This is yet another companion thread to "Can vehicular cyclists choose a more mellow route" in the VC sub forum.

I’m more interested in seeing routes that are not direct but are preferred for transportation purposes. If you could highlight a reason or two why you are going out of your way and approximately how much time you are losing by taking a longer route.

I’ll start with this: http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/Home-City-Hall
Which I will describe as a route where the down hills are worth the up hills. I actually gain time on this route because of the down hills and I avoid the traffic nightmare around Druid Hill Park.

I have two routes to pick up groceries.
The non-mellow route is quicker by 8 minutes, but includes 40-50mph 4 lane traffic (no shoulder, you need to be aggressive and take the outside lane). 4 lights

The mellow route (which I always take now) crosses the same area (using 3 lights), but is far more interesting... goes thru a few alleys, a church parking lot, and about 100 yds of trail (connecting two cul-de-sacs)

Inbound to work, I have light traffic and temps are cool. I take the most direct route with no real competition from cars and trucks (though this morning, there was a Coke truck behind me that passed and got in front of me at the light. I thought, "Thanks, I can draft you," but alas, as he went through his gears, I knew I was on my own. He must have been empty. :p )

I hammered and spinned like a madman on the way to work as fast as I could. Made lots of lights, and about 55 minutes travel time. When I had two lanes in my direction, I tended to ride the middle of the lane, as usual. Nobody honked, several drivers slowed to my speed and waited to pass without hassling me--same as usual.

Homebound, I was in no mood to hammer. It was hot, I was tired, and I just took my sweet time like a country gentleman. I rolled down shady streets and some bike path cut-throughs. It took me almost twice as long! But it was enjoyable and easy. I might do that again, it was nice!

(But not on the way to work, and definitely not when I have an appointment! :eek: )



On the way

I almost always ride the mellow routes these days. I'm just not interested in fighting or fitting into traffic on the arterials any more than I have to anymore.

This is yet another companion thread to "Can vehicular cyclists choose a more mellow route" in the VC sub forum.

I’m more interested in seeing routes that are not direct but are preferred for transportation purposes. If you could highlight a reason or two why you are going out of your way and approximately how much time you are losing by taking a longer route.

I’ll start with this: http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/Home-City-Hall
Which I will describe as a route where the down hills are worth the up hills. I actually gain time on this route because of the down hills and I avoid the traffic nightmare around Druid Hill Park.So what particular aspect of Vehicular Cycling causes you to pick the route that you ride? What method of riding works better for you on these alternate roads that you are not able to ride VC on?

http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/tempe-commute

it's fairly direct, runs parallel to the heavily trafficked arterials, but is much quieter and more pleasant. through suburbia with and without bike lanes. usually I cut through ASU but they are doing major construction so I avoid that part for now. using this route probably adds 10 minutes to my time. (over the arterial)

So what particular aspect of Vehicular Cycling causes you to pick the route that you ride? What method of riding works better for you on these alternate roads that you are not able to ride VC on?

Just to note that this thread is not in the VC sub forum and I have no wish to have it moved there. There should be no implication of can/cannot ride VC on a particular route, I'm just interested in what characteristics motivate people to take slightly longer routes for transportation purposes.

but is far more interesting... goes thru a few alleys, a church parking lot, and about 100 yds of trail (connecting two cul-de-sacs)
I wonder how much of doing a bike only "short cut" plays in influencing people to take a route. The route I use also has a bit of an interesting short cut in it.

http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/tempe-commute

I went to McClintock High School, I know these roads, though they are a bit different then when I went to school. :D

Let's drop the VC stuff OK?

I'm a VC'ist when I need to be, and I'm certainly not timidly two-wheeled.
But the pragmatist in me says that if you can find a more enjoyable route, that is nearly as quick, then only a fool wouldn't take it.

Just to note that this thread is not in the VC sub forum and I have no wish to have it moved there. There should be no implication of can/cannot ride VC on a particular route, I'm just interested in what characteristics motivate people to take slightly longer routes for transportation purposes.Then you should have left out the following portion of the OP.
This is yet another companion thread to "Can vehicular cyclists choose a more mellow route" in the VC sub forum.Bek was trying to create a straw man that does not exist.

Again, VC does not dictate what route you should or must ride. Why is that so hard to understand?

dude. give it up. there is no 'creating a straw man' - should barry have just said the "A&S forum?" would you have been copacetic with that, grumpy?

vehicular cyclists do not have to ride the most direct route, can choose more mellow routes, and some vehicular cyclists are uncomfortable on some routes to the point of avoidance.

to anwser the original post,

I have several routes to work, all fairly direct. one route involves a six lane, fifty mph+ state highway and a half mile long bridge with six narrow lanes, a blind entrance curve and 120,000 annual daily traffic count.

an alternate route is a pleasant 30 mph four lane arterial, over a short, low drawbridge across the same waterway, then MUP path for almost a mile, (two street crossings! egads! get john f out to disparage the safety of this MUP path!!) then thru a university district on mellow neighborhood type streets.

