Intercom Online......January 13, 2000
Robert Ginsberg, professor of philosophy at Penn State
Delaware County, lives in Maryland. After 27 years of making
his 240-mile round trip commute, he has logged 500,000 miles.
Photo: Greg Grieco
By David Jwanier
Penn State Great Valley
A popular commercial for Volkswagen automobiles suggests, "On the road of life, there are passengers and there are drivers. Drivers wanted."
Well, Volkswagen, say hello to Penn State philosophy professor Robert Ginsberg who celebrated 500,000 miles of commuting in November and has kept on going into the new year.
You see Ginsberg, who lives in Maryland, has driven the same 240-mile round trip commute to his job at the Penn State Delaware County campus for 27 years. After doing the math -- at a stoplight, of course -- he was all geared up to hit the 500,000-mile commuting mark when he drove his green Volkswagen Passat onto campus Nov. 4. It seems all this driving has made him somewhat of a local celebrity. He was greeted by welcome banners, a large contingent of students and faculty, and even a few news reporters.
"This was not something I planned, but there have been many good times between commutes," said Ginsberg, wearing a tie that loosely depicted a map of the world.
While some might think his commute borders on insanity, Ginsberg has prepared a well-thought-out defense for his drive.
"Penn State Delaware County is an ideal learning community -- a small campus strong in liberal arts and general education, with promising students, gifted faculty, excellent facilities and a lovely setting," he said.
Reaching the upper stratosphere of "Fahrvergnugen," with the help of four different Volkswagens, wasn't easy. For one thing, there was the time Ginsberg had to dodge the aftermath of an overturned cattle truck without getting slaughtered.
"Maryland State Police were trying to lasso the loose animals, but they lacked training," he explained tongue-in-cheek. "I think the Texas Rangers were called in to assist."
Another time, Ginsberg did his part to clear the road of errant watermelons when he picked one off the roadway and brought it home. Two years ago, Ginsberg was in the right place at the right time and helped a woman out of her car, which had skidded on the slick, rain-splattered pavement, rolled off an embankment and flipped onto its roof.
"When I, with two others, reached the driver we were able to lift her out, upside down, and set her down unscratched," Ginsberg recalled. "She bemoaned, 'Now I'll be late for my husband's supper,' but we called ahead by mobile phone to let her husband know she would have to be a little late."
The professor, who lives just outside of Washington, D.C., said he enjoys living near the Capitol because "it's a world center for research, professional activity and living culture. I use its unique resources not only in my research, but also in developing my teaching."
So what does a person do when he spends one-third of his waking hours commuting to work?
"I listen to recorded books. I have been going through the works of Edith Wharton, Jane Austen, Willa Cather and George Elliot," he said, adding that he also has taken audio courses on the history of Western music, Supreme Court cases and the history of baseball.
Ginsberg, who said he often sets his car on cruise control near the speed limit, also has had plenty of time to develop some of his own rules for the road.
He suggests that motorists follow preventive maintenance as outlined by the auto manufacturer, carry emergency equipment -- including food, water and blankets -- and stay away from trucks.
When considering his commuting feat and the fact that he has never missed a day of class due to problems on the road, Ginsberg said he plans to continue putting the pedal to the metal -- even though the 1-million-mile mark is a long way off.
"I think I can do it in another 27 years," he said. "I am willing to go the extra mile for Penn State."