You're welcome to your opinion. I bike 8 miles each way in Silicon Valley with a backpack on my back. I ride in a t-shirt and jeans (unless it's really hot, in which case I wear shorts).
I ride moderately hard, so I arrive with a bit of sweat on my body and on my face. Sometimes I wipe the sweat off my face with a paper towel.
10 mins in my air-conditioned cube and I'm back to normal temp, all dried off, and merino t-shirts don't smell.
Driving a car is convenient, sure. My bike commute to work takes about twice as long as driving on 101, though my commute home is often about the same, time-wise due to traffic.
I enjoy the bike ride more, for the most part. Occasionally I wish I had a car. Once I had vertigo so I called an Uber to take me to the urgent care. If I had a car, I would have driven, but that's probably not the best shape to be in while driving a motor vehicle.
So I suppose you'll trade sitting in traffic for the convenience of having a car on the rare occasion you need one. You're welcome to the choice.
I welcome the addition of more bike infrastructure.
I like having the mass attached to my body, as opposed to having an awkwardly-weighted bike. Reduced unsprung weight for more maneuverability :) Much easier to hop speedbumps and the like, which is pretty useful for urban cycling.
I have a light 20L pack with an internal frame and mesh for my back so I still get decent ventilation.
I like the backpack better as I can bring it with me on the last 100 ft and into my building where I shower and change, where if its pannier's I either need a backpack inside of it, or I need to carry my stuff around.
Also people steal stuff, so I don't like leaving things on my bike.
There are pannier backs with backpack straps, or shoulder straps, etc.
Although I have the more basic "back roller" standard detachable panniers. They take a second to attach/detach, nothing remains to be stolen. Best £50 I ever spent! They still look new after 2 years of daily use.
I ride moderately hard, so I arrive with a bit of sweat on my body and on my face. Sometimes I wipe the sweat off my face with a paper towel.
10 mins in my air-conditioned cube and I'm back to normal temp, all dried off, and merino t-shirts don't smell.
Driving a car is convenient, sure. My bike commute to work takes about twice as long as driving on 101, though my commute home is often about the same, time-wise due to traffic.
I enjoy the bike ride more, for the most part. Occasionally I wish I had a car. Once I had vertigo so I called an Uber to take me to the urgent care. If I had a car, I would have driven, but that's probably not the best shape to be in while driving a motor vehicle.
So I suppose you'll trade sitting in traffic for the convenience of having a car on the rare occasion you need one. You're welcome to the choice.
I welcome the addition of more bike infrastructure.