Commuting - POLL: How lonely is your commute

I've been commuting about a week now and have seen all of 4 people on bikes, none of which looked to be heading to work. Just curious what other people see.

[edit: stupidity removed from post, poster will work on getting stupidity out of his brain...but the rest of the world shows this is largely a null prospect]

While I don't see any obvious commuters (no racks, bags, lights, etc.), I do see usually see at least one or two roadie types over my 33 mile round tripper.

I feel your pain. I have only met one other responsible/knowlegable commuter in my city. By that I mean he wears a helmet and obeys the law. He's a really cool guy, and he's really old. He hangs out at a bar where I used to work. He has some great stories about his touring days. Besides him, I never see a commuter on the road [I]and[I] wearing a helmet. I see guys in the road on old 10-speeds but no helmet, and I see guys on the sidewalk with helmets (go figure). The city is not very cycle friendly at all, so I can understand why I don't see more people out. Even though it has lots of sidewalks, it isn't too pedestrian friendly either. If it were, I think a couple of the guys on the sidewalk might venture out into the road.

The funny part is, even though we have so little bike traffic, drivers are usually very nice and respectful. Maybe that's because there aren't more irresponsible riders out there. I am the only commuter (aside from DUIs on X-mart bikes) that a lot of people see, so I tend to get a lot of wierd looks. I built a cargo trailer over the weekend and I was hualing some pretty large furniture with it at 10:30 last night. You should have heard some of the "WTF" conversations people had as I rode by.

So, my commute is lonely but pleasant. Is'nt UK in Lexington? My brother is going to pharmacy school there this fall. He bought an electric scooter to ride around campus. It seems like you would see more riders with a big school in your city. Then again, there is a big school (ETSU) 1 mile from my house, and my neighbors drive to class. Can anyone say laaaazzzzzyyyyy?

I commonly see one person per mile where-ever I commute. One in 3 responds to my wave or greeting. Most people lack helmets, bags, etc. On night commutes it is more like one per ten miles and they all respond.

Normally I see just a few others obviously commuting, lately however, there has been a dramatic rise in commuters. 8 has been the high count, which is huge in a town of 11K.

--A

An excess of 10 on the Cherry Creek trail in denver.....it is about a 5 mile stretch I travel.

Typical is 0, although in the summer it can get up to 1-2 per week.

That's why I'm starting a Bike Commuter's Meetup (http://bike.meetup.com/132/) in my town!

I see about a dozen people each morning; I'd say half are commuting. On the way home, the number doubles...

I've counted over 120 commuters on my way to work (14 miles). Lots and lots here.

rarely.

Once in a while I might see one, and they are usually wrong way sidewalk riders ... lol

=)

I've been commuting about a week now and aside from (lingo?) freds/georges/idiots on cheap bikes taking sidewalks or going the wrong way on the roads, I don't see any commuters (that is to say, (usually) helmeted people riding their bike with traffic on the road)
Wow! Commuting one whole week and already joining the exclusive club of Real Commuters ready to hand out Darwin awards to all the those phoney baloney commuting cyclists who aren't as Real as you.

First off, not all-real commuters wear Helmets. In the second place, if they tear up the road and the speed limit on the road is 50mph then, I'll be riding on the wrong side shoulder as well. You can bet that as soon as they are done with the roadwork I'll be back on the right side of the road (it's only for a 2 mile section of road). I don’t wear a bike helmet because it well not help when you get hit by a car doing 50 to 70 mph. All the roads I ride are 45 mph to 55 mph) You need a real helmet at these speeds.

So If you ride a bike to work without a helmet and do it every day on the wrong side of the street then you not a commuter? Then I must not be a commuter. I have 4727.9 miles of just ridding my bike this year then. Even though I just ride to work and back every day. Some people need to take a looking at them self and stop judging others.

rarely.

Once in a while I might see one ...


+1. Once a week sounds about right for me.

Oh Noes! ILTB has commented on my thread and my noobishness, my thread's going to die a horrible death!

Call it 1-week bravado, but after getting hit by a car 10 years ago for being stupid (and re-educating myself on how to not be so stupid while biking) I feel pretty damn self-righteous.

BTW, I don't hand out darwin awards, that's reality's job. I do periodically label people as probable future darwin award winners because they display obviously stupid behavior.

