suggest taking him on test ride from home to work on Saturday/Sunday when traffic is light.
my old commute was similar 2.5 miles and daunting the first week or so. now I'm riding the full 11 miles to work through everywhere and in everything. I plot my route carefully to avoid the worst roads when out roaming. Stop lights are your friend. I also offloaded the old SAAB as donation to charity. Cut insurance to the single car. Lost all the maintenance issues and expense of that SAAB. I have saved over $1000 on gas alone. Not to mention the several thousand waiting to explode in the SAAB and the sleepless nights worrying about it. I also park at the door. I shower when I arrive at work. So am fresh as a daisy when working. I don't have to deal with traffic. Morning commutes are very quiet with little traffic at 5:30 am. Afternoons I have to adjust my route home but mmmehhh it's nothing. I have lost 30+ pounds. Am fitter than I have been in 20 years. Can't wait to get out to ride everyday. Wife shoo's me out the door to get rid of me (am antsy with all the extra energy) on weekends to unwind. Of course that benefit did take a while to unveil. Am still riding my original commuter at this point. Next year maybe I will get a road bike but for now the beater is ok. what's not to love about this?