Switched to the shorter route today as I am feeling a little less intimidated by traffic. I saw 3 other bike commuters! That seemed a lot to me since the summer temperatures are still active around here. Anyway, I only got in the way of one BIG truck hauling construction materials but he managed to get around me. The route was two miles shorter and dropped me below the 1 hour mark on the commute in (55 minutes and 17.5 miles). I seemed to get stopped by more lights but hey, I still got in faster so I guess that is the real point isn't it? Turns out the shorter route isn't that much worse than the longer route, there is only two or three miles without a painted shoulder. I think it is a keeper as it seems to be the route most of the other commuters take so I figure drivers should be expecting bikes.