mc9000

Bike Commute: The Year in Review (2016)

• Hours: 175
• Miles: 2,003
• Work Commutes (Round-Trip): 89

I had a 5 speed Schwinn knockoff when I was a kid but hadn’t ridden in years when I decided to get a bike for my work commute back in 2010. I commuted a few times, got freaked out by the traffic, and promptly vanquished the bike to the garage.

It sat there dormant until Summer 2016, when I decided to give the bike commute another try. Again, I took the same route I’d ridden in 2010 and actually stuck with it for about a month and a half. However, I was never truly comfortable due to the heavy traffic.

Realizing something had to change, I sat down and plotted out a new course. Instead of looking for the shortest route to work, I concentrated on finding the safest. I ended up with a new route that was about 60% longer than my original commute, but also included a walking/biking trail with zero car traffic.

Though I wasn’t excited about the longer commute, I promised to give it a try. And before I’d even completed my first ‘new’ commute, I knew I’d made a breakthrough. Wow, what a difference the new route made! I was actually enjoying my work commute (well, the trail part at least!) From that day forward I stuck with the new route.

I’m hoping I can stick with the bike in 2017. If so, expect another bike report around this time next year. If not, you never read this.

amos77

Nice shots!

tarwheel 

Your experience was very similar to mine when I first started bike commuting. I had not even considered bike commuting for a long time because my driving route to work was on such busy roads, until I had an "aha moment" and realized that I didn't have to bike commute on the same roads that I drove to work. My round trip route was about 16 miles by car and about 22 by bike. My office moved downtown about 5 years ago, increasing my route to about 24 by car and 32 by bike. My bike route doesn't include any greenways but the roads are much safer with less traffic.

52telecaster

I don't drive as much as I used to and now when I do I have to remember not to head for my favorite bike routes. Funny how your idea of a metro area completely changes with a little bike commuting.

mc9000

Exactly! This trail I'm now using constantly -- I had no idea it was even available. I feel so much better about my area now that I know about these trails. (BTW, I also love teles, though I don't have a '52!)

mc9000

In retrospect, I feel silly for "just sticking to the car route" at the beginning. Luckily, I had that "aha" moment also. My roundtrip commute is around 19 miles, though I usually do a few loops in the parking lot to get it to an even 20 each time.

Giant Doofus

Well done! Best wishes for 2017.

BobbyG

Yes! My most direct bike route is 7 miles, but my safer, more pleasant routes are 9 to 9.5 miles and those are the ones I prefer. Also I can't take the short route home a it has a very unsafe section in my homeward direction.

Just this morning I rode to a store and decided to not take the direct street but tried to use a MUP and connect through a residential area. I figured it out and it was so much more pleasant.

Even when they paint bike lanes on main roads, I prefer to take smaller parallel streets, or a different route all together.

Here's to many years of happy safe commuting for you with the increase in health it brings!

52telecaster

Its a 52 reissue. Been playing forever. If you want to hear me look up Russell miller and 6v6. I am better now but havnt posted anything for years.

Two I love the sf area Craigslist posts. I would buy too many bikes if I lived there.