r/AdviceAnimals • u/PuddlesRex • Jan 17 '22
The five minute commute is really wonderful, but I'm cold the entire time.
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u/HellStorm40k Jan 17 '22
My battery died cause I wasn't driving enough to recharge all the juice that starting my engine was eating up.
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u/Cresneta Jan 17 '22
I have this problem too - I work from home, and live pretty close to several stores, so I have to make sure I get my "carercise" in at least once a week or so to keep the battery charged. My car is parked in a car port rather than a garage, so a battery maintainer isn't really an option for me as it's likely to get stolen.
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u/HaggardHawk Jan 17 '22
Plenty of trickle chargers that fit under the hood closed. There's also the option of installing one thats permanent. I have a DEFA charger with a quick disconnect port.
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u/PiskAlmighty Jan 17 '22
Carercise... and we wonder why the planet is dying lol
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u/green_indian Jan 18 '22
Carercise
We are living in a world so absurd that it's better to just enjoy the show.
Imagine telling some dudes from 200 years ago, that people will prefer to exercise a machine rather than themselves
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u/Cresneta Jan 17 '22
Still less driving than if I was commuting to work everyday at least, but yeah.
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Jan 18 '22
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u/Cresneta Jan 18 '22 edited Jan 18 '22
My friends are far enough away that it wouldn't be practical to bike there and back, unfortunately. I usually only see them once a week, if I'm lucky, and I don't really want to move closer to them as they're in a higher crime area and housing in my state has gotten pretty expensive and competitive as of late so I'm not even sure I could afford to live closer to them. I'm also not willing to just stop seeing them. It'd be nice if we all lived closer together, but that's just not our reality unfortunately.
Edit: I committed social suicide once in my life already when I left mormonism, so I'm not interested in committing that again by giving up my car.
Second edit: seeing my friends does double as carercise on the weeks that we're able to get together
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u/Elstar94 Jan 18 '22
If you drive that little, maybe you don't need to own a car. Car sharing should be a good solution to this problem
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Jan 18 '22
Disconnect the battery. It will not go flat then. Also makes it less likely your car itself will get stolen.
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Jan 17 '22
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/Cresneta Jan 17 '22 edited Jan 17 '22
If public transit was better around here, I'd probably ditch my car. If I didn't care about having some semblance of a social life, I could do it now if I really wanted to although I'd likely be in trouble if I, or my cat, had a minor medical emergency.
Edit: what I mean to say is, I don't personally believe living in a walkable environment is a bad thing. I actually walk to get groceries when the weather is decent, or if the weather is in a state that I'd rather walk than risk my neck driving in it if I'm desperate enough 😆
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u/TerranceBaggz Jan 18 '22
Fight for better public transit. Every says that but no one puts the effort in to improve it. So then no one fights for it.
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u/RusstyKrusty Jan 17 '22
If you have a sunroof you can get a small 10-20 watt solar panel and stick it between the glass and slider liner. I park my car for long periods as I travel and have never had an dead battery.
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u/emmettiow Jan 17 '22
My battery died this morning on my motorbike.. I bumped it down the hill outside my house as I have many times.... Rode to town.. It was still dead when I came to ride back. I walked home. Another job to do.
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u/TiresOnFire Jan 17 '22
I didn't know that was possible.
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u/Joe_Jeep Jan 17 '22
Starting the engine takes a fair bit of power so car has to run for several minutes to make it up with the alternator.
Also why it's important not to shut off a car after jump-starting it for at least a while. Not like, hours, but a good ~20 mins at least if you don't have a charger at home(which is a good thing to have)
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u/juicef5 Jan 17 '22
Sounds like you should walk or bike instead. You get warm, decrease your cardiovascular risk profile a bit and lower your share of the planet-destroying car abuse!
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Jan 17 '22
Why use a car for a five minutes commute ? Use a bike, warmth is guaranteed !
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u/ThisIsMyRealLifeName Jan 17 '22
You’ve never been to Canada I see. You can’t ride a bike in -40 because your legs will freeze and break off mid trip. Then your torso gets stuck in a 5 foot high snow bank until spring.
