Suburbs or City Commuting? Which is safer?
03-19-10 | 06:10 PM
#26
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 2,896
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From: Binghamton, NY
Bikes: Workcycles FR8, 2016 Jamis Coda Comp, 2008 Surly Long Haul Trucker
I ride through a city (Binghamton) I don't think is much of a city compared to White Plains, New Rochelle, Yonkers, Mt. Vernon, that I occasionally rode through years ago.
03-19-10 | 06:42 PM
#27
rebmeM roineS
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 16,231
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From: Metro Indy, IN
Bikes: Bacchetta Giro A20, RANS V-Rex, RANS Screamer
Seems as if maybe the OP doesn't feel comfortable riding in traffic, generally.
My commute is suburban to urban. No preference for one or the other part.
My commute is suburban to urban. No preference for one or the other part.
__________________
Bacchetta Giro A20, RANS V-Rex, RANS Screamer
Bacchetta Giro A20, RANS V-Rex, RANS Screamer
03-19-10 | 07:11 PM
#28
The space coyote lied.
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 48,907
Likes: 11,099
From: dusk 'til dawn.
Bikes: everywhere
Only a few downtowns can offer up streets this bare around midday. Last time I enjoyed such a thing was in downtown Tacoma. (Well, actually downtown Vancouver's this way a lot, also, but it's a pretty small town.)
03-21-10 | 08:07 AM
#29
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From: Washington
Bikes: MTB Agressor for now.
I think time of day is more important. When people are rushing to get to places is when most people get killed. How many cyclists get hit during the middle of the day compared to any other time of the day?
03-21-10 | 08:08 AM
#30
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From: Washington
Bikes: MTB Agressor for now.
DUDE thats like 3 miles from my house. That trail is beautiful!
03-21-10 | 02:23 PM
#31
Banned
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 8,701
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From: Mississauga/Toronto, Ontario canada
Bikes: I have 3 singlespeed/fixed gear bikes
I live in the suburbs and I think it's more dangerous then downtown. The main problem in the
'burbs is speed, most people just drive too fast. You just have to choose your route more carefully. The good thing is that I have a lot of choices as to which roads I can take and there are a lot of quieter roads with less and slower traffic. Also there are few MUP's and some of them are dirt and gravel so it's a nice thing to go offroad sometimes and enjoy the nature. The main thing about riding in the 'burbs is you have to know how to link your route together. I do a lot of long distance rides through the 'burbs 100++km's long, but I know how to link all the streets,mups,roads together to make it a fun long distance ride. Then again cycling will never be 100% safe no matter where you ride.
'burbs is speed, most people just drive too fast. You just have to choose your route more carefully. The good thing is that I have a lot of choices as to which roads I can take and there are a lot of quieter roads with less and slower traffic. Also there are few MUP's and some of them are dirt and gravel so it's a nice thing to go offroad sometimes and enjoy the nature. The main thing about riding in the 'burbs is you have to know how to link your route together. I do a lot of long distance rides through the 'burbs 100++km's long, but I know how to link all the streets,mups,roads together to make it a fun long distance ride. Then again cycling will never be 100% safe no matter where you ride.
03-21-10 | 02:47 PM
#32
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 1,522
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From: Madison, WI
Pretty tough call, if you ask me. The city has far more dangers, but they are constant dangers that rarely hide from you. In the suburbs the dangers are fewer, but faster and less predictable. The two require different skills and different strategies. The one you're less familiar with will be more dangerous. In my own case... I can't make the call.
Next favorite is medium size arterials. Stuff like a 3 or 4 lane street, where there's plenty of room to pass, but it's also only about 35-45mph (I don't care what speed limit it's posted at... I care what speed drivers are actually going). Then even if there's not officially a bike lane, I can take a lane, and drivers can get around me. These sorts of roads tend to be *very* busy and have very unpredictable traffic.
Big arterials or small highways suck. Once drivers think they have a "right" to be going over about 45mph, things can get really bad, really fast for me. I still use these sorts of roads, but it was really helpful to work on foot or on city buses before I started riding on some of the local ones. Taking the time to pay attention to how traffic flowed made it a lot easier.