I said 9-10 because that's how many I'll see if I leave on time. I love summer :D The ride home is crowded with commuters and fitness types. I figure in November I'll know who the commuters really are, we'll see if we have any new converts this winter.

Most of my commute is on a hwy between towns and I never see another commuter. I once saw a guy out on a tri-bike when I went home late. He must have been on a training ride after work. I thought it was pretty cool to see another bike geek during my commute.

Hmmmm....

I could care less what a real commuter is or is not. I just ride a freaking bike. It's not rocket science.
Anyhow, if you are not endangering me in any way, why should I give a rats rear end what others do?
Someone give me a reason why I should!
Maybe I should apply these principles when I drive and look down on other motorists when they roll stop a stop sign or drive without a seat belt on. My life is too busy to spend it fretting about what choices others make.

First off, not all-real commuters wear Helmets. In the second place, if they tear up the road and the speed limit on the road is 50mph then, I'll be riding on the wrong side shoulder as well. You can bet that as soon as they are done with the roadwork I'll be back on the right side of the road (it's only for a 2 mile section of road). I don’t wear a bike helmet because it well not help when you get hit by a car doing 50 to 70 mph. All the roads I ride are 45 mph to 55 mph) You need a real helmet at these speeds.

So If you ride a bike to work without a helmet and do it every day on the wrong side of the street then you not a commuter? Then I must not be a commuter. I have 4727.9 miles of just ridding my bike this year then. Even though I just ride to work and back every day. Some people need to take a looking at them self and stop judging others.

Did the (usually) not seem to apply to your situation? I wrote that because it was shorter than (usually, though people do have obvious exceptions and i wasn't meaning to get on those people's case)

As per ditching a helmet because the cars around you are going 45+ My helmet isn't on because I worry about what happens when/if I get hit by a car. I wear one because I worry more about what happens when/If one of the hundreds of more probable events that could knock me off the bike at bike speeds occurs. ~20% of all bike incidents involve cars...why avoid a helmet when the remaining 80% is still out there to get you?

Oh Noes! ILTB has commented on my thread and my noobishness, my thread's going to die a horrible death!

Call it 1-week bravado, but after getting hit by a car 10 years ago for being stupid (and re-educating myself on how to not be so stupid while biking) I feel pretty damn self-righteous.

BTW, I don't hand out darwin awards, that's reality's job. I do periodically label people as probable future darwin award winners because they display obviously stupid behavior.


You are correct. You are a self-righteous noob; and don't be so sure you are not still "so stupid".

On my way into work I've seen a grand total of 2 people biking (in the month+ that I've been biking in). Both times it's been some kid on a BMX bike, just out and about (I think one was heading to school). Other then that, no commuters whatsoever. They tell me there's a couple others at the university I work at, but I've yet to see them.

On the way home I'll occasionally see folks out for a fun ride, or going to the grocery store, but they're few and far between. It's not uncommon for me to go a week without seeing another cyclist while I'm out.

Typical is 0, although in the summer it can get up to 1-2 per week.

That's why I'm starting a Bike Commuter's Meetup (http://bike.meetup.com/132/) in my town!
Commuting in the same town as John, I see about the same number of commuters - this time of year I usually see a few other cyclists, but very rarely another commuter.

John - see you tonight!

Typical is 0, although in the summer it can get up to 1-2 per week.

Same here... Though I've been seeing a bit more of them this year.

On my way in there's maybe a 10 - 15 others out. Some are hardcore roadie-style commuters who are fully kitted out because they leave all their work gear at work and change at the office. Some are like me; backpack or CM bag with lunch and a few papers, clean clothes for the week on Monday, and dirty clothes on Friday. Even more are the "I don't care how fast I get there" commuters. I freakin' love these ones because they remind me of my grandpa: Work uniform (coveralls, or other store issued outfit,) maybe a helmet, maybe just their cap for work, cruisin' about 8mph, jammin' to their headphones, sometimes doing their entire ride with a cigarette pursed in their lips. They're out there every day, maybe because they don't want a car, maybe because they don't have a car; whatever the reason, they make me think of my grandpa, who all the way into his 80s was out on the Lavallette boardwalk every morning doing the 5 mile stretch on his beach cruiser... plaid shorts, tank top, striped shirt flappin' in the breeze, rusty basket full of stuff he found along the way, and the ever present Lucky Strike hanging from his face.

