03-17-2020, 05:30 AM
Henrick's statement may seem extreme, but it brings up something along a tangent that I've been thinking about since I came back to work yesterday. To wax a little philosophic...
In late January, my wife underwent an extensive medical procedure. We both understood that the recovery period would be very long and arduous, and would keep her home-bound. She's still unable to get out other than short walks, and although she's got an extensive network of friends and coworkers who have visited her, brought her food, etc, I'm her primary caregiver, and our only source of income until she's fully recovered.
I gave some thought at the time to giving up riding until she could get back to work, thinking that in the remote chance that I got into an accident while she needed my care, we'd be screwed. Neither of us talked about it, and I decided that the huge convenience of riding to and from work rather than sitting for over an hour in the car each day outweighed the safety risk, and would help me keep my own sanity for the duration.
Lo and behold, I had an accident a few weeks ago when someone turned in front of me. Thankfully, it was very low speed, I wasn't noticeably injured, went on a work trip the next day, and I've been able to handle the situation outside of my home without alarming my wife. I'm counting myself extremely lucky, but, of course, the "what if" has been on top of my mind.
Yesterday, returning to work for the first time since my work trip and the Coronavirus outbreak, it was raining, so I drove. The roads were empty. For the past two days, I've gotten to work as quickly as I would have had I ridden. It got me thinking, and Henrick's post drove the point home.
As long as there is no time advantage to riding to and from work, and considering that the people who are currently driving are probably extremely distracted by what is going on, I'll limit my risks, and take the car.
In late January, my wife underwent an extensive medical procedure. We both understood that the recovery period would be very long and arduous, and would keep her home-bound. She's still unable to get out other than short walks, and although she's got an extensive network of friends and coworkers who have visited her, brought her food, etc, I'm her primary caregiver, and our only source of income until she's fully recovered.
I gave some thought at the time to giving up riding until she could get back to work, thinking that in the remote chance that I got into an accident while she needed my care, we'd be screwed. Neither of us talked about it, and I decided that the huge convenience of riding to and from work rather than sitting for over an hour in the car each day outweighed the safety risk, and would help me keep my own sanity for the duration.
Lo and behold, I had an accident a few weeks ago when someone turned in front of me. Thankfully, it was very low speed, I wasn't noticeably injured, went on a work trip the next day, and I've been able to handle the situation outside of my home without alarming my wife. I'm counting myself extremely lucky, but, of course, the "what if" has been on top of my mind.
Yesterday, returning to work for the first time since my work trip and the Coronavirus outbreak, it was raining, so I drove. The roads were empty. For the past two days, I've gotten to work as quickly as I would have had I ridden. It got me thinking, and Henrick's post drove the point home.
As long as there is no time advantage to riding to and from work, and considering that the people who are currently driving are probably extremely distracted by what is going on, I'll limit my risks, and take the car.

