From Sherlock Holmes to Zero Longitude

The Baker Street stop is a little touristy, thanks to the giant statue of Sherlock Holmes at the entrance. I watch in amusement as the tourists dart in and out from underneath the feet of the regulars hurrying to the tube. Even at rush hour, this early in the morning, there’s bound to be at least one there, hurrying to be first in the line that invariably forms at Madame Tussuad’s across the road.

From Baker Street Station, I catch the 08:11 Eastbound Jubilee line to work in the morning. I aim to be on the platform, waiting for the train, by 08:05 – if I miss my usual train I have to wait a whole ten minutes before the next one comes, which is a lifetime to wait for a tube service. Most trains on other tube lines come every 3 to 5 minutes.

There aren’t very many passengers and I usually find a seat, or at least, a strategic place to stand when I board. Everyone sits huddled over their papers, books and iPods. It takes about 13 minutes to get to London Bridge Station, where I leave the underground chaos of the tube and change for the Thames Clipper.

Most Londoners don’t even think about the river as an option when they commute, but taking the Clipper is an underrated transport option. I prefer it to the dirty and claustrophobic tube, even if it is slightly more expensive. I use a monthly season ticket that costs £100. Oyster card holders get a slight discount on Clipper tickets, and from November 2009 commuters will even get to touch in and out like they already do on buses and the tube. I have the added plus of not worrying about tube strikes and the like – as long as I can get to London Bridge or even to Westminister or Waterloo, the Clipper will take me straight downriver from these stops to Greenwich, whether or not the tube lines are running.

My boat comes at 08:32, and I catch the Clipper towards Queen Elizabeth II Pier. It is a pleasant morning journey, taking approximately 20 minutes depending on the tide. We call at Tower Pier, pass the brooding Tower of London, skim underneath Tower Bridge, then stop at Canary Wharf with its glossy, glassy skyscrapers, then at Greenland Pier and before arriving at my final destination – Greenwich Pier.

Join this journey from Baker St to Greenwich

Ottawa to Kanata morning bus ride

The regular bus route for many high tech employees in Ottawa is the number 182 Kanata, originating from downtown Ottawa. I normally catch the last morning trip leaving Lincoln Fields Station at 9:09 a.m. If I miss this trip, it means taking a different route, transferring buses and walking twice as far to my destination. Fortunately OC (Ottawa Carleton) Transpo service, on this route, is very reliable and only a short walk from my home.

The bus consistently arrives on time in good weather, whereas in winter, it usually runs a bit later depending on conditions. The regular driver is quite pleasant and says good morning to each passenger upon boarding. Dropping two tickets in the fare box covers the cost of $2.30 CDN per trip. A paper transfer, displaying the boarding time, is issued and acts as a receipt, allowing riders one and a half hours travel time to get off and re-board any bus during that period. At 9:20 a.m. the bus arrives at Bayshore Station after picking up several more passengers along the way. This is the final station on route to Kanata and the few remaining seats usually fill up with more high tech workers. A minute or so later, we’re heading onto the 417 Queensway in the rapid transit lane, off limits to automobiles. The bus exits onto Moodie Drive heading north, and turns into Nortel Networks, around 9:25 a.m. Watching a handful of employees departing, brings back memories of several years ago when Nortel was a thriving company in the Ottawa region, and the bus was literally packed with employees. The IT downturn in 2001 really hit this area hard, which still hasn’t recovered.

Exiting the Nortel complex, the bus travels back on Carling Avenue heading west to Kanata through a rural area. Several horses can always be seen grazing at the large riding ranch located on one side of the road, while on the opposite side, another farm is home to a lone llama resting in the field. Several large hay fields and an enormous corn field can be seen further along. Deer are often spotted venturing out of wooded areas, foraging for food. On one trip this past winter, I recall the bus driver slamming on the brakes, barely missing a couple of deer galloping across the road. Thanks to his quick reaction, the deer weren’t injured, and passengers only slightly startled.

