is biking to work making you a happier person, or an angrier one?

So - I love riding my bike to work (which happens to be in downtown chicago).

However, I often arrive at work angry and/or sad and/or shaken by the behavior of clueless, distracted, thoughtless, reckless, etc. drivers…and sometimes pedestrians…and sometimes other bikers.

My assumption has always been that riding to work wakes me up, and energizes me, and makes me happier, but this morning I was thinking: Am I confusing “angry” with “awake”?

Does starting the day off in fighter mode change our days (and how we behave ourselves) for the worse?

anyone else have these thoughts on their way to work?

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Permalink Reply by Bob Kempa on November 17, 2012 at 6:40am

Cycling to work almost always makes me a happier person. I feel that the time spent on bike is my own. Whereas time spent sitting on the bus or train is lost. (thought hastily typeded on phone)

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Permalink Reply by Silvana on November 17, 2012 at 9:22am

Well said Adam! I LOVE biking to work, especially when its cold out. (Yes, love it.) It feels refreshing and all my muscles get nice and warmed up. Sometimes I take side streets so that I can avoid the crazy traffic (car, bike, bus and pedestrian) on streets like Milwaukee. And I leave my house with plenty of time to get there. Rushing to work in the morning is just asking for trouble, whether you are in a car or on a bike. People do get crazy in the city, but if you ride with calmness, caution and consideration then it minimizes the temptation to get frustrated.

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Permalink Reply by Anna on November 17, 2012 at 10:47am

I have been considering this question over the last couple weeks after getting hit on my commute home--I was right hooked at Chicago and Ogden; the driver didn't have their turn signal on. Despite my frustrations with drivers (I also got doored on Milwaukee during a morning commute last winter), I love the independence of bike commuting and find that despite my new-found additional nerves, I miss riding my bike. It does make me happier and I love the connection I feel with the changing seasons and really experiencing the city en route. Hope to be back on the road soon after some bike repair.

P.S. There are definitely days when I'm sure anger/fear=a jolt awake.