commute distance

[matt_savvy]

just curious...what is everyone's mileage for one-way just to work/school/wherever the hell you go most days a week on your bike?

[Fillanzea]

3 miles!-- and if it were much more, I wouldn't be car-free, I'm afraid, because it's incredible how weak my legs are.

[Roody]

Three lousy miles. In fact, 90 % of the places I like to go are within a three mile radius of my house.

At least there's plenty of time for supplemental riding, and that's when the fun begins!

[PVyrus]

My job, bank, and grocery store are right across the street from me, less than a 10min walk. The library, mall, pet store, church, bowling alley, college, hiking trail, and most of my friends are no more than 3 measily miles from my home in the suburbs, and those I gladly take by bike. Sometimes I just look for areas outside this "ring" for a good workout / challenge.

[some_guy282]

Work is 15 miles (weekends only). School is five miles.

[K6-III]

Weekend work is about 15 miles each way. School is 2 miles.

[Platy]

That's interesting. Almost everything I need for daily living is within a three mile radius, too.

When I first went carfree I'd often go outside the three mile radius. (I think I was simply trying to directly substitute alternative transportation for a car.) As I learned more and more about my home area I discovered a lot of useful resources I'd just never noticed before.

[Mtn Mike]

I do three days a week at job 1 mile away, and two days at a job 5 miles away. Groceries, banks, LBS's, and downtown Spokane are all within 3 miles of my house.

Like the PP said, I probably wouldn't be CF if I lived outside of town. My choice of living locations was no accident. I live in town because it's convenient and I don't need a car.

[AverageCommuter]

Work is 1.5 miles. I am also in the group for whom all necessities are within 3 miles. Wasn't intentional, just worked out that way. Grocery store is a five minute walk from home. I sometimes wish the ride to work was a bit longer.

[MediaCreations]

6.5 km (Just over 4 miles) each way.

In the next couple of years the radio station I work for is moving and then I'll have a trip more like 15 to 17 km each way. Can't wait. :)

[natelutkjohn]

Work is right around 18 miles from home, usualy get to put in 40-45 miles a day though to get everything done.

[PaulH]

A bit over five miles each way.

Paul

[BenyBen]

12km (roughly 7.5 miles).

[BenyBen]

3 miles!-- and if it were much more, I wouldn't be car-free, I'm afraid, because it's incredible how weak my legs are.

I don't know your physical state, but I'd wager your legs will be able to take you farther at some point in time. :)

[fordfasterr]

5 mile trip in each direction 3 days a week, and 7 miles in each direction 2 other days.

=)

Fun ride !

[NoRacer]

10 miles to work x 5 days unless it's icy.

.

[jhershbine]

13 to 15 miles one way. I like to vary my route to keep from getting bored.

[jamesdenver]

from home:

18 miles to work and back daily
1.8 miles to grocery store and back 2-5 times a week
2 miles to gym/walgreens/big lots and other misc places i go 2-5 times a week
2 miles to downtown.

[gorn]

1 Mile to work.
1/2 Mile to my good friends house.
Those are the main places I go multiple times a week, yet I still get in > 100 miles/week. Some being recreational riding, some being transportation (To places aside from those mentioned, luckily I don't go to/from work 50 times a week).

[matt_savvy]

my work is 30 miles roundtrip, so I usually put in anywhere from 100-200 miles a week just getting to work and back.

I'm surprised how many of you guys have stuff in such a short range from your homes...does anyone have a commute more than 20 miles/one way?

[gwd]

When I dumped the car, I had a 10 mile one way commute. Now its walkable but I still bike, maybe 20 minutes by bike to work. Most shopping trips and errands are within 15 miles. I'd like a longer commute but there are rumours flying that the office will move even closer to home.

[bike756]

school- 1 mile
grocery- 3.5 miles
lbs- 4-6 miles
mall, misc retail-5 miles

[Chris L]

Currently my commute is a 14km round trip. Most days I do extra rides just to get more distance.

The commute has been as high as a 47km round trip at one stage.

[Mtn Mike]

my work is 30 miles roundtrip, so I usually put in anywhere from 100-200 miles a week just getting to work and back.

I'm surprised how many of you guys have stuff in such a short range from your homes...does anyone have a commute more than 20 miles/one way?

Thats pretty hardcore. I don't think I would want to be car-free if I were that far from the city. I've bike commuted 25 miles each way from a GFs house, but that was far from being car free because I had backup if I needed it, and it wasn't every day of the week. You're a bad ass.

[wsexson]

18 miles to work

[wsexson]

I don't think I would want to be car-free if I were that far from the city.
I guess it depends on where you live. I live near Los Angeles. My commute is 30-40 miles round trip, and I never really leave the city (even though I actually cross several city limits on the way). You could actually commute quite a bit further than that and still stay within the urbanized (by west coast standards) part of LA.

[recursive]

10 or 11, depending on my mood.

[becnal]

As I learned more and more about my home area I discovered a lot of useful resources I'd just never noticed before.

So true. It's amazing how many things are in one's own neighbourhood, but just never get noticed because we always walk the same way from our house to the bus stop, and back again, for example.

[TxBiker]

My work commute is 10-11 miles each way. I am trying to use my bike more and more for mundane errands I used to use the car for. I sold my car late last year and we have only one car for the wife and kids. However, we have done several errands on bike as a family clocking in about 5 miles each time.

As to distance to key areas (grocery, lbs, mall, etc), they are not too far away...just need to find alternate routes. We are in the "burbs" and access to these places can get pretty hairy.