The 182 makes one more side trip, looping into the Communications Research Centre at Shirley’s Bay, before heading to the Kanata North Business Park. At 9:40 a.m. the bus reaches my destination in Kanata. The thirty minute bus ride leaves me feeling relaxed, refreshed, and more like I’ve experienced a nature tour rather than battling early morning gridlock.

Join Harry on this journey from Ottawa to Kanata

Seremban to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

In Malaysia most commuters prefer to drive instead of taking public transport. However I prefer the latter as my daily train ride from Seremban to Kuala Lumpur gives me a chance to relax and reflect instead of being cooped up in a traffic jam, crawling in a line of northbound cars on the Federal Highway.

I have to wake up early for my daily journey, as there are few express trains that ply the route. My usual express train leaves at 06:55 and arrives at Sentral Kuala Lumpur, or Kuala Lumpur Central Station, at about 08:00. The service is run by Keretapi Tanah Melayu, the government-controlled train authority of Malaysia. If I miss my usual train, I jump on the next regular train instead. However the journey may take as much as another half an hour to an hour longer, depending on delays. The next train is at 07:20 and only reaches Central Station at about 08:45 or later.

One way tickets on the KTM Komuter service cost RM6.00 (approximately USD2.00 or GBP1.50). I invest in a monthly Kad Karib pass, which can be used on Komuter and Light Rail Transit lines within Kuala Lumpur. This costs me RM100, and I manage to bypass the queues when I need to change transportation mode. The express train passes idyllic countryside, lush greenery and sleepy villages, through the satellite towns of Nilai and Bangi, then the university – Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), before making its first stop at Kajang.

The seats, which were relatively empty before, start to fill up. I am dozing, shifting slightly to make space for my fellow passengers. There are construction workers carrying their tools, students with their notepads, suits and their suitcases. The train is air conditioned and this early in the morning, the day’s heat and humidity have not yet seeped into the carriage. More scenery flashes past – we pass Bandar Tasik Selatan, or South Lake City, which always reminds me of Salt Lake City in the USA; Seputeh, on the outskirts of Kuala Lumur; the behemoth bulk of Midvalley Shopping Mall and then finally, we arrive at Kuala Lumpur Central Station, a sleek, shiny, modern station of steel and glass. I invariably wake just in time to alight at this stop, alerted by some internal alarm clock. From here it is a quick walk across the road to my offices, next door to the Hilton Hotel.

Join this commute between Seremban and Kuala Lumpur

Commuting In New Orleans

New Orleans is unique when it comes to commuting. It was the first to have a commuter railway, the St. Charles Streetcar line (which is the oldest continuously operated railway in the world). Yet it has failed to keep up with most modern cities in that it lacks any sort of high-speed rail service to move people from outlying communities.

This has proven to be more of a problem since Katrina. Before the storm, most of the city’s residents who would not or could not drive were content to walk, take a bus or ride the streetcar to work. Now, however, many of those residents have been displaced to the outlying areas — some as far as Baton Rouge. For most of these people a car is the only option, as there are very few other alternatives.

For residents who have returned to New Orleans, streetcars (which were out of service for 15 months after the storm) and busses remain a great way to get around town. This was how most of the city’s hotel and restaurant workers commuted to work before Katrina and remains so today. For those who can afford it, the city also has ample taxi service.

New Orleans also has several ferries that carry both pedestrians and cars across the Mississippi River daily. They run from 6AM until either 8:45PM or 12:15AM daily, depending on the ferry. Many people who live across the river from New Orleans depend on the ferries to get them to and from work each day. Unfortunately, the city does not have a water taxi service similar to Boston or London.

For many middle class workers, there is little choice but to drive into the city. There are a few bus routes, including one from Baton Rouge called LA Swift. While free after just after the storm, it now costs $5 one way. For many who are living in Baton Rouge while waiting for their homes to be repaired here in New Orleans, the two hour ride each way is worth it compared to the $20 to $30 in gas such as trip would cost them in a car.

