scooters lane share. but it is dangerous when they wobble on motorway in wind and cannot reach the speedlimit necessitating vehicles to weave around them.

I thought IRD was considering FBT charges for provided car parks but only in the CBD of wellington and Auckland? At moment I think you only pay it if the employer has to pay for the car park but is exempt if it is in your own building.

NB in wellington - the council during the 1980's building boom limited the amount of car parks to encourage public transport. Brilliant move when most business HQ's were making the decision to move out to Auckland!

dickytim

2514 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

#709021 30-Oct-2012 10:45

davidcole:
BTR: Free on street parking for me and I spend roughly $80 a week on petrol (Car takes 95)

Ouch, and here was me complaining about a $142 monthly train pass.

Fuel is about $80-90 per week for 450-500km I use 98 (Mivec) but I am getting very good mileage at the moment, i.e. averaging 7.5-8l/100km

Free off street parking for me.

davidcole

5807 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#709025 30-Oct-2012 10:52

Curious, door to door, how long does it take you?

For me, it's about 6 mins walk, 25 mins on the train, 10 mins walk - all in all about 40 mins door to door (factoring in wait time at the station). If I bicycle, it's not much more, 40 mins in + 10 mins locking bike etc.

Jaxson

7681 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#709028 30-Oct-2012 10:57

amigo: Call me a geek, but a month ago I fitted my bike with an electric motor and 36V 12ah LiFePo4 battery pack.

Very cool! Photos and details please....

Me, I live a 1hr and 20min walk away from work in Palmerston North. I walk less than 10 minutes to the bus stop and take a free bus to work. At the end of the day I take a free bus back to the bus stop and walk home again.

I can actually save 5 minutes too if I cross this instead of walking up to the proper road bridge. I haven't fallen in yet...

Since doing this we've dropped to having just one car in the family and I don't pay for parking at work any more (as well as no wof/reg/fuel/insurance/maintenance on the 2nd car either).

Oh and at my work you get free parking for motorcycles/moped/scooters etc. The car parking money contributes to the free bus service for staff and students.

Jeeves

301 posts

Ultimate Geek

#709029 30-Oct-2012 11:07

I currently drive 15 minutes to the ferry which takes 50 minutes and then a 15 minute walk. Makes for a long day, but living in auckland and owning a house doesn't give me much options.
The ferry is nice, can whip out the laptop and work on stuff. Not so nice when it's blowing a nor east or the ferry is on fire (yes.. it's that ferry. It wasn't a fire anyway, just an overheating engine due to blocked cooling system).

However I'm going for a job shortly which gives a car, fuel and carpark. That will turn the commute into a 45 min to 1hour+ drive, depending on traffic.

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