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Average Miles Per Commute?

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Old 02-25-18 | 04:13 PM
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Average Miles Per Commute?

Hey Everyone,

On average how many miles do you commute?

I average in between 12-14 miles for my total commute.

Just curious
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Old 02-25-18 | 04:15 PM
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Originally Posted by commute_to_work
Hey Everyone,

On average how many miles do you commute?

I average in between 12-14 miles for my total commute.

Just curious
Some here commute, but there's a dedicated commuter forum where this would be more appropriate/get a better response - https://www.bikeforums.net/commuting/
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Old 02-25-18 | 04:43 PM
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The commute forum would be better.

But 16-20 miles a day for me.
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Old 02-25-18 | 04:43 PM
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30 mi for me.
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Old 02-25-18 | 04:58 PM
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But it might be interesting to see to what extent "road cyclists" - at least forum members here - commute.

The cycling portion of my commute is a mile each way - a little more, or a little less, depending on where I manage to pick up a Citibike, and how round-about a route I want to take (usually not very). The bus portion is about 17 miles, and depending on traffic, that usually takes about an hour in the evenings, an hour 20 in the mornings. Funny thing: I can take a more direct route by bicycle and make it to the office in about an hour if I push it, about an hour 20 if I don't want to be all sweaty when I arrive. I've only done that twice. Main reason I don't do it more often is that I don't like to ride in the dark, and the only time that wouldn't be an issue is in mid-summer, when arriving at the office all sweaty would be the issue. I've had occasion to drive a couple of times, and it takes about the same amount of time in traffic, but parking is a killer (about $40 for the day).

An acquaintance of mine - official for park races, actually - commutes year-round from a town a couple miles north of me.
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Old 02-25-18 | 05:21 PM
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Previously, it was 30 miles round trip. I did it during fair weather and only a few times a week. Now, 6 miles round trip, if I don't add distance, and I do it every work day year round with some exceptions for weather.

I enjoy the shorter commute as it gives me more options in what I wear and ride. Being able to do it year round it nice too.
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Old 02-25-18 | 05:52 PM
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14.5-16 miles each way.
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Old 02-25-18 | 06:04 PM
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Bikes: ...a few.

Mine's about 12 miles each way.
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Old 02-25-18 | 06:12 PM
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2x2.5km. I envy those with 2x10km in a way
I compensate with rides to recreational places during the week.
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Old 02-25-18 | 06:16 PM
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13-15 miles/day but I add on extensive detours in the summer
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Old 02-25-18 | 06:19 PM
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Ten mile daily round trip.
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Old 02-25-18 | 07:06 PM
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I just started a new job, and it's about seven miles each way. I'm grateful for that. My previous commute was 13.5 miles each way, and it was too long. I could only do it two or three days a week. This will be easier to do more days, and as a result, I might even get more miles in this year. I'm also grateful it's not shorter. If it were under three miles, I wouldn't be as happy.

I suspect that the average distance between home and work for all bike commuters in the US and Canada is under five miles.
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Old 02-25-18 | 07:27 PM
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Originally Posted by kbarch
But it might be interesting to see to what extent "road cyclists" - at least forum members here - commute.

I'm an irregular commuter. Errands, shopping, etc.

Shortest is about 8 miles RT to the post office.
Average is about 30 miles RT, and longest is 200 miles One Way.
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Old 02-25-18 | 07:38 PM
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Originally Posted by alias5000
2x2.5km. I envy those with 2x10km in a way
You say that but the distance gets old in a hurry. I used to add on extra miles when I started. I'd do up to 20 km extra on the way to work some days. Now it's like get me there in the shortest possible time/distance, and safe.
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Old 02-25-18 | 08:53 PM
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Originally Posted by mcours2006
You say that but the distance gets old in a hurry. I used to add on extra miles when I started. I'd do up to 20 km extra on the way to work some days. Now it's like get me there in the shortest possible time/distance, and safe.
I had 10km for about a year, straight through a forest. It was the right distance for me. I used that time a lot for podcasts and music. After that, I had 2x20km+, can't say that I did that by bike regularly - it's becoming a burden time-wise within the daily routine. For 10km, I usually was able to beat public transit. For my 20kms, there was no way to be faster than public transit. It also was in a place with a better system than in most of Ontario - and the winters were much warmer & shorter.

I'd also suspect that a GTA commute is probably stronger on the 'get me through this'-impression than many other (less paved/concrete covered, smaller traffic systems) places (e.g. with plenty of forests, trails, etc.)
Do you have a routine for your commute? I have a list of about 2-3 podcasts that I subscribe to - which become my commute podcasts, when I actually need to commute long enough.
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Old 02-25-18 | 10:01 PM
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I didn't think I would commute much when I took my current job. But over six months, I increased my average miles per week to over 100 and was able to add more commute days. 22 miles in the morning, 6 in the evening (work provides a Caltrain Go Pass!). Fortunately, relatively flat and good bike lanes for a rather safe ride.

My previous job was 16 miles and I biked both directions.

Commuting was the majority of the 6k biking miles in the last 12 months.
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Old 02-25-18 | 10:11 PM
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Typical day 26miles (M-TH). There's a shorter route that would reduce that to closer to 21; but it's got an annoying number of stop signs, and a sharp bit that's murder in ice or snow.
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Old 02-26-18 | 12:42 AM
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5km round trip. That was by design and I want to live within walking distance of the seaside and of my primary place of work.

I just jog/run on the beach to compensate for the shorter ride.

Quality of life is optimised.
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Old 02-26-18 | 07:51 AM
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26-28 miles round trip for the last 4 years. We are a one car family so I bike most days. My wife can rescue me if there is weather trouble. Occasionally if she's in the area or something the commute can be shortened or she can pick me up from work.
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Old 02-26-18 | 07:54 AM
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18 miles round trip.
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Old 02-26-18 | 07:58 AM
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Depends on the weather.

Cold and/or rainy? I can do a round trip in 5 miles.

Gorgeous summer morning/evening? Could be 25 miles.
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Old 02-26-18 | 07:59 AM
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My house is 4 miles from my work, but I typically get 30 miles most days.
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Old 02-26-18 | 08:04 AM
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I only have a bit over 6 miles round trip, including the time to park and walk to the building the bike is faster than a car. I have a 14 mile route on the way in I take a couple times a week in good weather with the road bike, so those days are 17 miles.
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Old 02-26-18 | 08:13 AM
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8 miles each way. Bike is default for 5 day work week commute. Add-ons of 4-10 miles for bank, post office and groceries.
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Old 02-26-18 | 09:20 AM
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Originally Posted by commute_to_work

I average in between 12-14 miles for my total commute.
what do you mean by total?
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