While there has been talk for years of putting light rail service to connect New Orleans’ streetcar lines with its suburbs and airports, so far that is all it has been is talk. It is becoming increasingly hard, however, for people to afford either the time or money it costs to commute by car daily. Some think it is only a matter of time before light rail becomes inevitable, There is even talk of rebuilding a sky rail system – similar to that used in the 1984 World’s Fair to transport people back and forth across the river.

Choosing your cycle route

Even when facilities are provided, some cyclists prefer not to have to change their clothes when they get to work. Sometimes it’s just not practical. For example, if you have to attend a morning meeting at an office just a few blocks away from your workplace and decide to cycle straight there, you will want to be able to walk from the cycle rack to the meeting room without making any adjustments other than putting your cycle helmet in your backpack or cycle carrier. Even if you rarely attend meetings away from the office, you may still not want the bother of having to change your clothes when you arrive at your destination. One of the tricks to arriving feeling fresh and looking professional, is to make your ride in as effortless as possible. While what you wear is important, how you get there is too. Take the easiest route you know. This isn’t necessarily the shortest route, but often the one with the flattest terrain. Some of the most stylish cyclists in the world can be found in Amsterdam. It’s very rare that you see anyone riding in Lycra in the cycling capital of the world. These commuters cycle in their everyday business attire. And they’re able to arrive at work looking polished because they don’t ride up hills (admittedly, they’re lucky enough to live in a city that’s very flat). So do as the commuters in Amsterdam do and cycle leisurely if you want a perspiration-free commute to work.

Another trick to arriving at work looking as though you’ve done little more than ride the elevator to your desk is to equip your bike with a device of some sort to enable you to carry what you need on your bike rather than on your person. This is especially important if you want a crease-free shirt; there’s nothing that’s going to ruin a freshly ironed shirt quicker than a heavy backpack thrown on top of it. A basket on the front of your bike will work but whatever you put in it may not be that secure (it’s likely to jump out should you ride over any bumps). Furthermore, a basket doesn’t provide any protection from the rain (unless it’s covered), and it’s a difficult look to carry off unless you’re an elderly spinster cycling in 1940s England. A much better option is to get a simple rack fitted to the back of your bike and fix carriers (panniers) to it. You can get one or two depending on how much you need to transport. If you’re going to be carrying a lot of items, it’s probably best to get two to even up the load (a bike can be difficult to manage, not to mention a little dangerous to ride, if there’s a considerable weight on only one side of it). These carriers can be easily and quickly lifted off and carried around with you. They come in various shapes and sizes, some of which are very smart looking and similar in design to a brief case. A good quality carrier will be made from durable, waterproof material and have some sort of reflective device fitted to it to help other road users see you in the dark.

As for clothing, wear multiple layers of loose-fitting items which you can take off and put back on depending on how warm or cool you get. If you’re wearing pants, use cycle clips to prevent the hems getting covered in grease or caught in your cycle chain. Make sure no item of clothing is flapping about as you cycle (e.g. an unzipped jacket), because if any part of it gets caught by another vehicle, the consequences might not be too good.

Read more: Necessities for your cycle commute

Work facilities for the cycling commuter

Before you start mapping out your cycle route, find out what facilities your employer offers in the way of showers and change areas. If you’re going to be cycling only a very short distance, and will have a relatively leisurely commute to work, then you probably won’t need much in the way of change facilities – you’ll be able to just park your bike and walk to your desk fresh as a daisy. However, if you don’t want to cycle in your workplace clothes, then you will need at least somewhere to change. While it’s easy to change in the washroom, it’s unlikely that you’ll be able to keep your cycling clothes in there, which means that you’ll have to pack them up and take them with you to your desk. It’s much more convenient if there’s a change area where you can safely leave your clothes ready for when you change back into them for the return ride home.

