- Do you commute by bike, or do you plan to commute by bike this year?
Yep: will be going into my seventh season as soon as the snow/ice
stops and clears.
- How far is your commute?
Actual distance is about 9 kms. each way, though (time permitting) I usually try to extend the return trip as much as possible.
- Do you commute every day? All year round?
Every day, but not all year; I stop typically in latish December, once the snow/ice is here to stay, and start again usually some time in March, though this year -- who knows? During mid-winter, out comes the trainer; I've no wish whatsoever to risk breaking a collarbone, hip etc. at age 56+.
- Is your commuting route pleasant? Dangerous? Dreary?
I'm pretty fortunate; we have an MUP system which follows the banks of the three branches of our mid-city river; my home is about 200 yards from the river, so if I choose I can do the whole thing w/o more than a few minutes in traffic. Having said that, don't mind slicing and dicing anyway -- it's all good! The river side commute is, though, really quite beautiful most of the year (oblivious walkers, runners, dog-walkers, mid-path 'stop and talks' etc etc aside).
- What bike do you use? If you had to do it over again, would you choose the same bike?
Heavily upgraded/roadified hardtail mtb; works very well, though I am tempted by, and do keep trying out, flat and drop-barred road bikes -- just might pull the trigger on a Giant FCR Alliance this year (just had a look at the thing in my LBS).
- What's the single best piece of advice you could give to new bike commuters?
Nothing original to say, but always, ALWAYS assume that drivers and pedestrians CANNOT SEE YOU, EVEN IF APPARENTLY LOOKING STRAIGHT AT YOU. YOU DO NOT EXIST (repeat "I do not exist when riding my bicycle" at least 1000 times, so that that belief becomes part of your very being).