Commuting - Intermodal successes/failures?

Hi all. Been lurking for a couple weeks and thought I'd finally get myself registered and make a post. Looks like a great forum! I've learned a lot already.

I'm going to be starting a new job in mid-August located about 14 miles away from my apartment. I don't own a car and *really* don't want to buy one solely for this job (my neighborhood is very walkable/bikeable, mixed-use, etc., making a car unnecessary for day-to-day errands... I wouldn't have it any other way!). The thing is, transit would require a close connection between two buses and take almost 90 minutes each way; I'd like to avoid it at all costs, except in cases of extreme weather. While I hope to bike commute the full distance three or four days a week, I know there will be some days when I'll be too pooped to go the whole way, at least at first. So, I've done a little investigating, and it seems that there are a couple of intermodal options available...

Option A: I could bike to a MetroRail station (this is Miami--we have one rail line with okay but not stellar frequency), ride the rail with my bike to another station (I'll be commuting just before the rush-hour bike ban begins), and ride from that station to work. It would involve 8 miles of cycling and 15 minutes on the train.

Option B: I could bike to a more distant MetroRail station, lock my bike up there (lockers are available for rent by the month, but I'd probably just buy a beater bike and lock it to the outdoor rack), and hop on a bus that originates at that station and goes by my workplace. This would involve 6 miles of cycling and 30 minutes on the bus.

Has anyone else had experiences combining cycling with transit? How does it work? Does cycling the full way as often as possible end up being less of a headache?

Any thoughts would be appreciated.

Thanks,

Doug

I don't have much experience but I just started carrying my bike on the train with me. At first I was locking it at the station and catching a shuttle to work from the end station. I hate waiting on the shuttle because they don't have a strict schedule. It works really great to carry the bike on the train. The train moves fast and I can bike faster than the shuttle can get me to work. Of course I live about 2 miles from the station so I don't have much pedaling to do.

I would just try both routes and see which works best for you. It really depends on how close the end station is to your work.

The veteran commuters will probably tell you to take the longest route. Since I'm just a newbie I say take the shortest route (time wise).

Originally posted by dugma78
Any thoughts would be appreciated.

Thanks,

Doug
Doug,

The more advice you get, the better, because you can learn more.
I'll put in my two cents.

There are many ways to skin a cat. Sometimes I ride all the way, 14 miles each way. Other times I walk to the bus stop and use the bus/train. Sometimes I ride my bike to the train about 4 miles and ride the train the rest of the way, taking my bike with me, then ride home on my bike. These are just a few examples of what I can do. The more choices you have, the more power you have.

But my favorite is biking all the way, both ways. Still, I don't do it every day.

Originally posted by dugma78
Option B: I could bike to a more distant MetroRail station, lock my bike up there (lockers are available for rent by the month, but I'd probably just buy a beater bike and lock it to the outdoor rack), and hop on a bus that originates at that station and goes by my workplace. This would involve 6 miles of cycling and 30 minutes on the bus.

Has anyone else had experiences combining cycling with transit? How does it work? Does cycling the full way as often as possible end up being less of a headache?

Option B sounds pretty good to me. The thing about a beater bike is that you can use it for other errands too (like shopping and so on). Cycling the whole distance will always be the easier way to go, but if you can't, a really crappy bike the best anti-theft device I've ever seen.

I would seriously consider option A. You get a bit of a rest on the train and you still have the bike under closer supervision at both ends, with the possibility of running a bike errand at noon if necessary.

Try 'em both and see.

Whats the deal with getting onto a commuter train after a hot sweaty ride in a Fl summer?
Do you take it easy to cool down, carry a waterbottle for a portable shower?
I would imagine that winter is far more comfortable for cycling.
Most beaters come with fenders which will keep you fairly clean on wet roads. No-one wants to sit next to a sweaty guy covered in road grime.

If you do a lot of intermodal riding, there are adaptionsyopu can make for the job.
Smaller wheeled and short wheelbase bikes are easier to port and fit into places (eg 26" rather than 700c).
Unless you have a hilly ride, cut down on the gearing. A 1x8, singlespeed, or 7spd hub is a neater solution and makes a lighter more durable package.
Folding bikes can often be carried on rush hr transits. There are some high performance folders.
The beater solution can work well, and if you have a regular lockup post, leave a heavy duty chain and cable there. Its a fine art making a bike beater enough to leave but good enough to ride.

I take my standard road/touring quality beater on trains and across London, but the rail carriages are changing with less available bike spaces. I may have to start thinking creatively.

Well, yeah, I'll be sweaty no matter which route I choose, at least until the heat abates in November. However, my commute in will be mostly pre-dawn, so that should cut back on the sweatiness somewhat, and the train is actually not a commuter rail but an elevated subway-type line (but not technically a subway since very few things are built underground in Florida). This means that there's a little space for handicapped folks on each car that is also open for bicyclists to stand with their bikes. So no one will have to sit next to me in my sweaty, dirty state.

I don't start work until August 15th, so I'll have plenty of time to try out the different routes... just gotta tweak my schedule first so that I can hack waking up at 5:15am!

Anyway, thanks to all for the advice! I'm definitely going to give it a shot and will report back on how it goes.

Cheers,

Doug

Over the years, I have tried various combinations of cycling, jogging, train-riding, bus-riding, and carpooling. I dislike bringing my bike aboard a rush-hour train, only because so many other people have the same idea. Keeping one (beater) bike in a train station locker near my office is generally a much better option.

Everyone here is right.

The problem is, what works for one may not suit another.

Just try different things to find out what works for you!

:thumbup: