Anyone ever move to make your commute longer?
 

I am fortunate to live close to my work (1 mile each way). At first this was great, but now I really wish I lived further away. I suppose I could take a longer route, but that just doesn't make sense when I'm trying to get to work.

So has anyone ever moved to get more distance into your commute? We also want to have a dog, and the building has a no-pet policy.

Yeah, I think we should move.

My commute was far enough away (26 miles), this was not a problem. Even still, I'd find a way to add miles on if I was early and felt really good.

Two years ago I had to move as my apartment was being converted to condos. I purposly chose a location that was twelve miles from my job rather than stay in the area I had lived for twenty five years partially because it was only six miles from work. The other reason also had to do with biking, I had lived on the tip of a peninsula that didn't afford much choice in road or off road rides and had narrow roads to a place where I can go off in three directions for road rides on wide quiet streets and many more off road choices for rides.

Years ago when my commute was only 3 miles I didn't extend it often if at all. I certainly don't remember doing it. Most other commutes I've had would get an extension from time-to-time, but they tended to be in the 18-20 mile round trip neighborhood already.

I would only move for better reasons than to force yourself to ride more. If you want to ride more, then ride more. If you want a dog, then move. Dogs are good :)

I too live very close to work -- 1.6 miles. I take a slightly longer trip home, then a couple of days a week go out for 12-26 mile loops around the city. Because I want to ride.

Wow - I was just thinking about this a couple of days ago...

There is a possibility that I will move around April next year and I immediately thought I would like to live further away from the city - just to make my commute longer. At the moment I ride 15-miles per day commuting and would love to increase that to around 25-30 miles. This will definitely assist in getting in the miles for some racing next year as my current 120 miles per week (including weekend riding) just isn't enough.

Sometimes I take the really long way home. No need to move. Just take a major detour if you like.

I've thought about this before. I live about a mile from work and take longer routes if I want to. But on rainy days or cold days I've still got the short route option. I can always ride longer I want to, but I drive less now because I can always get to work quickly if necessary.

The dog's a reasonable reason. To commute longer? Hah! There are times you'll really like the short commute and it shouldn't be hard to make it longer to suit your needs on any given day anyway.
Moving costs a lot. It could more than pay for a new bike ;o)

One good thing, moving helps you clear out all your extra junk.

Yup, have done this on and off for years. When I was in college and could schedule my classes for a later start in the day, I added 30 miles to my commute. I lived about 5 miles from the college, so my ride into school was about 35 miles... but after school, I worked a part time job close to school... then rode home the easy five miles from there. Worked out quite well.

My current commute is about 11 miles either way... but when the days are long, and the weather is nice, I take an alternate way that adds about 5 fast flat miles.

Some days I explore alternate routes... although I have yet been able to find any good alternates, but none the less I explore anyway.

I'm getting laid off. Does that count?

IMO, the reason for moving voluntarily to another location farther from work usually has something to do with getting a residence better suited to meet family needs such as number of bedrooms, economics, quality of neighbors/neighborhood, school districts etc. I assume even those who are carless and without family would consider access to public transportation, churches, shops etc to be more pertinant reasons to pick a residence than forcing themselves to bike a greater distance to work. As others pointed out take an alternate route or do the R/Tcommute twice or thrice a/day.

Move because it is otherwise better place for you to live, but never just because its further from work.

You may not always be able to ride* and the option to get there with a 15min brisk, 20min normal walk is good to have.

*such as break an arm or both primary and secondary bikes are in deep repair, etc.

Al

There are good reasons to live some distance from work. If you live a short walking distance from work, it is incredibly easy to have your personal and professional lives mingle too closely. This is especially true in certain lines of work.

At various times in the past, my wife and I have talked about moving to a location closer to my work. I simply don't want to be that close. Frankly, my commute is one of my favorite times of the day. I enjoy the process, and I like being in shape. Besides, it's the only time I'm guaranteed to have to myself.

If having a nice bike ride and a great dog waiting for you when you get home significantly improves your quality of life, that's a perfectly good reason to get a house. The best way to live is to find yourself in a position where you're forced to do exactly what you want to do. That makes it much easier to resist pressures that will put you on the wrong path.

Heh...I've moved every other year, for the last six years. I've been at my current place for 10 months, and I'm moving at the end of this lease. I loathe the process, but I seem to be nomadic at heart. I've never moved to be farther from work, but I have moved to be allowed a pet (my blue and gold macaw)...

Thanks for all the responses. One thing I forgot to mention: my wife and I are new to this area, and we found an apartment soon after arriving. Actually, the apartment has worked out well, but maybe we'd choose a different location now.

I appreciate what people are saying about motivation to ride. I certainly could extend my commute, but my personality is such that not having a choice would work better. I do ride on the weekends, but I like the idea of making biking a lifestyle more than recreation.

Give it some more thought...

Moving no
 

If you like your current place don't move. Just take advantage of your increased knowledge of the area and maybe do a long ride after work on the commute home. So if the weather turns to crap while you're at work you're covered take the short route. Good weather take the long route.

I'm looking at moving after the winter...I'm not really sure how it's going to effect my commute. More than likely it'll become a tad more exciting as I'll loose the uber bike lane where I presently live. I don't ever really think about the distance be it long or short...I ride bicycles for transportation...it's all I have other than a real lame bus service...and two feet.

What I would recommend if bike commuting is that important in picking a residence; if you commute to work in the morning and return in the afternoon: pick a place east of work to keep the rising/setting sun out of your and same direction motorists's eyes.

Hell no, I couldn't afford a house around here now and if I sell my house and buy one farther away I have at least double the property taxes.

I've considered it. Right now I live across the street from my workplace. It's about three reolutions of the pedals away.

I live about two miles from work and I occasionally extend the ride. I especially extend it to meet up with other commuters on my way home, or (if I'm on my mountain bike), to make a quick run down a local trail.

I think moving just to increase the commute isn't the best idea.

Just my $0.02,
cmh

Extending the commute is not as good an option in my mind for the simple reason that the riding is not necessary. Owning a house is kind of like having a second job, particularly if you're in the entry level market. There are things to fix, improvements to be made, and very likely there is someone at home who has a list of things for you to do.

Leaving earlier in the morning and coming home later in the evening just to go riding is difficult to justify if the only reason is to do more riding. This will be viewed by others as recreation and it will tend to get trumped by other demands on you because you perceived as selfish if you need recreation every day.

When your commute is simply longer, that's just how you get to work and the pressure goes away. It's an easy long term solution to maintain so long as you don't wuss out when conditions are sour.

Distance was one factor in determining where we moved to... I moved from 8.5 miles from work to 14. :)