commuting by bike

[Tourista829]

I have a 19 mile commute each way. The last 4 miles being treacherous and not for the faint of heart. Tampa is not Portland. I saw the aftermath of a cyclist, on my route, in an ambulance, with internal injuries and broken collar bone. I am lucky, in the complex, where I work, there is a health club. I only want to use the shower, but they want a full club membership, they are not partial to cyclist. The other problem is, it is not safe to leave a good bike locked up outside. So I take my folding bike and store it under my desk. Since Friday is casual day, I currently commute, one day a week. If my schedule changes, I may commute a second day.

[ugdurcorp]

I bike from manhattan to Astoria everyday and love biking through queensboro bridge..

[solsrch]

I've been commuting by bike 2-3x per week from Mount Vernon up to DC (Foggy Bottom) - just over 16 miles one way.  I'll use studded tires in the winter to deal with ice and light snow.  Once the temps hit the low teens, I jump in my Jeep but that doesn't happen much around here.  In the past I've commuted in Monterey, CA, Newport, RI, San Diego, CA (my favorite) and outside Manama, Bahrain.  I tend to go through stretches where I bike and then periods when I drive depending on what is happening in my life.  The bikes and cars change, but so far, I still come back to my bike eventually.  Getting ready to retire from the Navy and hoping to find a job that allows me to keep up this great way to get in some regular miles, reduce stress, and reduce my environmental impact.

[Wuwei]

I bike from Seattle to Mercer Island every day. It's about a 15-mile round trip and when the sun is shining, crossing the I-90 bridge on the bike lane is glorious. On the way home it's always fun to pass all the cars that are moving at a snail's pace.

[LawDog]

My commute is just over one mile. So I really don't need a bike at all--I could just walk it. But biking is more fun. I'm in Alaska, so the season impacts my riding pattern. Through summer, I bike just about everywhere. A couple of times a month, I'll start the truck up to take long trips. Otherwise, everything I need is in town. In winter, I put on the studs and manage to ride 3 or 4 days a week. Some days I wuss out, though, and opt for a nice heated truck. There are 2 or 3 weeks on each end of winter when I basically stop riding. When things are freezing up and when things are melting, it gets way too slippery and dangerous. I'm not that worried about falling down. I just don't want to get run over because a driver couldn't stop his car.

I commute by bike because it is fun. I don't do it to save money. I don't do it to save trees. I just like riding my bike.

[Trekgeek]

I have been commuting to work via train and bicycle since March of this year. I ride 2 miles from my home to the VRE (Virginia Railway Express), ride about 40-45 minutes on the train and then get off and ride 7 miles to work. It is working out very well and averages 2 hours door to door including a shower before starting work. I wasn't going to take this new job unless I could stay off I-95 and so far this is great. I average about 100 miles a week riding 5 days as I have time to add a couple of miles going back to the train in the evening. Wx will not be an issue for me as staying off the interstate is a much bigger motivator to ride every day.
I commute using a 2012 Trek 520 with Planet Bike Hybred fenders, Ortleib rear panniers and a Topeak Rack bag.

[DeanBean440]

Hello Everyone,
I'm a Student in Industrial Design at the Columbus college of Art and Design. Right now I am working on a senior thesis involving public bicycle parking. Below is a survey that I would love if anybody would fill out. Very interested in feedback, Thanks Everyone!

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/F6JQ3Z9

[StringBean]

I live in Washington, DC and walk 30 minutes to work. In a pinch, I'll commute by bike - which gets me there in 10-15 min.

[canalligators]

... i reckon i save around $50 - $60 a week on transport plus if take into account the exercise i get as well then i really don't mins. Takes me a total of 35 minutes door to door which isn't too bad

I've looked at my savings more than once.  It's very dependent on your situation, but I would make a generalization: Unless you can avoid owning a car (first or second), you're not going to save a lot of money.  Fixed car expenses such as insurance, basic maintenance and car payments can't be avoided.  Although smaller, there are fixed and per-mile costs with the bike too.

The other aspect of commuting by bike is the hassle factor.  Frankly, it's time consuming and a pain in the neck to commute to work.  I make it work because it's my chosen exercise and I love to ride, but there are days when I just say "forget it" and drive.

[Mickey...]

I ride to work every day too, but is not long distance... only 3km from house to work..

Sent from my ALE-L21 using Tapatalk

[canalligators]

3km - that's got to be fairly hassle-free.  No clothing change most days, I bet. I'd probably walk or maybe ride the old three speed.

[RussSeaton]

3km - that's got to be fairly hassle-free.  No clothing change most days, I bet. I'd probably walk or maybe ride the old three speed.

No.  When I commuted 2 miles each way, I wore cycling clothes.  Even in 2 miles you will sweat.  Best to sweat in your cycling clothes, not your all day work clothes.  Never thought it would be pleasant to ride in Docker style cotton pants and a Polo shirt.  Walk?  Figure 15-20 plus minutes to walk 2 miles.  Each way.  Walk in your dress work clothes?  Never thought of commuting as something I would want to prolong to enjoy the sites.  And when it is dark both ways, cold, rainy, I'd want it over as fast as possible.

[canalligators]

Depends on your dress requirements, of course. If you have to dress professionally or work in close ptoximity to your customers or clients, of course.  I'm amused by the Grant Petersen mindset that you just ride in ordinary clothes. I can get away with dockers on a mild day, I'm an engineer who does not interface with the public.  My wife is a nurse, works close to people and cannot offend, she doesn't even ride to work.

[marti jacobs]

I like to that, I have to make some changes 

[johnsondasw]

I bike from Seattle to Mercer Island every day. It's about a 15-mile round trip and when the sun is shining, crossing the I-90 bridge on the bike lane is glorious. On the way home it's always fun to pass all the cars that are moving at a snail's pace.

Love that ride! You are lucky (or smart, if you set that situation intentionally) to be able to do that!