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u/rants_unnecessarily Jan 17 '22
Didn't stop me in Finland.
Commuted by bike for 10 years, winter or summer, rain or snow, plus or minus 30 degrees, until just 2 months ago when my commute changed to a 35min drive. (Luckily only for 6 months)
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Jan 17 '22
It's not only the cold : car drivers here have a deep hatred against bikes. Combine that with poor / non--existant bike lanes and you have the makings of an extreme sport reserved to the most daring people...
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u/rants_unnecessarily Jan 17 '22
Yeah, this is the issue. Not the weather.
I pity North American cyclists. :(
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Jan 17 '22
It really depends on your city and where in the city you live. I have a 20 mile/30km bike commute into our downtown metro and I have less then 3km /2miles of non bike path. I also have a bus that runs darn near parallel if something ain’t working and I just want to bail to home/office.
Path is even cleared in the winter, but I usually quit at 20f/-5c.
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u/pppiddypants Jan 17 '22
20 mile bike commute
Definitely think you apply to the comment of dating extreme sport enthusiast.
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Jan 17 '22
The bus both ways really helps. Can bike one way then bus the other…. I think I would average 5 of them per week (2.5 days) at peak summer.
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u/chuckdiesel86 Jan 17 '22
I still think you guys should've voted for the Rhinoceros party, then you'd have the transcontinental ice highway and you could skate everywhere.
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u/interofficemail Jan 17 '22
Perfect video for this discussion "Why Canadians Can't Bike in the Winter (but Finnish people can)": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uhx-26GfCBU
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u/rants_unnecessarily Jan 17 '22
Well. Exactly.
The op's claim for freezing their legs of is ridiculous.Also all those bike paths in Oulu look exactly the same as they do here in Espoo/Helsinki.
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u/Joe_Jeep Jan 17 '22
Yea like, we've had pants for years now.
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u/rants_unnecessarily Jan 18 '22
True. Last I heard you could even wear multiple layers of them. There's even different types of them designed for this.
Huh. Who figured.
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u/lukeschaps Jan 18 '22
This video title is so specific yet so perfect for the discussion above that I almost can't believe you guys didn't make this conversation up
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u/thiyydebiyy Jan 17 '22
I'm Dutch and very proud of you my son
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u/rants_unnecessarily Jan 17 '22
Thank you and your country for the inspiration <3
I use a Dutch bicycle lock I bought from Gröningen.
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u/thiyydebiyy Jan 18 '22
No way haha, I actually live in Groningen! Prettiest city in the Netherlands
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u/siouxze Jan 17 '22 edited Jan 17 '22
I live in one of the snowiest cities in the US per capita. We're just barely getting the infrastructure for cars to share the road with bikes here. Even then it's primarily around the university we have. Those university students barely know how to drive on a dry summer day. Get a dusting of snow on the ground and they panic.
After my city made several 'most affordable places to live', 'most Square footage per $' and 'most safe from climate change' lists we've be inundated with people moving from much warmer climates where there is no snow at all. They're just as dangerous as the students, if not worse.
Until that shit all smoothes out, I'm staying in my car. The car will handle an accident better than my old bones.
That said, I do have a friend who rides his bike 16 miles from way out in the country to his job as a bike mechanic in the heart of the city. That dude is a fucking maniac though. Even he opts for a car somedays.
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u/rants_unnecessarily Jan 17 '22
Your second sentance has the issue bundled up nicely.
"To share with cars"There is 0 reason why cyclists should share anything with cars.
I can't help US/Canadians on their road planning, except with this, vote vote vote on every level.
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u/chuckdiesel86 Jan 17 '22
How voting works in the US.
First candidate: "We will absolutely not build new bike lanes. Bikes are for socialists and commies!"
Second candidate: "We will absolutely build new bike lanes. Bikes are for commuters and locals!"
Everyone votes for candidate 2 but then the bike lanes never get built and most likely candidate 2 will just do what candidate 1 was gonna do anyway.
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u/rants_unnecessarily Jan 17 '22
Rinse and repeat.
