Originally Posted by
treadtread
Update: the new route is 3.5 miles one way, and much less stress. Has a bike lane most of the way, and fewer stop signs and traffic lights. I was feeling a bit stupid - why did it take me so long to try this route? And then I remembered - I had tried it before, but a new hospital was being constructed and that made the route undesirable (debris along the side etc). All that is over now, and the ride is much more peaceful.
So like many of the traffic related threads on the commuter forum, this ends with a find-a-newer-longer-route solution
Nice! I don't think people were necessarily laughing at you before, just having some good light-hearted discussion.
FWIW, I've been making more of an effort lately to stay in a lower gear for the first mile or so before ramping things up. Not sure if it's helping anything, but it sure doesn't hurt.