Chris
NW Houston

[*new*guy]

...does anyone have a commute more than 20 miles/one way?

I do. It's something around 25 miles each way. 5 days a week.

[cerewa]

I used to do a 25mile round trip to my internship each weekday. My favorite grocery store was about half a mile from home, along my regular commute route, so I'd stop there on the way.

Now it's 10 miles round trip to school. I think I may have a grocery store I can stop at which would add only 1 mile to my commute.

[quintessence22]

My trip to school is 14.5km (9 miles) one way. It takes me 50 min. - 1 hr. each way. I don't do too much other commuting besides to school. I'm always pretty tired in the evening after a full riding/school day. Is it just me?

I'm surprised how far some of your commutes are. I'd be very happy if my commute was reduced to 25 - 35 min. each way.

Right now the commuting distance/time plus weather are the factors discouraging me from becoming completely car-free or more car-light.

[chipko]

School and work are 4 miles one way. everything else i really need to get to is within 3 miles. I thought about these distances when i was looking for a place to live. i actually couldve been much closer to school/work but i really dont wanna be hanging out in that part of town, i much prefer where i live. Actually that is kind of odd i suppose because most people at school look at me oddly for wanting to live in the neighborhood i do. Its a poor neighborhood i guess, it doesnt look like much, but everyone around here is pretty nice. Sometimes I wish i had a longer commute.

[tfahrner]

son's preschool is 5 miles away. between dropoff and pickup, that's 20 miles a day, half of which is with toddler on bike or in trailer if raining/freezing. most other errands like shopping are within 3 miles.

[sveinbjorn]

4 miles, each way....still working up to it..

[matt_savvy]

I do. It's something around 25 miles each way. 5 days a week.

that's what I like to hear. I worry a lot of car free people wouldn't be car free if the place they need to get to and back everyday were something the average person considers driving-only distance.

[chicbicyclist]

that's what I like to hear. I worry a lot of car free people wouldn't be car free if the place they need to get to and back everyday were something the average person considers driving-only distance.


If most people who are car-free lives more than that, not many people would be car-free for sure. I've always thought that living car-free also has to do with where you are living, that is, it should ideally be a mixed use development, i.e. Smart Growth areas.

Of course, there are always exceptions but implying that because you commute with shorter distances means you are some sort of a car-free wimp will not help the cause at all.

[scottopsy]

9 miles. It is getting too easy, maybe I should take the long way.

[lancekagar]

When I lived in North Hollywood, CA, I worked as a messenger in the Beverly Hills/Century City area. I used to take the subway (yep, they have one) from my house to Hollywood and then ride into Bev. Hills. The subway only spared me five miles or so, but saved me from climbing up and over Cahuenga Pass, a lengthy hill with crappy pavement and heavy traffic. An average day of work consisted of 50 miles or so, and then I'd ride back to Hollywood in the evening, via subway. Total miles each day was 75 or so. In the summer.

Then the MTA (public transport system) went on strike.

So there was no choice but ride it...every day. Back and forth. 30 miles round trip, 50 miles of courier work and Cahuenga Pass hill included. That sucked, and remains a huge reason why I hope to never live there again. L.A.'s too spread out for my liking.

Now I commute daily about twenty steps...to my garage.

[knykersnatchurs]

from my apt. to the uni : 9 miles
from uni to work : roughly 4 miles

[oilfreeandhappy]

8 miles one way. I often ride evenings and weekends.

[twochins]

6 miles roundtrip...and everybody else in this tiny town has the same commute, but only ten of us ride bikes
alas were ~SoCal

[stargazer48]

B4 I retired (laid off), I was commuting about 19 miles RT. I usually added another 5 to 10 miles during warmer weather going into Manhattan.
My main shopping run is 6 miles RT.
I visit my Dad once a week riding 40 miles RT.

SG

[ngrundy]

while not a car-free type my commute is about 14km each way and takes me ~35-40 mins. Shops are about 15min walk. I work at the same place i go to Uni so no travel issues there :)

[zoridog]

17 miles to work and back. On the weekend I'll go to the supermarket/hardware store/pharmacy for a 25 mile round trip.

[serpico317]

my commute is around 9 miles,stores and such within 2 miles.
i am glad it's no further when it rains :p

[Katrogen]

I live in a really central location...
School - 1/2 mile with bike trails
YMCA - 1/8th a mile (nice view from the front window :) )
Target/Grocery Store - 1/2 a mile
2 Gas Statons - 1/2 a mile
Subway/Starbucks/Movie Rental/Ice Cream/UPS/Pizza Hut/Jack in the Box/KFC/A and W Rootbeer/2-3 Hair Salons/Dry Cleaners - half a mile to a mile.
Park - 1/8th a mile
Skate Park, Larger Park - a mile
2-3 other schools - same block.
Plus theres the colleges, Hewlett Packard, and other large buildings and mega parking lots that are a quarter mile-mile away from me.

I basically live in the middle of a huge cement urban market. Its perfect for the bike. The roads are designed to prevent a major lane of traffic in any single street so cars are very innefficient to use when comparing time.

Far as Libraries/downtown/Bike shops and other things, they are all within a 10 mile radius. We have a library branch at the local grocery store but it isn't the same. The greenbelt is about a 20 minute ride from my house.

[dolomite592]

16 miles RT to work (Thurs.,Sat.,Sun.), and <1 mile to school.