Maryland commuting?
 

Work just posted openings in Maryland, and am interested. Did some prelim searches, seeing that bike commuting is 2xs what it is in Minnesota, and found some rails to trails maps. What's it like out there? Would it be worth hauling several bikes with me? Of course I don't have the exact locale the jobs are at at the moment, assume it's Baltimore or outside D.C.
It's interesting that one of the things I think of before applying is what the cycling is like, rather than COL, and where exactly the job is.

Definitely bring a bike or two. Traffic around here is so bad, that, depending on where you end up staying and working, cycling to work may even be quicker than driving. It sure as hell is more relaxing.

Case in point. My bike commute takes 25 min each way. Driving takes me 10 minutes in the morning, and 25-30 at night. Most of that night drive is sitting through lights within 1 mile of leaving my office.

Yeah bring a bike.

COL is high, so make sure the job pays enough. Depending on where live v work, cycling could either be great or really s*ck. Pick where you live carefully.

if you can afford it, try to live (and work) in the inner suburbs closer to the city: Silver Spring, Hyattsville, College Park, Greenbelt, Riverdale, Takoma Park, Wheaton, etc..., or Bethesda and Chevy Chase if you really have a lot of money (they're the two most expensive places to live in MD).

the cost of living is higher there, but it's definitely easier to bike commute or even, in some cases, bike/metro commute from town to town or into the city.

get a bombproof rear wheel and a tough set of tires, because the roads are in horrible condition and the paths are not much better (except for the Cap Crescent).

check out http://www.bikewashington.org for more info

How much money do you have? You can't rent anything under $1200 without living in the ghetto...the ghetto isnt such a bad place to live if you stay alert..and some our worst than others. I seriously would consider living in the Mt.Rainier,Takoma, Takoma Park, Silver Spring area. Its very nice there Mt.Rainer is probably the cheapest but Takoma and Takoma Park are very beautiful places. DC has many wonderful neighborhoods u can live in which are more scenic than MD and not ALL of them are expensive(85% are) Or you can always check Clarendon, Ballston, Alexandria, Pentagon/Crystal City. They have a very good public transportation system and parks/trails/entertainment. Probably better PT than u'd find in EXCEPT SS and Bethesda/Chevy Chase.

You'll definitely find bike commuting in Maryland to be good. We have winter, but nothing as severe as MN and spring and fall are longer more pleasant seasons.

There are many good bike routes and trails around and the terrain can vary a great deal depending upon your route. You've already got a lot of good advice on spots to live in the DC area. If the job turns out to be near Baltimore (that's pronounced Bal'mer by the way) checkl out the northeast regional forums for some guys who commute in and around Charm City.

The job will be in Rockville, and looking at some of the compare your city it's more expensive than here, I live close to downtown, or what would be called downtown in other cities, I guess. The idea of metro commuting is something that is sort of an adventure. I enjoyed the train ride into Paris from Sens, then ride in Paris all day, and back out at night (it's a great way to see Paris). I figure I've ridden in that traffic, so what could be worse? Boston Circles?

I've been warned about the housing, but there is a new one, my "laid back Midwestern-ness" could cause problems in the go-go-go of DC environs. But I also think about all the stuff I haven't been exposed to being stuck in the Midwest (ie: museums, art, culture, history). We get exposed to it but 6 months after it's been big on either coast and the Go has had their try at it, we're still fading our jeans, and mixing it with Grunge, and call Chicago the "Go" not to mention we'll throw a little metro-emo in just to cover all the bases.

I am still in the consulting friends stage of this. I have till Tuesday to get my resume in.

Well at least Rockville is right on the Metro Red line so part metrorail/part bike is a possible option or all bike if you pick a place in Rockville/Gaithersburg (going North)