Ridefreemc

I actually vary my route for safety purposes, not for the reasons you asked. There are a few sketchy areas I ride through and I don't want to set a pattern or be predictable. Not saying that criminals have very good planning skills, but you never know. So, I take different routes every few days.

Medic Zero

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I feel like my situation is a little different than a lot of folks. Between my area being quite hilly and having multiple bodies of water to traverse around and over, my options for routes are somewhat limited. For instance, there are really only two good bridges for a cyclist to cross the Ship Canal in Seattle and only a few good routes up Capitol Hill from the north. I think I'd probably vary my route a lot more if I lived on a flat grid.

Nonetheless, I have five routes I can take on my commutes in, and six routes I can take on my way home, although I only really use two of each most of the time. Between work and school I'm not looking at putting in too many bonus miles either direction, especially since they are bound to be hilly, but I still frequently go a half mile out of my way to take a quiet park drive for almost a mile on my way in and often add three and half miles to my ride home to go along the waterfront and a series of trails through a park, rail yard, and alongside the Ship Canal. The nice thing about that last route is it has almost 6 miles of uninterrupted pedaling, there is only a single stoplight (and a stop sign I make a right turn at) on that stretch.

Sometimes I wish I lived somewhere where I had a few more options as to routes, but I do have to say it is good to know where every pothole (until a new one appears overnight!), every missing manhole cover, and every tricky intersection is, as well as the timing of the lights on your route. Knowing my bike and the hills, I know exactly when to shift and what gear I should be in. I can also tell when I'm more tired if I see myself taking the hills in a lower gear than I normally do. Tackling the same hills over and over I think has made me a better cyclist, certainly my shifting on the hills has gained a lot of finesse.

I may not have found some of my favorite routes if I hadn't started tracking my mileage and wanted to add some miles to make certain goals (monthly/yearly). I find tracking my miles provides good incentive to explore and to also get out and ride when I'm not commuting.


Both. When you can, find alternate routes for when construction forces you off your regular routes and for you to take if/when you feel like you need variety. Taking the same handful of routes regularly is helpful, once you've explored your options.

PatrickGSR94

My situation is pretty much the exact same.

Leebo

For the ride in, I usually take the same route. During warmer months I will sometimes take one of my mountainbikes for single track on the way home. I seek out the safest routes even if it a little longer. I like the familiar roads, it helps to know where the potholes and bad intersections are located.

Stryver

I ride fairly similar routes, primarily with differences for morning (more MUP, fewer other users) and evening (less MUP, it's full of walkers). The final stretch I vary somewhat depending on traffic conditions, but the primary segment is MUP that I have no intention of deviating from, other options involve _way_ more cars and are much less enjoyable.

I don't feel I get better because I know the route more. I do feel that I notice more. Things like the flock of geese moved to the other end of the pond, the water is up 6 inches from the rains last night, the blackberries aren't quite ripe yet. I certainly don't feel like I am more bored because the route doesn't change.

Consularrider

What was the original question again? Just kidding.

I've been riding from the same point A to the same point B for six years now. I've gone from trying to ride the shortest safe route (a couple of options that are four to five miles one way) to choosing my routes based on the amount of time I want to ride (or have available) and the riding conditions (snow, rain, wind, road construction, etc). Of course our security people always tell us to vary our routes and times.

niuoka

I commute one way 9 miles. the first 6 are very safe and very scenic. there are less scenic,longer and less safe ways, so why bother. When I get into town I do have various routes, the safest, but 5+ minutes longer, is my main route. However when I go in on a weekend and thus less commuter and truck traffic I will take a more direct route.
Since my route is mostly scenic on roads in very good condition, I have noticed that it seems to be faster as the months go by.
So I think there is an advantage to taking the same route. Knowing all the danger points, time flies by, etc.

As posted way up above....about never the same route twice in a row at same time. I can relate. My son has done 3 tours ( Iraq ,Afghanistan, Iraq) and he now uses that survival tactic.

devianb

I always leave at the last minute to go to work so I take the same route that is quickest. Since I don't need to be home right away I will deviate a few blocks here and there.

tarwheel 

Stated much more poetically than I would have written, but this is my approach. I am more like a twig in a gentle stream, however, for most of my route.