03-22-10 | 11:24 AM
#34
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From: Snohomish, WA
Bikes: Ridley Fenix Disc '15, Centurion Ironman '86, Raleigh Team '90, Bianchi Nyala '93
I don't do much city riding. My mostly suburban commute ranges from idyllic to thrilling. First leg is on a 45 mph, 4-lane collector, but traffic is usually pretty light, and most people just move over to the other available lane. Then it's into the residential streets for a couple of miles, speed limits ranging from 30 to 20, with all the streets being unlined (which is probably best) and the newest ones exceedingly wide. Then it's a 40 mph stretch built to rural standards, but with very light traffic. Last two legs of the journey are a 55 mph rural 2-lane, narrow, no shoulders, and then a collector similar to the first one, except that since there's no development here, people have a tendency to drive considerably faster. Still, traffic is fairly light at the right times, and drivers mostly courteous.
My only experience in "the city" is last year a friend and I rode to downtown on Bike to Work Day (Free Burritos!). Once we cleared the industrial complex where we both work, we found a new bike path that connected us the rest of the way, leaving only the last couple of miles on the streets. Given that my experience is thus so limited, I would concur that traffic, while much more dense, was slower and didn't really seem to be a problem. I had an easier time understanding where traffic was and blending in. Out on the fast roads, I sort of have to cross my fingers and hope for the best on the narrow parts.
My only experience in "the city" is last year a friend and I rode to downtown on Bike to Work Day (Free Burritos!). Once we cleared the industrial complex where we both work, we found a new bike path that connected us the rest of the way, leaving only the last couple of miles on the streets. Given that my experience is thus so limited, I would concur that traffic, while much more dense, was slower and didn't really seem to be a problem. I had an easier time understanding where traffic was and blending in. Out on the fast roads, I sort of have to cross my fingers and hope for the best on the narrow parts.
03-22-10 | 11:38 AM
#35
You gonna eat that?
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 14,917
Likes: 543
From: Fort Worth, Texas Church of Hopeful Uncertainty
Bikes: 1966 Raleigh DL-1 Tourist, 1973 Schwinn Varsity, 1983 Raleigh Marathon, 1994 Nishiki Sport XRS
Add a third option:
- City
- Suburbs
- Rural
Personally I feel plenty safe on urban and suburban rides. In my case they are a matter of degrees because our downtown is relatively small and not gridlocked except for at the peak of rush hour. The biggest scary thing to me is a proposal to allow bicycles to ride in the lanes that are currently reserved for bus and right turn only traffic. Not crazy about buses.
Out in the country, though, I feel very exposed and yet invisible at the same time. I don't like it much.
- City
- Suburbs
- Rural
Personally I feel plenty safe on urban and suburban rides. In my case they are a matter of degrees because our downtown is relatively small and not gridlocked except for at the peak of rush hour. The biggest scary thing to me is a proposal to allow bicycles to ride in the lanes that are currently reserved for bus and right turn only traffic. Not crazy about buses.
Out in the country, though, I feel very exposed and yet invisible at the same time. I don't like it much.
__________________
I stop for people / whose right of way I honor / but not for no one.
Originally Posted by bragi 
"However, it's never a good idea to overgeneralize."
I stop for people / whose right of way I honor / but not for no one.
Originally Posted by bragi "However, it's never a good idea to overgeneralize."
03-22-10 | 11:59 AM
#36
Infamous Member
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 24,360
Likes: 7
From: Ohio
Bikes: Surly Big Dummy, Fuji World, 80ish Bianchi
Add a third option:
- City
- Suburbs
- Rural
Personally I feel plenty safe on urban and suburban rides. In my case they are a matter of degrees because our downtown is relatively small and not gridlocked except for at the peak of rush hour. The biggest scary thing to me is a proposal to allow bicycles to ride in the lanes that are currently reserved for bus and right turn only traffic. Not crazy about buses.
Out in the country, though, I feel very exposed and yet invisible at the same time. I don't like it much.
- City
- Suburbs
- Rural
Personally I feel plenty safe on urban and suburban rides. In my case they are a matter of degrees because our downtown is relatively small and not gridlocked except for at the peak of rush hour. The biggest scary thing to me is a proposal to allow bicycles to ride in the lanes that are currently reserved for bus and right turn only traffic. Not crazy about buses.
Out in the country, though, I feel very exposed and yet invisible at the same time. I don't like it much.
