Transit Strike Ends

Finally. The strike is over. Tomorrow, the ferry starts running again, and buses on Friday. I am happy that today is the last day that I have to commute via foot. It won't be the last day that I commute by foot, but at least I'll have a choice to take transit on those yucky days (like today).

I thought I'd look back at some of the numbers to reflect on my strike experience (not counting the kilometers run as they would have been run anyway):

• 42 days with no transit
• 192 km walked
• ~32 hours walking 
• 12,000 calories burned
• 24 days getting to/from work
• 140 km walking to/from work with a backpack
• 5.5 audiobooks listened to
• 3 rides bummed accepted from friends/coworkers
• 1 shuttle across the bridge with the bridge commission when it was too windy for pedestrians
• $100 not spent on transit pass and tickets
• $65 spent on a new running vest
• $35 spent on new tires for my bike
• $30 spent on a new bike helmet (now I'm all set to start bike commuting again)
• $0 spent on cabs
• 3 missed social engagements
• 1 email to my city councilor
• ~10 slips on ice
• 0 falls (knock wood, I still have to walk home tonight)
• 0 days I hated the commute (despite some really cold winds on the bridge deck)

Now that transit will be back up and running, the things I am most looking forward to:

• drinks after work with friends
• running without the weight of a backpack
• not walking in freezing rain/drizzle
• walking to work
• biking to work (when the weather warms up a bit - I'm a fair weather cyclist)
• getting to the gym before/after work
• visiting friends/family on weekends/evenings

All in all, it really wasn't that bad for me. Most days, I enjoyed the walk. Some days, I really did not enjoy it (rain, wind, sleet, hail, ice). I really noticed the increase in numbers of people walking. I hope to continue to see some of them out there. But, I am really happy that the people who rely on the bus will be able to get out and about again.