commuting by bike

[Badger]

Everyday for 4 years.  I believe the saving in gas alone has paid for all 3 of my bikes as well as everything I have bought for them.

[scoatw]

Started commuting 2 mos. ago when car broke down. I rode in last summer then stopped when weather changed. I bought a good rain jacket/pants/shoe covers. Rain doesn't bother me, it's dodging the lightning bolts that terrifies me. Anyway, I get up a half hour earlier to ride in. It's 8 mi one way. Starting to get used to it. Always wanted to before in the past, but could'nt get motivated. Once the car is fixed I intend to keep riding. We'll see how the winter goes. Altho I've been getting motivated by all I read on the Net. I've got the gear. I've also been looking at studded tires.

[mplakus]

I've been bicycle commuting daily for just over four years.  It's six miles to work and I find I stay warmer on my bike than I do on the very rare occasion I have taken the car in the winter (heater doesn't kick in on a short trip like that).  FWIW--I live in Landover Hills, MD where I have seen temps as low as 9F and as high 103F in those four years.

[Turk]

I'm hoping to bicycle commute a lot this year. It's 14 miles one way but most is on a path along the Mississippi River. I used to bike commute every day, even in winter, to my old job but that was only 1-2 miles. My problems with the new commute are having to cool off after arriving at work, showering in a tiny shower, lack of covered parking for my bike, what to do when it rains heavily, two humongous hills, darkness during the morning commute (I start at 7 AM), etc.

[Turk]

Regarding my previous post, I think I've got my problems worked out. I found that I can take my bike to work in the morning on the bus. It costs $1.50 and it takes 50 minutes vs. 30 by car and 1 hr 15 min by bicycle. I have to transfer in downtown St. Paul but the connection is good. The second bus is a reverse commuting route to the suburbs that lets me off one mile from work. The bike racks have always been unoccupied and it's not a big deal to load it on the bus. I bought a plastic cover for my bike in case of rain. In a heavy rain I can walk to the bus. With an umbrella and perhaps a rain suit that shouldn't be so bad. I did it four days this week.

[Carl]

I must have one of the easiest commutes in the world; it's 3 or 4 miles going to work, depending on whether I'm in a hurry or not (3 when I'm running late, 4 when I've got more time...mostly a psychological thing). I can ride along the Columbia River in the morning when the sun's coming up over wheatfields to the west. After work I can do another 15 mile loop ride to my house that takes me through parks and a nature preserve, then down to the Columbia where I can pick up another bike trail that goes right along the edge of the Yakima River with all its heavy shrubs and wildlife, then hit one crappy intersection and go directly onto either side streets with old houses or onto a heavily treed bike path. So I can get as few as 6 miles in a day or, when time and weather allow, an easy 20 miles. By the way, this is all in a town without a major university so the bike paths are relatively empty most of the time.

[freightbike]

I wish I had a longer commute. I ride to work every day except in winter when I take a three month layoff. My commute is about a quarter mile, I could probably walk to work but it's easier and safer to bike it. Some years ago, I had an eleven mile commute. I lived near the west side of Minneapolis and cycled to the west side of St. Paul. I would arrive at work all bright eyed and bushy tailed. My coworkers would come in sleepy and bleery eyed from their cars and pickups
 I was hoping to take an assignment to work out of a readymix plant on the MN.-WI. border to have a twenty mile commute but the bid was dropped by the company. With the down turn in the housing market it's unlikely the bid will be offered again soon. Well, I guess I'am lucky to have a bridge to work on.
 You never know some times times things just flow your way. The bid from last summer had a grievance filed on it last year that went to arbitration. The company lost at the arbitration.(wonders never cease)So now to get revenge on the drivers the company moved the top five of us from the plant near my home to a plant on the east side of St. Paul, 10 miles away! YAAAAY! The guys who have to drive it are really pissed but I'm just tickled pink !            May the wind at your back always smell like home.
                  MORG

This message was edited by freightbike on 6-27-08 @ 5:11 PM

[WesternFlyer]

I don't work any more so I voted for my wife who rides about 18 miles round trip almost everyday except in the worst weather in Portland, Oregon.  Now I do the shopping and the like by bike and try and get the grandkids to come along.

