so i start scanning through here looking for some tips on commuting to work on my bike but some of these topics are scaring the crap out of me, lol. teenagers aiming at you, people getting hit by cops, everyone arming themselves deathrace 2000 style, haha. i mean i'm worried i may die before getting to the office.. and not from exhaustion.

seriously though, any tips for a newbie commuter? i'm still trying to build the best path to the office which is 20 miles each way. i have to go through my urban area, then downtown, get across the river to kentucky then either travel straight (making it 18 miles to work) which consists of what look to be neighborhood streets and 1 busy road but also goes way up a hill then all the way back down. or i can take the more scenic route through a busy area than onto more rural road, it's flat and follows the river, but it's 2+ miles longer.. is there a website that's good for planning routes? any tips on staying alive? lol.

TIA