On my way home there's a bazillion people, and I don't have any idea how many are commuting and how many are just out for an afternoon ride. The Sammamish River Trail is very heavily utilized since it connects Redmond/Sammamish to the Burke-Gilman Trail which goes 17 miles into downtown Seattle. For people that don't want to get off their bike and take the bus across Lake Washington (or who don't live near Rt. 90 which has a pedestrian/cyclist lane on the bridge,) the SRT/B-G is the best commute around the lake.


/ most of my commute (6 out of 7 miles) is on the SRT. Am I a 'real' commuter since I'm not out there on the road, in traffic? *smirk*

So If you ride a bike to work without a helmet and do it every day on the wrong side of the street then you not a commuter?
No, you are just a moron working to prove Darwin correct.

Ive been studying in amsterdam for a few months and in my commute I usually saw several hundred cyclists. BTW, non of them helmeted...I guess 80 % or more of european ciclists are morons.

At the local fast food restaurants, I notice that the bike racks are full. So that's a lot of people commuting to work that aren't using their cars. It's doubtful they can afford one.

I'll also wager that they don't wear helmets and ride on the sidewalks. I'm really don't care. Many of us managed to ride to school and work long before helmets were even available and are still alive.

About all I ask is that if you're going to ride on the sidewalk, keep your speed down and don't run the peds off.

No, you are just a moron working to prove Darwin correct.
Ah, another Smart Guy Safety Nanny/Real Cyclist Commuter just like the OP. http://deephousepage.com/smilies/tantrum.gif The BF seems infested with 'em. Some don't even have the excuse of being noobs.

oops, I didn't see the stipulation that they had to be "real" commuters. I see 5-9 people every day riding bikes to get somewhere. more like 10-12 when ASU is in session. very few wear helmets. some even riding the wrong way on the sidewalk. I see more as time goes on. :) weather is a factor too, more will start riding in October when the temps get back down. right now it's hell out there... but still suprising how many people are out there commuting. many don't have a choice of course, but some do.

Wow! Commuting one whole week and already joining the exclusive club of Real Commuters ready to hand out Darwin awards to all the those phoney baloney commuting cyclists who aren't as Real as you.

Dear ILTB,

You are mean. Not in a cool, tough, drill seargent way, but in a purely bitter way. You rarely make a good point. If you are offended by what a "noob" says and believe he is incorrect, Please reply tactfully. You are the only poster who's name I can remember not because you give helpful information, but because you have a reputation for showing your a**. I have come to find that wearing helmets is a personal choice and that their neccesity is a matter of opinion. If I want to see name calling, I will go to a 6th grade math class forum. Relax.

Sincerely,
Joe

Dear ILTB,

You are mean. Not in a cool, tough, drill seargent way, but in a purely bitter way. You rarely make a good point. If you are offended by what a "noob" says and believe he is incorrect, Please reply tactfully.
Joe,
I see. Reply tactfully to a sanctimonious snob, who insults all cyclists who don't fit the approved profile as he sees fit? OK got it. Apparantly a good point is one that needs to stick you in the rear before you can recognize what is written. You'll fit in well with the Group Think Gang of Real Cyclists that the OP is ready to join.

I typically see 2-3 commuters on each "leg" of my commute, and several as I near the college campus near my commute. The cyclists vary from the sidwalk riding cigarette puffer, to the "Real" cyclists in full garb, to the mom pulling the child in a trailer, to the students in regular clothes and on whatever bikes they may have.

Most of the "commutes" seem to be quite short... very local, such as the few blocks to a mile or so for the students.

However, I do not see anything but "Real" cyclists in the valley after the hiway access portion of my commute...

Most of the "legs" of my commute are separated by hills, and I just don't see many of the regular clothing type riders making it past one hill. They tend to stay on the top of the hills, on the flats.

So call them what you will, but the "Real" cyclists are the only ones going any distances.

So call them what you will, but the "Real" cyclists are the only ones going any distances.

IMO, it is more likely that the people wearing cycling gear are doing so because they are travelling a significant distance. Anyone travelling over 10 miles is likely to be wearing cycling shorts rather than jeans and a wicking top rather than a t-shirt.

I doubt many cyclists travelling 1 mile to the bike shop or to visit a friend go in full kit.

I see a lot of bikers on my commute, but most of them are going going perpendicular to me at intersections.

