LittleBigMan

There is a 50-something guy in my city who commutes to work most days over 20 miles round trip who does it on a recumbent (sounds like a good bumper-sticker: "I do it on a recumbent!")

I commute 30 miles round trip on a "wedgie." Not that I prefer an upright, but I just haven't bought my recumbent yet, which I really, really want to do when I can.

I was amazed that nobody who posts in "Commuting" or "Open Discussion" or "Advocacy," etc., really rides recumbents. I think you guys over here ought to do some "Public Relations" work over there. I think too many cyclists are missing out! (You folks are hiding a good secret!)

Anyway, it's up to you!

Steele-Bike

In my town there are several people I see riding recumbents, I don't know about the commuting or not. I have been thinking about getting a recumbent, even though I have never ridden one. The LBS sells EasyE, so that is the only one I see around. I work 2 miles out of town, so I don't know if I would feel comfortable about riding on the highway on a recumbent. I would definitely have an orange flag. I am just waiting for an extra $1000 to put into a recumbent. Until then, I will have to ride standing up.

bentrider

If you look at my posting I commute at least once a week to work at approximately 85km round trip and I do it on one of two recumbents I own.

There is another recumbent cyclist about 20 km from me that also has occasionally cycled into town. And I know of another recumbent rider in our club that uses only his bike to go any where as he does not own a car. So there are recumbent cyclists out there that use their bikes to go to work, rare though it may be.

MichaelW

I think recumbents are more suited to longer commutes on the open road. If you are right in the urban jungle, and need to do that curb-hopping stuff, or hauling them over footbridges etc, they are less suitable.

I use several roads which have been closed off to through traffic (rat runs) by building a curbed pavement right across the road, with no slope for bikes to use. I also cut through short pedestrian routes, to link between minor roads. Whilst I generally dissagree with sidewalk cycling, there are times when you just have to do it.
In US style grid systems, this may not be an issue, but in the UK, the road network is more complex.

bentrider

Commuting in town with a recumbent can be awkward as some bents have a poor turning radius. I have two bents and one of them has a better response for urban driving tactics.

fubar5

Pete, this recumbent thing is growin on me...

Old_Mopar

I must live in the very edge of the world...I have talk to several people about these recumbents. I get a "what" confused look from them..Some of them say " OH one of the Harley looking Bikes". Then they say, must be a new design or something? Of course my reply is no..been around a long long time. If and when within the next 3 weeks I buy my first recumbent, I will be the only one on the island to have one. But I have to ride over 100 miles to get to a recumbent bike shop. Thats the price I pay to live out here. Geez have I looked at recumbents...

ORBIT

I live in England and I use a recumbent to commute to work.
I dont Know whether its the same for you but I do get mixed reactions,the most worrying ones are the totally aggresive responses you can get.I have been called a lazy w----r buy a passanger in a van,and someone who rides a recumbent has had a beer bottle thrown at his head.
I do ride in heavy traffic,and its amazing the gap most cars give you as they go past from behind,but I do have to be more carefull
at traffic lights and roundabouts do to being lower.