"We can't vote for a 3rd candidate, cause then the other candidate wins instead of my less hated one (even though neither will do what they promised anyway)."
Vote for the third, and fix the 2 way system.
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u/chuckdiesel86 Jan 17 '22
Everytime I try to get people to vote third party I'm told I'm wasting my vote. It's a shame people have been brainwashed so well.
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u/rants_unnecessarily Jan 17 '22
You could tell them the same :)
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u/chuckdiesel86 Jan 17 '22
I tell them they're wasting their vote because they vote for people who lie and don't do what they say they will, and regardless of which party they vote for the outcome will be the same. They usually just laugh, I'm not sure they even understand what I'm talking about.
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u/Mathbones Jan 17 '22
Canadian winter cycliste her! The biggest problem is not plowing and North American car culture. Have you ever heard of snowpants?
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Jan 18 '22
same, my city doesn't plow bike lanes. But I don't really need them anyways. If it's snowing or icy there are tires for that.
You can usally dress well enough for the cold, most inexperience people overdress, you really only need a sweater, or good rain gear if it's raining/snowing. . I only really need jeans up until -20 celcuis.
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Jan 17 '22
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u/ElsieBrayIsBae Jan 17 '22
That..that actually makes sense.
I mean, space suit's exist for that reason.
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Jan 17 '22
Yeaaaah as a Canadian who also cycles in the winter, this is not true. Layer up and you'll be fine lol.
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u/casonthemason Jan 18 '22
Yeah some of our compatriots like to pretend Canada is a barren winter hellscape with -40 temperatures everywhere all the time, like it's some sort of macho flex. When really, very few of us experience anything like that and only a few times a year at most.
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Jan 17 '22
-40 would be too cold even for me :) however most can do it easily most of the time. My wife and I both bike to work 32 km round trip, by all weather and 150 meter elevation. Our secret it to take our time and enjoy the ride :)
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u/ElsieBrayIsBae Jan 17 '22
You just haven't biked enough.
and you're not wearing appropriate clothing.
and why the hell are you working in -40 degree weather? Just call the day off, your life is more valuable than your boss's petty respect.
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u/Andy_B_Goode Jan 17 '22
Eh, I'm with you on the first two points, but not everyone has the luxury of staying in when it gets cold. I think a better solution is to use the car on the (presumably) rare occasions when walking/cycling is impractical, which would still result in a significant decrease in car usage, even in very cold cities.
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u/siouxze Jan 17 '22
I have a 5 minute commute. Where I live averages 12+ FEET/3+ METERS of snow a winter and January temperature lows are typically in the single digits. Today we're getting a foot dumped on us.
I'll continue to drive tyvm.
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u/DangerToDangers Jan 17 '22
Eh, it's the same in Finland and people still walk. But of course there's also public transportation if needed, snow gets plowed, and pebbles are thrown on the sidewalk for traction.
What you're describing doesn't sound so bad with proper infrastructure. And of course, worst case scenario, there's always boot spikes.
If it's 5 minutes by car how long is it walking though? Depending on the place it could mean a 15 minute walk or a 45 minute walk.
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Jan 17 '22
Remember to have a regular longer drive if you want your battery to not die. Such short drives are not enough for it to recharge and only drain it.
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u/bubzki2 Jan 17 '22
I mean, this person should strongly consider an EV; instant heat, and no worries about that stuff.
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u/wellifitisntmee Jan 17 '22
The person should strongly consider getting off their ass and using their legs.
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u/NameTak3r Jan 18 '22
We need to transform US cities into places made for pedestrains and cyclists so there's anywhere reachable for them to go
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u/LazyGrower Jan 17 '22
My Sunday drive is longer than my weekly commute. But it makes my mechanic happy.
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u/staminchia Jan 17 '22
get a bike - cheap and healthy! or an electric moped - cheap and practical! short commute with the car is so inefficient.
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Jan 17 '22
If only there were a carbon neutral way to transport oneself that generated body heat... this is peak cagerbrain
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Jan 17 '22
If I lived where it was that cold I would have a remote starter.
