By Bike To Work

Michael Yes, bicycle: I ride daily to the train station (20 min), take the train to San Mateo (25 min), and then ride up the steep hill to the AOL building (15 min, downhill takes half the time). Since Caltrain trains can carry a maximum of 24 bicycles and run only about every half hour in the mornings and evenings, and because the weather is absolutely world-class (maybe 2 rainy days since February), unfortunately, more and more Americans are discovering this way of commuting, and it often happens that you get 'kicked off the train.' But Americans line up politely, and it's first come, first served. Since it doesn't really matter when I arrive at or leave work, I take it easy, buy myself a coffee, or eat a muffin until the next train comes.

Cyclists in SF are currently staging a bit of a rebellion; every Friday, there are bike demonstrations downtown with minor disturbances because there's a debate about whether the new Bay Bridge should have a bike lane or not, and yada yada yada. Overall, cycling is slightly more dangerous than in Munich -- it can happen that someone suddenly swings open a car door or makes a right turn without signaling, but if you're used to it and shout loudly "Hey! You got a submarine's driver's license or what?" it works out. I just made up that line, though; you have to be very careful about provoking drivers in the US because some carry guns and can react very heatedly.