Commuting - Bike commute faster than car commute

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PDA
GreenFix
03-31-04, 02:45 PM
My lab moved over the winter, and when I commuted yesterday for the first time to the new location I discovered that my bicycle commute is quicker than my car commute by almost 10 minutes. I think this is due to where I can park my bicycle versus where I can park my car.

Has anyone else experienced this?

Some background on my commute:
I have an eight mile commute one way. In a car the speed limit fluctuates from 40 miles per hour to 25 miles per hour. On a bike I go about the speed of light.
;)

Allister
03-31-04, 03:17 PM
In rush hour I find the same thing. It takes me around 40-45 minutes to ride door to door (about 20km). On the one occasion I came in by car it took about 55. Even under ideal conditions - light traffic, a run of green lights - it takes 25 minutes to drive it. When I take the train, it's a 35 minute ride, but then I've got 10 minutes walk to the office as well.

If someone breaks down on the Story Bridge - which happens remarkably often - drivers could be out there for an hour and a half I reckon. Things like that affect my travel time not at all.
Wasatch_commute
03-31-04, 03:42 PM
I've been wondering the same thing since I started commuting on bike. I've always attributed it to more hassles involved with parking my car and traffic lights. I'm sure the experienced commuters here would have more knowledge and be better able to explain possible reasons.

slvoid
03-31-04, 09:46 PM
Takes anywhere between 30-50 minutes by subway for me to get to school. About 70-80 minutes to get to work.

By bike, it's 20 minutes to school, 60 minutes by bike, and it's consistent each time, unless I decide to take it slow. Plus I get a good workout.
Dutchy
03-31-04, 10:01 PM
It all depends on where you live and how far the commute is. It takes me 90-105 minutes to ride to work, and slightly longer if I ride home. By car it is 35-45 minutes. Commuting by bike is usually faster for distances under 15 km, here.

CHEERS.

Mark
LittleBigMan
03-31-04, 10:35 PM
In a car the speed limit fluctuates from 40 miles per hour to 25 miles per hour.
I timed my average speed driving to work once. I think it was about 25 mph.

Well, I can't top that with my bike, but it sure does make driving look lame.