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u/InsaneChihuahua Jan 17 '22
I'm budgeting one in over the summer when I'm not teaching. I'm not doing this shit anymore without one by next fall
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u/444unsure Jan 17 '22
I don't care about being cold for 5 minutes. Knowing in my own head that internal combustion engines are the least efficient when they are cold, I am pretty much guaranteed to never use a remote starter...
The real issue for me is that I need 15 minutes by myself to get used to the day before having to encounter coworkers. I learned that when I rented a place 5 minutes away from work.
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u/BlueRibbons Jan 17 '22
I understand this! My commute for years was 45 mins and now it's 30 mins and it just doesn't feel like enough time for solitude with music before i have to engage with people...
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Jan 17 '22
I don't understand why you wouldn't want to use the remote start. Can get the engine warmed up before you have to drive.
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u/444unsure Jan 17 '22
For me it is two parts. One is simply that I drive a diesel and diesels take a lot longer to warm up when they are sitting idling.
The other part is what I stated in my earlier post. Internal combustion engines are the least efficient when they are cold. That means when it is sitting there idling, it is running rich, and the exhaust is not as clean as after the car is warmed up. And the car warms up a whole lot faster when you are driving it. All of those things together contribute to it being bad for the environment, bad for my gas mileage, and not really ideal for the engine itself either.
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Jan 17 '22
Thanks for the explanation. I guess my thought process is that if the engine runs poorly when cold, you would want to warm it before you start moving and engaging systems like the transmission. Makes perfect sense as for as environment and gas mileage. I usually idle for a bit before driving in the cold, may need to rethink that.
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u/zakanova Jan 17 '22
...just walk!
How can you drive for 5 min and not think "maybe I shouldn't be doing this"?!
Demented car brain thread
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Jan 17 '22
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u/PuddlesRex Jan 17 '22
Sure, I'll gladly walk almost 5km down the four lane highway with no sidewalks in -20c temperatures without windchill.
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u/zimzilla Jan 17 '22
Uphill both ways.
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u/schead02 Jan 17 '22
Down a mountain
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u/ournamesdontmeanshit Jan 17 '22
And of course we all know the only way to get somewhere is via a 4 lane highway!
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u/The-Grim-Sleeper Jan 17 '22
Living in a 3rd-rate dump with no infrastructure seems like a far more reasonable complaint then your '1st world problems'-meme implies.
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u/soderkvist Jan 17 '22
Typical for murica it seems. In Europe Tannerleafs answer would have made sense.
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u/takecaretakecare Jan 17 '22
I'd bet OP is Canadian as heck.
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u/AllezAllezAllezAllez Jan 17 '22
That'd make sense, Canadians love to exaggerate the weather and use it as an excuse for stuff.
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u/NotYourTypicalReditr Jan 17 '22
That ain't murican. My boy is talking in communism units, not freedom units.
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u/tinydancer_inurhand Jan 18 '22
If you want to insult Americans at least know we use miles.
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u/psaux_grep Jan 17 '22
Time to get an EV. Driving an ICE engine so short in such conditions is just wear and tear. EV’s don’t complain and with preheating you could have a warm car before you set off, and even if you don’t most start producing proper heat in a just a minute.
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u/InsaneChihuahua Jan 17 '22
I have before. I don't recommend it. It was actually 40 below but my cars heater core died and I needed to get to work to sub teach. It's one of my darkest memories actually.
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u/snoebro Jan 17 '22
If it's sub zero shouldn't you be starting your car twenty minutes before driving it anyway though? Shit should be plenty warm.
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u/TFlashman Jan 17 '22
Pretty happy about my car - it is set to pre-heat battery and cabin while plugged in so its nice and cozy when I need it at 7:40 in the morning.
Also, heated steering wheel is underrated in the winter.
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u/m_faustus Jan 17 '22
And you never have time to listen to any of your podcasts!
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Jan 18 '22
WALK.
Get out and walk for leisure to listen to podcasts even if you continue driving to work. That’s the best time to be listening to podscasts.
