The Customer Service Survey
VocaLabs' weblog providing news and commentary on the challenges of providing good customer service.
Trading Four Wheels for....Four Wheels
Thursday - August 07, 2008 12:25 PM in
by Peter Leppik
When we moved about 18 months ago, one of the criteria for our new location was that it be more central to where everyone lives. We succeeded, and made everyone's commute shorter (or at least no longer). Since then, Dan--who used to have the longest commute at over 20 miles each way--also moved, and now lives within about two miles of the office. I now have the longest commute, at about eight miles.
All that moving around was before gas shot up to $4/gallon. With the new reality of fuel prices, all of us have taken the next step: moving from petroleum-power to pedal-power. In my case, I west a step further and upgraded from a traditional bicycle to a recumbent tricycle with a cargo trailer (pictured next to my old beater, with a load of groceries in the trailer).
All I can say is: this thing is awesome.
It's certainly no faster than a bike, especially when dragging a trailer full of briefcase and office clothes. But where my bike hurt my shoulders, wrists, and rear end after an hour of riding, the trike is like pedaling around in a lawn chair.
It also has this amazing effect on people and cars. Instead of getting crowded off the road, drivers give me a lot of room when they pass (and sometimes even smile and wave). Kids and other cyclists ask me about my ride, and cops compliment me on how visible the trike is with all the flags and lights.
So far I've been riding regularly to work for about six weeks, and I've saved about a tank full of gas. All the exercise is probably good for me, too. The only downside is that I can't ride every day: sometimes distant business meetings or weather make it impractical to pedal to work.
Oh, and just in case you're wondering: one of the other criteria for our new office location was that it have showers.
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