Posted by Les Faber in Yesterday Helen and I went to visit friends on the other side of the city. I decided to cycle and Helen would drive. Presto I had my DD (Designated Driver) all planned out! I left well before Helen did. The ride was a tad over 2 hours. Helen’s drive was 35 minutes.Unfortunately my bicycle computer is on the Fritz. So I could not measure the distance I rode. Last night, coming home, I checked the car’s odometer and it measured 27 kilometers from A to B. This morning I checked the route on Bikemaps.net and it came out to 51 kilometers! That’s almost double the distance (Who is the smarter one, Helen or I?).
How could this happen?
Well here are some thoughts:
- driving a car, Helen got to benefit from every road and major highway – thus taking the most direct route
- being on a bicycle, I was forced to take the safest route (obviously not being able to take major highways). I am not directionally-challenged either!
- There were some quicker road routes. But I did not feel comfortable on them due to traffic volumes and/or the lack of a paved shoulder.
- When looking at a map, I can see that the route I took drew me northwest when our friend’s home is northeast (more east than north)
- We need more bike-friendly roads in Ottawa (my shameless plug of cycling for the masses)
What do you think? Does my analysis hold water? What about where you live? Can the same be said?
