Bike to work, if it is possible. For me it is actually faster than using public transport, and it does wonders for my health, since I am not physically active at most other times (especially when working).
Biking is good exercise but is quite efficient so you have to do a lot of it to get the same effect as running or even walking. For instance, it takes me about 1.5 hours to walk to work and I burn about 600 calories. The same distance on a bike, even going pretty fast, I only burn about 350 calories. And that's going flat out the whole way... in reality there are many opportunities to coast.
I've found that walking is underrated as an exercise. If you live in a suitable area (like NYC) it's easy to walk 2 hours a day, and you can also use the time to talk on the phone, listen to podcasts or books on tape, or just be outdoors.
> "and you can also use the time to talk on the phone, listen to podcasts or books on tape"
Agreed on the walking, disagreed on the disconnection. Personally I feel like people have gotten disconnected from the world at large and each other for little more than a few tunes and podcasts.
I see everyone everywhere with earbuds stuffed into their ears - drowning out the activity and life all around them, absorbed into tunes that they've heard a million times already before.
I am often tempted to do the same - but over the last month I've made a concerted effort to eliminate headphone use while out and about (including commuting), and I think I'm a lot better off for it. I've had many an interesting conversation, have been more aware of my surroundings, and generally noticed and appreciated a lot of the things around me in the city that I used to just walk past without the slightest awareness.
I sort of agree with you but I walk to work at 5:30 in the morning. Nobody else is there. Also NYC has the opposite problem of most places in the USA. You're bombarded with so much "activity and life" that you tend to grab any amount of personal time you can get.
I don't have the stats, but it's an excellent alternative to running because it is lower impact but requires just as much or more cardivascular work (depending on how fast you go)
Plus it's a viable alternative to getting somewhere, you can't walk to work unless it's within 2 miles, otherwise you're going to spend all day walking. Running to work is OK but it's hard to carry things with you.
I wouldn't run to work. You'll get sweaty and smelly and always have to take a shower before work.
With biking, the constant air flow keeps you cool, so you won't have to shower at work unless it's really hot out. That's assuming your work has a shower (which mine doesn't).
