Just resumed my commute to work after some time off (several moves, etc) about 6-7 weeks ago, and am now doing 3 days per week (4 this week). Wooho!

My 12-mile route takes me from the Eastern "bench" above Salt Lake City across the valley to my office, west of downtown, on (generally) bike friendly avenues and tree-lined neighborhood streets.

Nice morning ride in today, with a sweetness in the air following some awesome thunderstorms last night. No boneheads on the way in this morning - smooth sailing all the way.

The ride home has generally been a little more touchy, with a few more traffic issues. My main gripe is the tendency of cars to over-react when I attempt to cross a busy street - two-way traffic with a turn lane, in an older residential area. I usually cross into the turn lane when traffic breaks going one direction, and I wait there until traffic breaks in the other direction. You'd think this should be no problem, I am in a clearly marked separate lane, after all. BUT the traffic in the far lane tends to react as if a dog has run into the street in front of them (despite the fact that I am CLEARLY waiting - foot off the pedal, etc), it seems that 50% of the time, some driver comes to an abrubt stop to wave me across, nearly causing the drivers behind him/her to crash. It's a bit unsettling, and un-necessary. I may try to find another option for crossing that particular road.

Otherwise, it's a GREAT commute!