Originally Posted by jtm1631
I am also going to scope out a new route tomorrow that may allow me to avoid the main road. I'm just not sure if I can get all the way through to my office building by going the back way.
Excellent idea. You need to know your commute anyway in case you have to detour. Also I like to have a normal route (usually choosen to avoid autos) and an "Ohh $hit" route for when I'm an hour late.
My experience has been that for a bike there is always a secondary route with less traffic and less speed. Cut through parks, alleys, or greenspace if you need to. With a four mile commute you can afford to go a mile (or more
) out of your way to find a nicer route.