The preacher man says it’s the end of time
And the Mississippi River she’s a goin’ dry
The interest is up and the Stock Markets down
And you only get mugged
If you go down town
I live back in the woods, you see
A woman and the kids, and the dogs and me
I got a shotgun rifle and a 4-wheel drive
And a country boy can survive
Country folks can survive
I can plow a field all day long
I can catch catfish from dusk till dawn
We make our own whiskey and our own smoke too
Ain’t too many things these ole boys can’t do
We grow good ole tomatoes and homemade wine
And a country boy can survive
Country folks can survive
Because you can’t starve us out
And you cant makes us run
Cause one-of- ‘em old boys raisin ole shotgun
And we say grace and we say Ma’am
And if you ain’t into that we don’t give a damn
We came from the West Virginia coalmines
And the Rocky Mountains and the and the western skies
And we can skin a buck; we can run a trot-line
And a country boy can survive
Country folks can survive
I had a good friend in New York City
He never called me by my name, just hillbilly
My grandpa taught me how to live off the land
And his taught him to be a businessman
He used to send me pictures of the Broadway nights
And I’d send him some homemade wine
But he was killed by a man with a switchblade knife
For 43 dollars my friend lost his life
Id love to spit some beechnut in that dudes eyes
And shoot him with my old 45
Cause a country boy can survive
Country folks can survive
Cause you can’t starve us out and you can’t make us run
Cause one-of- ‘em old boys raisin ole shotgun
And we say grace and we say Ma’am
And if you ain’t into that we don’t give a damn
We’re from North California and south Alabam
And little towns all around this land
And we can skin a buck; we can run a trot-line
And a country boy can survive
Country folks can survive
And the Mississippi River she’s a goin’ dry
The interest is up and the Stock Markets down
And you only get mugged
If you go down town
I live back in the woods, you see
A woman and the kids, and the dogs and me
I got a shotgun rifle and a 4-wheel drive
And a country boy can survive
Country folks can survive
I can plow a field all day long
I can catch catfish from dusk till dawn
We make our own whiskey and our own smoke too
Ain’t too many things these ole boys can’t do
We grow good ole tomatoes and homemade wine
And a country boy can survive
Country folks can survive
Because you can’t starve us out
And you cant makes us run
Cause one-of- ‘em old boys raisin ole shotgun
And we say grace and we say Ma’am
And if you ain’t into that we don’t give a damn
We came from the West Virginia coalmines
And the Rocky Mountains and the and the western skies
And we can skin a buck; we can run a trot-line
And a country boy can survive
Country folks can survive
I had a good friend in New York City
He never called me by my name, just hillbilly
My grandpa taught me how to live off the land
And his taught him to be a businessman
He used to send me pictures of the Broadway nights
And I’d send him some homemade wine
But he was killed by a man with a switchblade knife
For 43 dollars my friend lost his life
Id love to spit some beechnut in that dudes eyes
And shoot him with my old 45
Cause a country boy can survive
Country folks can survive
Cause you can’t starve us out and you can’t make us run
Cause one-of- ‘em old boys raisin ole shotgun
And we say grace and we say Ma’am
And if you ain’t into that we don’t give a damn
We’re from North California and south Alabam
And little towns all around this land
And we can skin a buck; we can run a trot-line
And a country boy can survive
Country folks can survive
__________________
"Let us hope our weapons are never needed --but do not forget what the common people knew when they demanded the Bill of Rights: An armed citizenry is the first defense, the best defense, and the final defense against tyranny. If guns are outlawed, only the government will have guns. Only the police, the secret police, the military, the hired servants of our rulers. Only the government -- and a few outlaws. I intend to be among the outlaws" - Edward Abbey
"Let us hope our weapons are never needed --but do not forget what the common people knew when they demanded the Bill of Rights: An armed citizenry is the first defense, the best defense, and the final defense against tyranny. If guns are outlawed, only the government will have guns. Only the police, the secret police, the military, the hired servants of our rulers. Only the government -- and a few outlaws. I intend to be among the outlaws" - Edward Abbey
03-22-10 | 01:15 PM
#37
You gonna eat that?
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 14,917
Likes: 543
From: Fort Worth, Texas Church of Hopeful Uncertainty
Bikes: 1966 Raleigh DL-1 Tourist, 1973 Schwinn Varsity, 1983 Raleigh Marathon, 1994 Nishiki Sport XRS
I'm not a Texan; I'm a yankee that lives in Texas. And I grew up in the city/suburbs, it's what I know. I'd consider living in the country but my wife grew up in a rural area and she's had enough of that junk. (When she was born, her parents lived in an 8' wide mobile home on 100 acres with no power or indoor plumbing.)
__________________
I stop for people / whose right of way I honor / but not for no one.
Originally Posted by bragi "However, it's never a good idea to overgeneralize."
I stop for people / whose right of way I honor / but not for no one.
Originally Posted by bragi "However, it's never a good idea to overgeneralize."
03-22-10 | 01:16 PM
#38
You gonna eat that?
