Marise Gaughan is the Head of Customer Success at financial tech firm Chasing Returns. She tells us about her usual cycle from her home in Smithfield to work at Custom House Quay.
Tell me about your regular journey to work.
I live in Smithfield and I work at Dogpatch Labs [at the CHQ Building] on the quays, so I cycle and it takes me, like, 10 minutes - but I've still never been in work by 9 o'clock! I'm meant to be in by then but it's not that strict - I usually leave my house at 9.
If it's raining or feeling really lazy, I'll get the Luas from Four Courts. It takes longer than cycling - 25 minutes altogether, with waiting. I head home around 5, and it takes a little bit longer on the way back because there's so much traffic on the quays.
How do you find cycling in the city?
It's fine but people are so angry, especially along the quays. I don't know what it is about that little area between Smithfield and O'Connell Street - everyone is so fuming. The amount of fights I've seen between middle-aged men in cars and middle-aged men on bicycles... Relax!
I used to always give the finger to people when I was on the bike but now it's winter so I'm wearing mittens and I can't - I'm just holding up my hand! People hate cyclists.
Do you use earphones on the bike?
Yeah, I know you're not supposed to. I listen to five songs on my Spotify, it's not a big selection. Right now it's Martha by Tom Waits - I'm really into that song so I'll listen to that one on repeat. I listen to a song over and over again until I'm sick of it. That's the one right now but it'll be different in a few days.
Adam Sandler has this song about Chris Farley, so I was listening to that for a good two weeks. I really liked that one.
Have you had any scary moments on the bike?
No, and I don't wear a helmet so I'm lucky that I haven't. A couple of times I've been going down a hill and my brakes have gone, so I've been like, 'oh sh*t'. But it's worked out fine! I just had to drag my feet on the ground until I stopped. I've gotten into a few arguments with drivers but I don't care any more.
What's the best commute you've ever had? And the worst?
When I'm working, I always make sure I have a place that's walking distance because I just hate the bus so much. So I've never really had a hard one.
I got the train when I lived in Chicago, for about an hour, but I was about 20 so i didn't care - it was amazing, I was earning a salary, so it didn't bother me.