Most days I choose a more or less direct route that avoids the highway bridge as well as the MUP, and trends along 30 MPH arterials where the traffic is only doing 40 :D and there's a combination of wide lanes, sharrows and bike lanes.

Sometimes I ride thru the zoo parking lot, across the state highway on a ped bridge, then off road it on gravel trails and paths thru a park ( flashing 30 downhill in the park on trails) for a refreshing thrill in the mornings.

The most direct route to work is down a 2 lane state highway with wide shoulders. Many of the drivers are residents at a retirement community near the far end of the ride. Most of the rest are car commuters in a hurry to get somewhere or tourists imbibing at many winery tasting rooms. One cyclist dead and one crippled in two years. The alternate route twists for 2 extra miles through a lumpy regional park. I go that way. Mind you I dim my lights when I pass joggers in the night.

I went to McClintock High School, I know these roads, though they are a bit different then when I went to school. :D


cool! we can hear the McClintock football games on Friday nights. interestingly, I also once lived in the Baltimore area! in Randallstown and then Owings Mills, and worked at BCC on Liberty. that was before Bike Commuting (BBC).

Then you should have left out the following portion of the OP.
The underlying principle in starting another thread based on anther thread is the desire to change the parameters and in the case is the desire to bag the VC part of Bek’s thread. If I was initially unclear, my apologies but now that we have that cleared up hopefully we can move on.

Pedalists are so damn pedantic! :D

I used to take the most mellow routes, but they aren't always the best. For example, a mellow long stretch could be countreracted by a harsh stretch.

So, now I will take BIG roads. Roads with room. There is a main vein downtown that I take because there is so much room that I often have 5+ feet between me and the car in the same lane as they pass me. It's great.

I thought it might be fun to include this mellow end to a training ride.

The ride is onlt a bit over 26 miles, but only a couple of hundred yards of it are flat. Start from where Mulholland and Old Topanga canyon road meet. Take Old Topanga over the hill and back down into the town of Topanga, turn right on Fernwood Pacific and just follow it until the first 'real' right. (There are a couple of righs into mini neighborhoods of a half dozen homes). That drops down back to Mulholland. Turn right and bact to the starting point.

Or the mellow version. Once you hit Mulholland go about 100 yards and turn left on Dry Canyon Cold Creek and take it (and keep taking it/reentering it as it crosses or merges with Mulholland). Mulholland is Mulholland Highway, cars going 60 plus. Ok it is wide enough (mostly) to be perfectly safe, but not relazing.

And the most important part. If it is really hot the Dry Canyon Cold Creek 'detour' (must be all of .1-.2 miles longer) the fountian in front of the exclusive neighborhood is a really nive place to get your head wet.

You know it’s summer when you are not only concerned about water to drink but water to poor on your body. :)

Edit: I do agree that fountains and places to sit are attractors for detour routes.

Mellow Route: Olentangy Bike Path (http://recparks.columbus.gov/trails/Trails_3.asp) (7+ miles)
In Between Route: Olentangy Bike Path part of the way, then wind through streets of Harrison West (6+ miles)
Efficient Route: Summit Avenue to Downtown (splitting over to High Street just before the I670 overpass into Downtown); Fourth Street home after using High and Goodale to get around the Convention Center (both Summit and Fourth are 35 mph, three-lane, one-way streets) (5+ miles)
Really Efficient Route: Summit Avenue to Downtown, taking the freeway-like I670 overpass into Downtown (cars 45-55 mph, me 35-40 mph) (generally taken only before 6am); Fourth Street home starting on the bridge over I-670 (requires cutting across three freeway-like lanes, generally only done on weekends).


Why do I sometimes take the mellow route? Because sometimes I turn part of my commute into a recreational ride. If I had to pick one route, it would be the efficient one. I need to get to work, I don't need a park.

Why do I sometimes take the mellow route? Because sometimes I turn part of my commute into a recreational ride. If I had to pick one route, it would be the efficient one. I need to get to work, I don't need a park.
Does having a mellow route to fall back on help influence you to get on the bike on days/times you would rather not ride or is it purely optional?

define "mellow"

to me mellow is ripping down the 4 lane 50mph road with the transport trucks and other cars. I honestly prefer to go pedal to the metal all the time and save the recreational cycling for the ride home from the bar.

Does having a mellow route to fall back on help influence you to get on the bike on days/times you would rather not ride or is it purely optional?
No, I'd take the roads. It's how I get to work. You gotta get from Point A to Point B (I sold my car and don't want to ask my wife for hers).

With a few pinch point exceptions, almost everyone has a mellow route. If you don't want to take major streets, take the side streets near the major streets.

I almost feel bad posting on a thread like this. The bike path is more direct than any roads, it is so mellow and efficient, that it only takes about 5 min. longer than driving. Home was chosen based on location of path, work, etc.

Sorry...:o