Western Flyer

A wheel spins in a circle.
The still point at the center
gives it direction.
Be still.

   "The Parents' Tao Te Ching"

[JayH]

Coldest I've biked to work in is something like 6°F, wore my ski goggles and double pants for that one.  But its very rare to get that cold here in northern NJ, you have to go much further north to get regular single digit or below 0 temps like that.  

Unless you are completely uphill to work, I find that I can adjust my pace to not really need a shower at work for 95% of the year. Since I generally will leave before sunrise or darkness in winter, it's usually not too hot in the morning and in the high summer, I will adjust my pace accordingly.  Sometimes it doesn't work but since I have have a desk job, it doesn't matter too much. A couple of times I've forgotten a change of clothes so I just work in my bike stuff. Now that is an interesting site.  Makes halloween easy though, I come in as a cylist every year. :-)

jay

[dougcheney]

I work from home but do as many errands by bike as possible.  I also encourage my kids to ride/walk to school when their backpacks are not too heavy.

About once a month I take my bike on a business trip and use it exclusively--avoiding the need to rent a car and adding some adventure as I navigate airports, cities and country roads.

-Doug in Denver

[jman7659]

I went primary bike from car Jan 01 this year. Prior to that for 3 years abt 40 %. Car miles avg abt 30 miles at most per month now, bikes just over 400 miles a month. I have plans to continue to phase out auto, when need to travel to areas where it is not practical in N.Texas I car pool in exchange for gas money like to outreaching cycle events friends are taking part in like Hotter N Hell in Witcha Tall Falls in august. I just bought a Burley Nomad Trailer from a fellow in So Cal that will be used for supply runs, travel, etc. I am at just over 2400 miles for the year now mostly on a Mid Racer configuration recumbent with abt 40 % on a Dawes (steel is real ) Lightning Tour customized a bit with my fav. Brooks Champion Flyer saddle and Vuleta 700 C wheels. The Dawes will be my primary Burley puller. Oh, one last detail I live successfully day to day with a neuro muscular disability with abt 60% nerve damage. If it weren't for my bikes, after 20 years with this diagnosed problem, I am told by my neuro doc, I would be using 4 wheels now, not 2, called a Jazzy scooter or it's equivalent. Only reason I mention this is to encourage all, that if you or someone you know is having mobility challenges, never give up, the bit of pain from riding is nothing to the numbness of being pushed from behind by a caregiver.

[brad]

i have been "living the bike" for a few years now. commute to the bus stop by bike and twice a week all the way to work (20 miles, 3 to the bus stop). i also use it for any near by errands, etc

[BobN.]

My brother and I moved our office and put in a shower so I could ride in and he could jog during lunch etc.  Now he's started biking and we both commute as much as we can (once/twice a week thus far, we often need a car to visit sites and clients).  Our younger brother works downtown and he bikes into his office some too.  Beats driving on the Beltway!

[playpiano1980]

I bike commute everyday. Portland, Oregon is a great city for this. My one-way distance home to work is 13 miles. However, in the winter, if its windy i'll pedal to the bus stop and take my bike on the bus and shorten the 13 miles to 3 miles.

Work to Eat
Eat to Live
Live to Bike
Bike to Work

Must be a great ride, I bike to work, it is only 4 miles away from home though, I live in Fort Lauderdale, Florida; suprisingly, the roads are pretty friendly, many roads have a bike lane dedicated to bikers. 

[nhhillbilly]

I bike to work 3 or 4 days or evenings a week. I have lights and racks on my bike so carrying clothing is not a problem. My shift either starts at 0600 and goes to 1400 or from 1400 to 2400. I love riding at night except I do not on Friday and Saturday nights. I seen to many drunk drivers over the years. Round trip is about 10.6 miles.. Living in NH I ride in the winter as long as it is not snowing or forecast-ed to snow. I wear a wool cap under my helmt, face mask, lobster gloves and several layer of clothing in the winter. We have some good hills on the way to work.