Joe,
I see. Reply tactfully to a sanctimonious snob, who insults all cyclists who don't fit the approved profile as he sees fit? OK got it. Apparantly a good point is one that needs to stick you in the rear before you can recognize what is written. You'll fit in well with the Group Think Gang of Real Cyclists that the OP is ready to join.

Again, namecalling. Don't get too frazzled. You and the OP obviously disagree. I don't agree or disagree totally with either one of you. All I'm saying is you should try to make your point without calling peoople names and blowing everything up into a big fuss. Next time someone writes something that you disagree with, even if you are insulted you should try to change their minds instead of calling them names and trying to chase them away. If it weren't for "noobs", the forums would get very uniteresting very fast. I know that odds are nothing I say will make you change your mind, but please try to be more civil. You probably do have something helpful to say, but it can be hard to wade through all the mud you sling to get to the point.

I have seen two commuters killed this year (on the news) wearing Helmets and none killed with out helmets. So does a helmet give you a false sents of well being and makes it easy to make a bad chose. Yes if your doing above 12 mph you do need a helmet. Because thats all the speed needed, in a head hit, to kill you. But I found that helmets are hot and can lead to dehydration and lose of mental capacity. So there you have it.

None, I do see 1-3 regular cyclists on a regular basis just out for a ride, just not commuting.

And I do see 2 other bike commuters where I work but not on the road, just when I get to work..

Jay

Hey krazygluon, where/when do you commute in Lextown? I'm usually out by 6:45-7:00 AM and head home around 4:00 PM. My route is Andover to downtown and back again via Maple Leaf, Todds, Palumbo, Woodhill, Richmond/Main (plus a few smaller cut through roads) I'm riding a black, racked and bagged Cannondale MTB that I have converted to be my ultimate commuter/tourer. Maybe I will see you around...?

I live pretty much at tates creek and armstrong mill (pinebrook apts) I usually ride down Tates Creek, take alumni to university drive, then left on waller to harrodsburg. I'm usually on the road from 0700 to 0740 then home whenever I'm done with work around 5. I've got a red (maybe blue if get around to painting it) '77 schwinn 10-speed. It'll have black fenders as soon as I can figure out how to put 700c fenders on a frame meant for 27" tires.

I suspect once the semester starts, I'll see lots more students, but right now its pretty dead along that route. nice and safe though, if anything the cars give me TOO much room.

Wow, I've never seen such a level of hostility in the commuter forums! I think that the OP only meant to distinguish those who are clearly *commuting* from those who are sort of wandering around on bicycles. It's fair enough, I'd say, if the point is to evaluate how many people we see who are ditching cars, for example, in favor of bikes. The OP didn't try to codify criteria for what counts as a "real" commuter. In fact, the word "real" didn't come up until the first harsh criticism. So I don't get all the hostility?? What's up?

In any case, I've got a pretty short commute, so the opportunity to see others is limited. I see people here and there doing errands on their bikes, and that's cool. Not a lot of people seem to travel to work though. Could be that I live in a really hot place and there aren't a lot of facilities offered at local businesses. But I'm doing my part to get more of us on the road :)

I live pretty much at tates creek and armstrong mill (pinebrook apts) I usually ride down Tates Creek, take alumni to university drive, then left on waller to harrodsburg. I'm usually on the road from 0700 to 0740 then home whenever I'm done with work around 5. I've got a red (maybe blue if get around to painting it) '77 schwinn 10-speed. It'll have black fenders as soon as I can figure out how to put 700c fenders on a frame meant for 27" tires.

I suspect once the semester starts, I'll see lots more students, but right now its pretty dead along that route. nice and safe though, if anything the cars give me TOO much room.
Cool. I'll keep an eye out for you. Soon I'll be hitting Harrodsburg on my way home twice a week so I can hit the allergy doc for my shots. Right now I'm doing it in my cage that I call a box (Scion xB) :D

Let me know if you need any help with fenders. I just put some on. Shouldn't be a problem, there's only about a half inch difference between 700c and 27"

I've been seeing at least 2 lately, unless its raining, when I'm alone.

Funny subject matter for the "real" commuters banter. I almost ran into a nurse in blue scrubs today, who had to be heading to one of two hospitals in her general direction. She was riding on the left side of the road w/ no helmet, and got really pissed when she had to move around me, since I was riding "as far to the right as practicable".

She must not be an ER nurse.

