Commuting - No Commuting Makes Steele-Bike...Something, Something

The two miles of highway between home and work have been torn up for construction since last winter. This means, that due to a pre-dawn commute with no shoulder and a 45 mile speed limit, I have not bike-commuted for a year now. The construction is only half complete and is due to be finished at the end of 2006. Can I survive another 365 days without biking to work? I have been taking the bus and then either walking (its only 2 miles) or occasionally taking the bus home, so at least I am still getting some exercise. I am usually a non-compromising, year around commuter, but after attempting this stretch of road way a couple of times, I decided it would be best to live to see another year.

The only bright side is that once it is finished, this will be a 4 lane highway with sidewalks on both sides. The plan is for this road to be an arterial road for not-yet-build subdivisions, but since there are no houses or any immediate plans for such, I will have two miles of sidewalks to myself...in another year.

Our buses in San Diego have bike racks. If yours do, too, you could take you bike and ride the last 2 miles. It's not much, but its better than nothing.

Is there an alternate route you could take? Adding a mile or two to your commute wouldn't be the worst thing in the world. Barring that, I'd walk all the time just to keep the legs moving. 2 miles - what's that, about 30-40 minutes at a regualr walking pace?

The only bright side is that once it is finished, this will be a 4 lane highway with sidewalks on both sides. The plan is for this road to be an arterial road for not-yet-build subdivisions, but since there are no houses or any immediate plans for such, I will have two miles of sidewalks to myself...in another year.

Why in the world would you want to ride on the sidewalk? Have you ever paid attention to the statistics for sidewalk riding?

Why in the world would you want to ride on the sidewalk? Have you ever paid attention to the statistics for sidewalk riding?


Where can I get that information please ?

Can I survive another 365 days without biking to work?
Steele, I know what you're going through. I haven't commuted for almost 6 weeks (shoulder surgery on Nov 29 and the doc said no riding for 3 months :cry: ) and it's killing me. :crash:

Is there another route to work - even if it's a bit longer - or through a corn field. ;)

Why in the world would you want to ride on the sidewalk? Have you ever paid attention to the statistics for sidewalk riding?
This sidewalk will be 8 feet wide and will go for two miles with only one intersection. There is nothing residential or commercial within a mile of said sidewalk. I would never cycle on an urban sidewalk, but this is something of an in-town rural area.

Is there another route to work - even if it's a bit longer - or through a corn field. ;)
Sorry to hear you are off-duty, too. Keep up with the rehab and you will be back in no time.

The nearest other road is about 5 miles out of the way and this is the road that intersects the contruction zone. So, I would still have to ride another mile on the shoulderless highway. Another option would be to take Herbert Hoover Highway ten miles out of town, then ride 5 miles down I-80. Did I mention that I only live 2 miles from work? :)

I guess I'll just have to keep up with walking the muddy, ripped up road and be happy about it.