Some employers are a little more enlightened than others and encourage their employees to use environmentally friendly modes of transport for commuting, such as cycling, and to this end offer their employees full facilities, which usually include a change area, and showers. This makes life very easy for the cycling commuter as she can shower once at work after her ride in, thereby not only saving her blouse from getting all sweaty and creased, but also saving on her household water bill.

As an aside, if there are no showering facilities where you work, you might want to draw your employer’s attention to the importance, and benefits, of encouraging employees to leave their cars at home and take alternative modes of transport to work. One way an employer can do this is by offering adequate facilities (e.g. showers and change areas for those people who wish to cycle, run, or even walk). The very least an employer can do for those members of the workforce who wish to cycle is to provide a safe and protected area in which to store bicycles. It’s difficult for an employer to refuse such a request given the need to reduce our collective carbon footprint, which we can do by using less motorized transport. Not only that, but any employer worth their salt will recognize that healthy employees (those that exercise for example) tend to have fewer days off work because of illness. Furthermore, if there’s limited car parking at your workplace, then this is yet another good reason for your organization to offer its workforce cycling facilities.

Read more: planning your route

Benefits of a cycle commute

• You will get fitter.
• You will lose weight (providing you don’t increase your current calorie intake).
• You will be doing your bit to help protect the planet, and, as a result, feel less guilty when you use your car.
• You will be able to avoid all the inconveniences your fellow motoring colleagues will have to deal with. For example, there’s every probability that when there’s a major incident on the roads in the vicinity of your workplace, and everyone’s arriving at work late, you won’t be affected (you can always get off your bike and wheel it past the difficult spots).
• You could very well inspire your colleagues to start cycling to work, which is a great feeling.

These are just a few of the many benefits of cycling to work. Once you give it ago, you are bound to find more. And when you see others following in your footsteps (or tire tracks), you might not be so bothered about the small grease stain on your pants or the few creases in your shirt. You’ll want to wear those badges of honor with pride!

Cycle commute necessities

A helmet should conform to current safety standards, be light in weight, and provide adequate ventilation.

If you’re commuting in winter, then you will almost certainly need lights. Again, lights should conform to current safety standards and be fit for purpose. For example, if your cycle route is mainly off road (along unlit trails), then choose a light that’s designed for cycling in such conditions and not one that’s designed for road cycling (the former will help you see where you’re going, while the latter will help you be seen by others). If in doubt, go to a reputable cycle store and ask for advice.

Make sure your bike is fitted with fenders (mudguards) if you’re not changing your clothes once you get to work. A rear fender will help keep your back free of grime when cycling in wet conditions.

And if you’re still not entirely convinced, consider the benefits…

Central Line – Liverpool St to Tottenham Court Rd

I’ve got a bag today, which seems strange. Must remember it when I get off the Tube. Quiet platform at Liverpool St – train pulls up quickly. I manage to sneak into my favourite place, standing by the glass panel at the end of the seats so I don’t have to hold on to the handrail. Makes it easier to type, less chance of catching something, and it’s quicker to get off.

Stop at St Pauls. I love those old Underground clocks. Chancery Lane, nobody really getting off. Empties a little at Holburn. Nearly my stop. Need to check my email as soon as I get outside. Arrive at Tottenham Court Rd and walk through the crowds on autopilot, typing as I go…

Colchester to London

The 08:37 ’slow train’ pulls up and leaves on time. It’s half empty, probably because of the last 2 days of strikes. Beautiful day today as we fly through the Essex countryside. Woman puts on her makeup with a Metro on her knee.

Catch up on with email and Twitter. Zone out until I notice the sunny countryside views outside. Post a pic on Twitter. Hardly notice that we’ve stopped at Chelmsford. The train fills up now and the makeup woman gets off. Still plenty of seats. I must admit I prefer to stand. I used to hate it and once considered bringing a fold up stool with me on my commute. I never did though.

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