My wife and I are retired. We ride our bikes almost everywhere we go. We bike to lunch, shopping trips, visiting, the library, etc. So is this commuting? I don't want to claim false credit.

Hmmm, I haven't owned a gas operated vehicle in probably 14 yrs and can safely say that yes - I am 100% commuter, bicycling year round and if I don't feel like messing with bike lock for the next block over store I walk or hike to grocery store that is 30 minutes away - or take public transportation to say another city or to the airport .... hehe - but that's between your tax person and you

Not THAT kind of credit...the credit of commuting by bike!

I left my car behind when I moved to Hawaii. Fully intended to buy one over here, but found out that the bus service here isn't bad at all. So I walked/bussed for the first couple of years, then bought a thrift-store bike, now a nicer bike.

At the very least it's car lite. I commute to daily tasks via bike, and even though I'm currently unemployed, I still consider myself a bike commuter.

Since you're retired (as I am as of 8 months ago) what you're using your bikes for IS your new job. So there's no doubt at all in my mind that you and your wife are commuting. Hey! It's a tough job but SOMEONE has to do it....

For the record, according to https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commuting
Commuting is regular travel between one's place of residence and place of work or full time study.

That said, it's up to you to decide if you really care how it's defined or what anyone thinks about what you and your wife do.

I say, more power to you both for the exercise advantage you have over the sedentary population.

^^^ Right, I've always thought of "commuting" as "going to work." There also isn't much choice about whether you do it or not, at least not among us worker bees -- we have to go even if we don't want to. We can't just say, "Oh, I think I'll stop by the office for a bit, and then go catch a matinee."

OP, look at it this way -- you don't have to commute at all.

Yes.... that is commuting. If you are using your bike as a mode of transportation to get things done in your daily lives .....then yes (work or not).

Well, bike commuting is like car commuting, usually describing going to work and back. What you are doing, sounds more like utility riding, which is an important part of a car-lite, car-free lifestyle.

Congratulations! Job well done.

commuter - A person who regularly travels from one place to another, typically to work; A piece of transportation equipment used for the transportation of ...
en.wiktionary.org/wiki/commuter

bike forums
Bicycle commuting is easier than you think, before you know it, you'll be hooked. Learn the tips, hints, equipment, safety requirements for safely riding your bike to work.

I like the term destination cyclist rather than commuter.