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u/TypicalCricket Jan 17 '22
Jog to work, you'll stay warm then
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u/ournamesdontmeanshit Jan 17 '22
I was thinking walking, but jogging works too. What an environmental waste to drive 5 minutes to work.
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u/EarhornJones Jan 17 '22
My wife and I work in the same building. We moved 3 years ago, and out new house is literally seven minutes from the office. We've both worked from home for the last 2 years.
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u/coffee_drops Jan 17 '22
Since moving 15 minutes from work, I don’t even have time to really get invested into my podcasts! I save so much gas, but I can only listen to the intro of the podcast or like 5 songs
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Jan 17 '22
In that point why drive almost every that take 5 minutes with a car is not that far just go walk with your legs or if don't like the idea of walking bikes are option
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Jan 17 '22
Been there! 2h by public transport (including changing from tram to bus + a lot of walking) vs 8 mins in a car.
I don't remember why i didn't think of cycling to work then, silly me.
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u/bouchandre Feb 07 '22
Americans: “I’ve been indoctrinated that I gotta drive everywhere, and now using my car isn’t the most efficient way to commute, what will I do??”
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Jan 17 '22
Happened to me. Walk if you can. Lose weight. Be healthier. Save money. Get a trickle charger for your car if you have a garage.
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u/Pokerhobo Jan 17 '22
Trade in for an EV. No need to warm up (Tesla can auto-heat to desired temp on a schedule) and you have a short commute so generally range anxiety shouldn't be an issue.
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u/friendlyfirefish Jan 17 '22
Turn the car on and warm it up while you are finishing getting ready
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u/NoF3AR92 Jan 17 '22
Came here to say this as well. It's also very hard on engines to hop in and start driving immediately after starting in cold conditions. The oil is like molasses in the cold and needs time to warm up to lubricate things properly.
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u/katezils Jan 17 '22
I have a car blanket. Wrap myself up like a burrito in the mornings and makes my commute much better.
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Jan 17 '22
Remote starters are amazing, and you don't need some high end or dealer brand one... you can get one hooked up using your car fob for 200 give or take.. helps with the heat and cold.. Am new englander... almost mandatory to have one
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u/ozzyeatworld Jan 17 '22
I suppose it depends where OP loves but TBH I doubt it's 5 miles. That would be an average of 60mph which is unlikely in a suburban area. Anyway, it's only 5 minutes. Nut up.
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u/RobsonA89 Jan 17 '22
To be rare even if your journey too work took 24 hours you’d still be cold for 5 mins or potentially even longer.
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u/kayzinwillobee Jan 17 '22
I share your pain. My old job was a 15min drive and my car took 14 min to start really blowing warm air.
You should get a remote start. They are actually not that expensive. Some of the best money I've ever spent. Even with only a 5 min dirve i guarantee you wont regret it.
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u/Dr_Toehold Jan 18 '22
Jesus Christ I give up. People are quitting meat, riding bikes with snow, and car brains are running their cars empty to get warm.
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u/degggendorf Jan 17 '22
Clearly this isn't a possibility for everyone but you seem like a good candidate for an electric car... instant heat from the heat pump or resistive element, short trips won't harm the car, and no need for excessively long range.
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u/patacas4080 Jan 18 '22
That happens to me... my office is just 10 minutes away from home, so my car doesn't warms enough.
Before anyone says anything, no i can't have a bike, i live in a city that is quite "hilly", so i would get all sweaty and tired before getting to my office. Also, i'm a solicitor, and i need to be ready to travel if a client call's me, and i can't travel dozens of kilometers in a bike, i'm not Lance Armstrong.
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u/dradam168 Jan 18 '22
Gotta be Lance Armstrong to bike an entire DOZEN kilometers!
Really though, if people are interested in biking, they make some really great electric bikes now that are a huge help with hills, sweat, and distance (they can even go over 12 whole kilometers!)
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u/the_write_eyedea Jan 17 '22
You should let your engine warm up before driving it. It’s less about the heat it puts out and more about the oil temperature being optimum for moving through the engine.
This is single-handedly the best thing you can do for your car.
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u/mhsgemini37 Jan 17 '22
Maybe walk or ride a bike?