Just felt like poking a hornet's nest today. Can't do much more harm that a head-on collision w/out a helmet, can it? ;)

Yeah...have you noticed your allergies go away slightly when leaving kentucky? I was in boston over the weekend and they virtually disappeared.

I saw someone else while riding to work the other day... but I'm confused as to which one of us is a REAL commuter, maybe you can help me decide:

Me: Rack and panniers, laptop, right hand side of the road, stopping for all the lights and stop signs, but :eek: NO HELMET!

Her: Backpack, helmet, earphones in ears, riding down the left side of the street, ran 2 stopsigns and a stop light.


Oh, wait... I get it. I had no helmet, I'm the idiot that's going to get killed and not a REAL commuter, right?

I never go more than a block or two without seeing another cyclist, and usually I'd guess I see nearly a hundred other people on bikes in the course of the day, if not more.

I saw someone else while riding to work the other day... but I'm confused as to which one of us is a REAL commuter, maybe you can help me decide:

Me: Rack and panniers, laptop, right hand side of the road, stopping for all the lights and stop signs, but :eek: NO HELMET!

Her: Backpack, helmet, earphones in ears, riding down the left side of the street, ran 2 stopsigns and a stop light.


Oh, wait... I get it. I had no helmet, I'm the idiot that's going to get killed and not a REAL commuter, right?
There are no stop signs or traffic lights on the left side of the road. ;)

Curious. Why don't you wear a helmet?

I saw someone else while riding to work the other day... but I'm confused as to which one of us is a REAL commuter, maybe you can help me decide:

Me: Rack and panniers, laptop, right hand side of the road, stopping for all the lights and stop signs, but :eek: NO HELMET!

Her: Backpack, helmet, earphones in ears, riding down the left side of the street, ran 2 stopsigns and a stop light.


Oh, wait... I get it. I had no helmet, I'm the idiot that's going to get killed and not a REAL commuter, right?

OMG!
no helmet!
I hereby banish you to he..double hockey sticks.
:p

Wow, I've never seen such a level of hostility in the commuter forums! I think that the OP only meant to distinguish those who are clearly *commuting* from those who are sort of wandering around on bicycles. It's fair enough, I'd say, if the point is to evaluate how many people we see who are ditching cars, for example, in favor of bikes. The OP didn't try to codify criteria for what counts as a "real" commuter. In fact, the word "real" didn't come up until the first harsh criticism. So I don't get all the hostility?? What's up?

In any case, I've got a pretty short commute, so the opportunity to see others is limited. I see people here and there doing errands on their bikes, and that's cool. Not a lot of people seem to travel to work though. Could be that I live in a really hot place and there aren't a lot of facilities offered at local businesses. But I'm doing my part to get more of us on the road :)

here's what he said:
I've been commuting about a week now and aside from (lingo?) freds/georges/idiots on cheap bikes taking sidewalks or going the wrong way on the roads, I don't see any commuters (that is to say, (usually) helmeted people riding their bike with traffic on the road)

to me that means he's distiguishing "commuters" (people with helmets on riding in the street) from freds/idiots who are riding cheap bikes on the sidewallks or against traffic.

my and others' contention is that the inexpensive cost of the bike or lack of a helmet or riding on the sidewalk does not automatically mean those people are not commuters. do you get it now?:D

I normally see 2-4 folks on bikes during my 10-mile round trip. 1-2 are exercising/training or something in complete pro regalia. The rest seem to be headed to offices or trains. While I'd like to see more. I think is not so bad given the suburban nature of my commute.

PS if you need additional motivation...and who doesn't on hot, humid days ... my landlady today told me she was proud that I was reducing my carbon footprint. It was unexpected and nice to hear as I dripped sweat all over her lobby :-)

There are no stop signs or traffic lights on the left side of the road. ;)

Curious. Why don't you wear a helmet?

I'm NOT typing it again so soon.... see this post on another thread that I JUST posted (http://bikeforums.net/showpost.php?p=2821112&postcount=65)

Wow! Commuting one whole week and already joining the exclusive club of Real Commuters ready to hand out Darwin awards to all the those phoney baloney commuting cyclists who aren't as Real as you.

OMG, I don't wear a helmet so I must not be a 'real' commuter. :rolleyes:
I think the OP qualifies for a Darwin award, or at least nomination into the 'stupidest thread of the year' award.