About 9 months ago I started working at a new place, but near where I've worked and commuted by bike in the past. I'm re-examining my routes (short, rainy, light, dark, etc) and have found a way to cut 0.4 miles off my commute. My normal commute is 15.2 google miles if I use the bike path the most, which I do if it's not underwater or too muddy from being underwater. Regardless of the potentially muddy part I just re-looked at a route I've taken before and it is 0.4 miles shorter. These two routes are version of each other and at some point I can either go this way or that.

0.4 miles is not really a big deal by itself, but if I didn't pay attention to 0.4 miles, would I pay attention to 0.4 MORE miles? The 0.4 miles starts to add up.

Anyways, I like to know which is my shortest, my fastest, my most enjoyable, and all that. Depending on the day I need each one.

My summer route is nearly 4km longer. It is also nearly 10 min faster, as there are fewer stops and higher average speeds.

I've looked at my own commute many, many times over the years. My main concern was avoid dangerous, high speed four-lane roads. In terms of the distance difference, the routes I've used vary at the most 1.5 km.

After 20 years of the same commute I have explored most options. I have my least-traffic route, my fewest traffic lights route, my most picturesque route, and my fastest route. Once in while for variety I will move a street or two over (or if there is construction) which can be fun, and sometimes I will jump from one route to another where they intersect.

But this being a hilly city, my routes have evolved to avoid the most taxing hills and provide the most level riding. However sometimes a short steep hill is preferable to a long gradual uphill slog. While in other cases a long gradual uphill is preferable to a short but rediculously vertical climb.

I'm very fortunate that the center portion of my commute is through a grid of streets that provides variety and options.

I’ve pretty much exhausted my shortcuts on my road route. The shortest route home is presently under construction. They just painted in bike lanes but the asphalt is 2in lower then the gutter concrete and it’s a death trap. This is different than my fastest route in due to which side of the road it’s on... my fastest road route in is actually not the shortest but it’s clockwise around a lake so it’s level with few stops.

on my MTB route it’s more about finding easier climbs or new descents and I don’t think I’ve hit the limit just yet.

I knew I wasn't alone!

I'm not a massively experienced commuter so I know I can evolve my routes. Like others, I have my quickest route which is not my shortest route. All my "normal" routes are only about 1.5 miles in distance from shortest to longest, and then I have my "I want to take the long way" and it's 7 miles extra.

i a moving so its all going to change.

I started my current commute location in January. I tested some different routes and found the most obvious is the shortest. There are alternate routes that can add .3 miles. The alternate routes are nice for variety and keep me off the main arterial during inclement weather.

My ride home I'm more flexible because I have more time. As the weather improves I'll increase the distance rather than shortening it.

I'm more likely to explore long cuts.

My commute season is in High School and Summer ball season, so I look to shorten the ride. This is her Senior season so as soon as they are done my whole commuting point of view changes.

Ok, I do dynamically reconfigure my routes on the fly.

Usually I don't worry about anything less than a mile.

Last Friday I cut about 50 miles off of my one way commute depending on how you count

Anyway, I like to make loops for RT rides. Trying to choose different roads for each direction.

I'm often thinking about new routes, and consider safety, traffic, climbing and flatness, distance, general pleasantness, and whether I'm late. Choices may vary with heavy cargo, light cargo, empty, schedule, weather, etc.

And, while I like the familiar, it never hurts to try something new.

What kind of work do you do, [MENTION=392454]CliffordK[/MENTION], that takes you such distances?

I do not look for shortcuts. I may look for alternative to ride but I am not looking to shorten my ride.

More or less retired now, but still trying to figure out what the future has in store. So mainly errands, shopping, and commuting to stuff.

I live about 5 miles outside of a small twin city, but the orientation creates longer distances than would otherwise be expected.

Several times a year, I ride to the next larger city, about 100 miles as the crow flies. The Willamette valley scenic bikeway is the basis for my route, about 186 miles with the two ends. However the route is quite convoluted. The whole route pushes my limits, so I am not beyond exploring shortcuts.

I got down to 130-something miles last week as I was running late and a February storm was brewing

I'll probably try 200 miles again this spring or summer.

On my commute?

I found 6 different ways to go with various short cuts in the first year I commuted. Since then, none. Once you find them all there's nothing new to find. And if you have a short commute like I do, there's just not a lot of places to look. However, in the summer months when its' really nice out I often find new longer ways to go home.

When I'm out joyriding? I find some new path/shortcut/long cut every singe time.

After 13 years of the same start and end points I found a new angle just 2 weeks ago, that was a nice surprise.

I look for alternatives in case of bad weather/construction etc and occasionally use them just for the sake of variety.

I have two options; my main route is 7.5 miles and flat, along a highway, my other is 11 miles and hilly -- much more scenic, but with fast traffic and a very narrow shoulder. I save that one for nice weather. No shortcuts possible, unless I buy a kayak.

Dude...do it!

Lots of people bike to work. That's nothing special. Be the guy who kayak's there!

In suburbia here, there's not much connectivity between neighborhoods with back roads (the fundamental flaw of cul-de-sac-based city planning), so I have one clear route to work, and it's fairly straightforward, so not much opportunity for shortcuts.

Hardly ever. Sacramento is a grid for the most part, so I can do lots of variations of basically the same distance. It's mostly about which streets are most bike efficient.

That was the east portion of my first commute. I started using streets that were better for bicycling, and drove them a few times when I was tired of the busier main roads I usually drove on.

That's the great thing about grids (Chicago being probably the biggest example). You can usually find a parallel route that wouldn't occur to you when you're in a car.

I suspect it would take longer than cycling; certainly more expensive. Also? Not a guy.

I planned this before I started commuting, and ended up commuting past a couple of friends house. That worked great if I needed to stop and ad/subtract a layer etc.... especially if one of them was out of town and needed a cat sitter.