far out to way in

[BikeNinjagirl]

hey guys! just joined up here and wanted to say Hi :) It's nice to find likeminded others. I was wondering if any of you begin your ride in a very rural area then end up deep in the city. That's what my commute does. Anyway...lately i find myself feeling safer inside the city than far off on country roads and this is weird because i grew up in this area but for some reason i find i become more comfortable once i get closer to a populated area. No big jump in crime here- nothing i can really pinpoint just suddenly i'm no longer comfortable on those back roads. I can't fix my commute- it has to be this way. All roads to town are rural. I just wondered if any of you ever had similar problems with your routes and what you did to solve them.

[TuckertonRR]

Welcome aboard!
My commute isn't "rural" but it is low-density suburban, going through to the downtown, 12 1/2 mi OW appx 25 RT....how long's your commute?

[cerewa]

Well, for me, high-density traffic like you find in cities is less scary than low-density traffic in rural areas because when there's so much traffic, car's have to go more slowly. I hate being passed by vehicles going 55mph when there isn't much room, but when traffic is so bad that cars have to pass me at 30mph or less (if they can even pass me) then I see no problem.

[gwd]

What are you afraid of? City traffic is less scary than suburban or rural traffic for me but I only discovered this by doing it. Before I biked in urban traffic regularly I would not have guessed that I'd feel this way.

What city in Florida? I used to bike in Florida and had some scary incidents with drivers there.

[Dahon.Steve]

Agreed.

Traveling in the burbs can be more scary especially if it's all highways. Even in areas where there are country roads can be scary if this includes hills that have blind corners. I often feel safer when finally reaching the city that requires traffic to speeds of 25 mph.

[genericbikedude]

I don't know about you all, but the voices BOTH in my head and on my television tell me that everyone is out to get me.

[BikeNinjagirl]

My trip is 28 miles round trip. The majority of that trip is along us hwy 441 - speed limit is 60 mph, no it may actually be 55. Alot of Semi's use this road also. But it's funny because i don't feel vulnerable on that portion of the road. I chose that part of the route due to it's high visibility. But the other part takes me way back along some wooded sections where there is no one.....it seems to be this part that I am suddenly hyper aware of and this is section that i am most familiar with -- i grew up right in this area. I've been commuting for 2 years - this being my second year. No problems, no scares - nothing. I'm a great rider -- my bike of choice is a mean old beater mountain bike. I use it because i do like to dive off roads and go exploring. I also like it's solid feel :) i crashed in the Wendy's parking lot a while back -- i was playing Ninja with some friends..bouncing curbs and doing stupid stuff - someone had poured some chili out onto the pavement and i rounded the corner at full "stupid" speed- my tires slipped in it....i went down fast and bad....i wore the pavement tattoo for almost a month but my bike had no dings at all :D
I guess i say all that to enforce the fact that i'm not a timid person -- and i'm confused as to what my problem suddenly is. I'm going to just keep traveling it and see if it wears itself out- i'm glad you guys were here to talk with. It makes me feel better to have just expressed my concerns. Everyone in my family is TOTALLY against this biking lifestyle of mine. It's always a confrontation to talk with them...i get the " but you're a girl and it's not safe" lecture each time. Without revealing my age i can say for sure that my "girl" years left awhile back :)

oh & i'm in central florida -- just outside of The Villages in Lady Lake.
As for car free and the simple life : there is no better way to be!

[I-Like-To-Bike]

The majority of that trip is along us hwy 441 - speed limit is 60 mph, no it may actually be 55. Alot of Semi's use this road also. But it's funny because i don't feel vulnerable on that portion of the road. I chose that part of the route due to it's high visibility.
Are you cycling on the road, or on the shoulder of the road?