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 14,917
Likes: 543
From: Fort Worth, Texas Church of Hopeful Uncertainty
Bikes: 1966 Raleigh DL-1 Tourist, 1973 Schwinn Varsity, 1983 Raleigh Marathon, 1994 Nishiki Sport XRS
And although I have no claim on anything in that song, yeah, it rocks.
__________________
I stop for people / whose right of way I honor / but not for no one.
Originally Posted by bragi "However, it's never a good idea to overgeneralize."
I stop for people / whose right of way I honor / but not for no one.
Originally Posted by bragi "However, it's never a good idea to overgeneralize."
03-22-10 | 01:38 PM
#39
Infamous Member
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 24,360
Likes: 7
From: Ohio
Bikes: Surly Big Dummy, Fuji World, 80ish Bianchi
I'm not a Texan; I'm a yankee that lives in Texas. And I grew up in the city/suburbs, it's what I know. I'd consider living in the country but my wife grew up in a rural area and she's had enough of that junk. (When she was born, her parents lived in an 8' wide mobile home on 100 acres with no power or indoor plumbing.)
__________________
"Let us hope our weapons are never needed --but do not forget what the common people knew when they demanded the Bill of Rights: An armed citizenry is the first defense, the best defense, and the final defense against tyranny. If guns are outlawed, only the government will have guns. Only the police, the secret police, the military, the hired servants of our rulers. Only the government -- and a few outlaws. I intend to be among the outlaws" - Edward Abbey
"Let us hope our weapons are never needed --but do not forget what the common people knew when they demanded the Bill of Rights: An armed citizenry is the first defense, the best defense, and the final defense against tyranny. If guns are outlawed, only the government will have guns. Only the police, the secret police, the military, the hired servants of our rulers. Only the government -- and a few outlaws. I intend to be among the outlaws" - Edward Abbey
03-22-10 | 01:44 PM
#40
Tortoise Wins by a Hare!
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 7,393
Likes: 945
From: Looney Tunes, IL
Bikes: Wabi Special FG, Raleigh Roper, Nashbar AL-1, Miyata One Hundred, '70 Schwinn Lemonator and More!!
Goin' to the city, got you on my mind,
Country sure is pretty, I'll leave it all behind,
This is my decision, I'm comin' home to stay this time.
'Cause I'm a fool for the city, I'm a fool for the city,
Fool for the city, I'm a fool for the city.
Breathin' all the clean air, sittin' in the sun,
When I get my train fare, I'll get up and run.
I'm ready for the city, air pollution here I come!
'Cause I'm a fool for the city, I'm a fool for the city,
I'm a fool for the city, I'm a fool for the city.
I'm like a fish out of water, I'm just a man in a hole.
The city lights turn my blues into gold.
I ain't no country boy, I'm just a homesick man.
I'm gonna hit the grid just as fast as I can.
I'm tired of layin' back, hangin' around,
I'm gonna catch that train, then I'll be city bound.
{Rod - Solo}
I ain't no country boy, I'm just a homesick man.
I'm gonna hit the grid just as fast as I can.
I'll get off on Main Street, step into the crowd,
Sidewalk under my feet, yeah, traffic's good and loud.
When I see my inner city child, I'll be walkin' on a cloud.
'Cause I'm a fool for the city, I'm a fool for the city,
I'm a fool for the city, I'm a fool for the city...
I'm a fool, (Fool for the city) A fool for the city, (Fool for the city)
I'm a fool, (Fool for the city) A fool for the city, (Fool for the city)
I'm a fool, (Fool for the city) A crazy fool, (Fool for the city)
I'm a fool yea, (Fool for the city) A fool for the city, (Fool for the city)
(Fool for the city) (Fool for the city)
I ain't no country boy, woo!
03-22-10 | 09:18 PM
#41
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 559
Likes: 0
I have worked in the worst neghborhoods in the city. Did not have a problem. You usually hear the old clunkers coming rom behind. In the burbs, I have gotten stopped becuase the police officer wanted me to ride on the sidewalk and I have had the "n" word yelled at me. You can't hear the cars either.
03-23-10 | 08:34 AM
#42
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 472
Likes: 0
From: Pittsburgh, PA
I would immediately say city is safer...but I really didn't start riding until I moved to the city, so I am biased. In the city I can (in general) keep up with traffic. The thought that someone could come around a corner going 60mph in the suburbs terrifies me more than anything. I feel very at home in city traffic.
03-23-10 | 09:37 AM
#43
Infamous Member
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 24,360
Likes: 7
From: Ohio
Bikes: Surly Big Dummy, Fuji World, 80ish Bianchi
I have worked in the worst neghborhoods in the city. Did not have a problem. You usually hear the old clunkers coming rom behind. In the burbs, I have gotten stopped becuase the police officer wanted me to ride on the sidewalk and I have had the "n" word yelled at me. You can't hear the cars either.