Riveting

I guess I'm just lucky, but my 10 mile route happens to be the safest, fastest, and most hilly challenging route I could possibly take. Any other route would decline all 3 factors at once, and all I would get in return is more distance (but at a slower speed due to more commercial traffic), something more interesting to look at, and learning the nuances of an alternate route. I have only ever commuted on the same route, and enjoy the familiarity of it and riding it harder each and every time. Maybe I'll try something new this spring.

Riveting

I can understand military personnel who are constantly stalked, alternating their departure times and routes, but how does that tactic help a civilian commuter cyclist, assuming you're like me and not being stalked... that I know of?

chefisaac

I didnt read all the messages. I do not like paths that much and prefer riding in the road. Always provides me something different in scenery and challenge.

ussdogi

Hi there, my first message here, though I've been lurking here for a while.

I live south of the center of the city, and my college is north-east to it. As such, I pretty much have to cross the city center, or go through a nice separated bike lane alongside the promenade and through a MUP in the park.
Even though the promenade+park is 11km and through the city could be down to about 4.5km, I usually prefer commuting through the promenade as frequently as I can. Riding through the city itself can be either really harsh as I live in a semi-industrial zone, with a lot of pot holes and such, and heavy traffic with quite a bit of commercial vehicles and busses. The rest of the way is pretty nice with MUP's and bike lanes through the city center itself, but then again as I near my school it gets very unwelcoming to cyclists, though I see some ride with traffic there as well.

It's only my second year riding a bike as an adult, I began when we moved here for my education. At first I had a really crappy old hybrid with 18 speeds that had shifters that refused to shift and were a complete hassle, so when I decided to buy myself a new bike I decided on a single speed. The route I usually take is almost completely flat as it goes really close to the sea shore, and alongside a very slow stream. As I found out last winter, headwind from the sea isn't nice on a single speed with straight bars, and in the winter the wind is a headwind almost always - going to school and coming back. So I got a nice drop bar for my birthday, and found some routes I can cut through the city where it's a bit more shielded from the winds. A couple of months ago I got a used folding bike so I can try multi-modal commuting on rainy or extremely hot days.

If I think that it'll be best to ride a different path or ride in a different time tomorrow, I usually take it as a hint to calm myself on the road instead.

downwinded

To the OP, good question. I guess there are pros and cons on both sides of the question. Everyone will have to answer that for themselves. Some good points have been brought up for consideration.

I would like to reply to this (quoted) post with a situation, for an example, and a question.
Our town is extending a Greenway. I will connect with another section that is already finished and will include a tunnel that will go under a US highway. The route to that tunnel will be visible from a somewhat "rough" section of town. I am VERY concerned about the new tunnel being an ambush point. It is going under a road on the way out of town. Not a populated area. We are coming into a time of the year when my evening commute will be in the dark. I have other options but, I like adding the miles to the ride. Even if I don't ride it every day, it will be somewhat predictable. It makes me feel like I will be easy prey.
Any suggestions other than CCDW? Really don't want to go that route. Would rather just avoid a problem.

ThermionicScott 

Same here.

FBinNY 

For most people, it doesn't matter, do whatever suits your mood. However some may have reasons to go one way or the other. If you're OCD use the same route, and make careful notes of every variation. The ADHD crowd won't be able to repeat th same route and shouldn't fight the need to try different routed every day.

urbanescapee

After reading and responding to this thread I decided to check out another route which, by Google maps, looks more safe but would take about 5-10 minutes longer. It goes through a residential area instead of on a busy 6 lane road. I realize part of my feeling is probably due to the fact that I have been riding the same route for three years now but the new route I tried was horrible. It goes through one of the most ghetto areas in my city and there are many busy intersections where cross traffic does not stop. Even these two lane residential roads are still very busy and if someone hits me in the hood, I think it's more likely that no one else will see and that the driver will take off. I'm gonna stick to my old route.

fietsbob

Veterans worry about snipers and IED's long after coming off the battle lines, back home.