Southeast - Is Gainesville bike commuter friendly?

Thinking of moving there in the next couple of years. Around the medical center area- does anyone here bike to work?

Is Gainesville bike commuter friendly? Oh, what a loaded question...

I will have to answer "it depends".

By that I mean it really depends on where you live.

I live in the NW part of town and work on campus. The only roads with bike lanes headed south towards campus are west of me, so I'd have to go 4 miles out of my way to get a bike lane. The main route (13th street) which I commute in via (I try to bike in 2-3 days a week) is usually bumper to bumper traffic at 7:15AM because it goes by a high school, but that plays in my favor because the traffic is slow enough that I'm faster than the flow.

Riding on NW 6th street in rush hour is taking your life into your own hands.

My understanding is the SW part of town, like around S.W. 24th avenue, is better because there's quite a few bike lanes. However Archer Road is to be avoided like the plague.

Please do your research !
This place is a mess from COL-homeowner issues to being inhabited by
the meanest people one might ever suffer, anywhere.
If this doesnt scare you off, I know where there will be a small cabana for rent in July ;)

I happen to live near Downtown Gainesville and commuting from here to the medical center area is a snap. I have been a bike commuter from there to the UF campus for over 25 years. You can do it by road with very little problem or take the Depot Ave Rail-Trail right to the middle of it.

Going from the NW part of town or anything on the west side of I-75 into the campus area is not pleasant. It isn't impossible. It just isn't fun.

I bike commute daily in Gainesville from the NE to Williston and 34th, about 7 miles. Pretty decent bike lanes, no hassles when I do have to take the lane, overall I'd say it's pretty good. Alot better than South Florida where I grew up!

-david

Gainesville is a major Florida hub for cycling of all types. They have a great touring club. They ticket cyclists for breaking laws and send them to Bike Safety School. Because there are so many cyclists over a long time span most motorists are very tolerant. I biked there almost every day for more than 20 years. But just like anywhere you ride you have to be alert! Go for it.

Sometimes, when I see these "Is ___ cycling friendly?", I am reminded of the old story:


A farmer is working in his field near the road. A passerby stops and asks "I'm just moving into the town up ahead, are the people there friendly?"

The farmer responds "what were the people like in the town in which you previously lived?"

The passerby says "oh, they were the friendliest, kindest folks in the world. They would do anything to help another person."

"Well," says the farmer, "I think you'll find that the people in the town up ahead will be pretty similar to the people in that town."

The passerby thanks the farmer and goes on his way.


Somewhat later, another passerby stops and asks "I'm just moving into the town up ahead, are the people there friendly?"

The farmer responds "what were the people like in the town in which you previously lived?"

The passerby says "oh, they were the meanest, most under-handed folks in the world. They would do anything to hurt another person."

"Well," says the farmer, "I think you'll find that the people in the town up ahead will be pretty similar to the people in that town."