One bozo rookie had the nerve to try to tell me that "we don't allow non-residents on our roads" and didn't realize that I was his Commissioner...till the backup he called for (after I called him everything but a white man and told him I was gonna shove that pistol up is ass if he didn't put it back in the holster) showed up and started laughing so hard he almost peed himself.
__________________
"Let us hope our weapons are never needed --but do not forget what the common people knew when they demanded the Bill of Rights: An armed citizenry is the first defense, the best defense, and the final defense against tyranny. If guns are outlawed, only the government will have guns. Only the police, the secret police, the military, the hired servants of our rulers. Only the government -- and a few outlaws. I intend to be among the outlaws" - Edward Abbey
"Let us hope our weapons are never needed --but do not forget what the common people knew when they demanded the Bill of Rights: An armed citizenry is the first defense, the best defense, and the final defense against tyranny. If guns are outlawed, only the government will have guns. Only the police, the secret police, the military, the hired servants of our rulers. Only the government -- and a few outlaws. I intend to be among the outlaws" - Edward Abbey
03-23-10 | 11:29 AM
#44
Guest
Posts: n/a
My experiences seem to mirror many of the other comments. There are pros and cons to each cycling environment. More often than not in my locale, urban seems to be more cycling-friendly for me.
Urban
- Lower speed differential
- More attentive and accomodating drivers
- Better connectivity and route options due to grid pattern roadways
- More intersection hazards
- More pedestrians and other cyclists (many of whom are unpredictable) to watch for
Suburban
- Higher speed differential
- More aggressive and distracted drivers
- More dead-end secondary streets, forcing me onto arterials
- Fewer intersections
Urban
- Lower speed differential
- More attentive and accomodating drivers
- Better connectivity and route options due to grid pattern roadways
- More intersection hazards
- More pedestrians and other cyclists (many of whom are unpredictable) to watch for
Suburban
- Higher speed differential
- More aggressive and distracted drivers
- More dead-end secondary streets, forcing me onto arterials
- Fewer intersections
03-23-10 | 12:03 PM
#45
Beer is delicious!
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 549
Likes: 0
I agree that it totally depends on the individual city or suburb. Here (Twin Cities area) if you ride downtown (Minneapolis) there are bike lanes, traffic is moving slower, and there are a lot more bikes, so drivers are more accustomed to seeing you. In a lot of the surrounding burbs, you still have a lot of traffic, cars are moving faster, often times there is no shoulder, and drivers are not expecting to see bikes. So in general, in my area, I would say that downtown is probably safer than the burbs.
03-23-10 | 06:07 PM
#47
In the right lane
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 9,556
Likes: 8
From: Des Moines
Bikes: 1974 Huffy 3 speed
One bozo rookie had the nerve to try to tell me that "we don't allow non-residents on our roads" and didn't realize that I was his Commissioner...till the backup he called for (after I called him everything but a white man and told him I was gonna shove that pistol up is ass if he didn't put it back in the holster) showed up and started laughing so hard he almost peed himself.
03-23-10 | 06:39 PM
#48
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 737
Likes: 0
From: Edmonton, Canada
I have no frame of reference for comparison. I live in a semi-rural area. I feel safe on my commute. I've not ridden in a city, personally I would be more concerned/worried abut the traffic in the city. The population in the closest town is about 7,600 (2000 census). Which is also the largest in the area and the county seat.
03-23-10 | 07:30 PM
#49
Infamous Member
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 24,360
Likes: 7
From: Ohio
Bikes: Surly Big Dummy, Fuji World, 80ish Bianchi
Never point your gun at the guy who buys your bullets.
__________________
"Let us hope our weapons are never needed --but do not forget what the common people knew when they demanded the Bill of Rights: An armed citizenry is the first defense, the best defense, and the final defense against tyranny. If guns are outlawed, only the government will have guns. Only the police, the secret police, the military, the hired servants of our rulers. Only the government -- and a few outlaws. I intend to be among the outlaws" - Edward Abbey
"Let us hope our weapons are never needed --but do not forget what the common people knew when they demanded the Bill of Rights: An armed citizenry is the first defense, the best defense, and the final defense against tyranny. If guns are outlawed, only the government will have guns. Only the police, the secret police, the military, the hired servants of our rulers. Only the government -- and a few outlaws. I intend to be among the outlaws" - Edward Abbey
