Well, I had some degree of motivation to start riding to work.
The wife and I had been riding to a farmers market each weekend to get fresh veggies. The route went right past my work. It's only about 3.2 miles, and after a couple of trips, I said, "I should try riding to work". Couple of weeks later, my old truck blew up! So, as they say, the rest is history. Perhaps the best thing (besides the dear wife) that ever happend to me.
Now I often add miles in the evening on a new section of the locale MUP and once they connect it with the other end, I may use it morning and evening.
Getting the right fit on my bike has been difficult. The combination of seat ht, position, bars, combined with a problematic knee was a booger to work out. I'm still amazed at the difference really small changes can make. Maintenance has not been a big deal. My route is mostly residential streets, with a few blocks of a divided (grassy median) more used downtown feeder. It's two lanes wide, but there is some parking allow on it. I'm very fortunate not having to use the 4-lane feeders in town.