Lately I've been experimenting with alternative routes to work. None are as quick as my normal route. However, one route I found takes me on a dedicated bike path.

And that's the slowest route I've got. It's a single lane bike path with no possibility of overtaking another cyclist.

So, I'm just gonna stick with my normal route, using the main roads. It's faster.

It's always nice experimenting. Atleast you know some side streets you can take if you ever want to jazz up your mornings.

thanks for sharing

If your #1 priority is shortest/fastest route to work, then you have your answer.

I personally don't care about that; I choose the route that appeals to me. If it takes longer, it takes longer; that's more saddle time.

I think it's good to experiment with various routes if you have that option. Last year I continued commuting later into the fall and winter than I had previously -- yes, I was previously more of a fair weather commuter. Because it was getting darker on my ride home I wanted to find a route on a less high speed road than I was accustomed to using.

I found another route that used more quiet, out of the way residential streets and it turned out to be a little shorter as well. I had more stop signs to stop for (yes, I am trying to get in the habit of stopping for stop signs), but so much more pleasant. I even have one short but very steep hill that I get the challenge of going up at about the halfway point on my way home. I like my new route!

While I haven't been commuting for all that long I'm finding that the original route that I chose is still the best one, except that one street is now under construction. Because of that construction I found an alternate street that is actually better. This is only about 1/2 mile though so it isn't that different than the original 10 mile route.

My 10 mile commute in NYC is surprisingly mostly on marked bike routes. Only the last 2 miles in Manhattan are in traffic, the rest are on bike lanes or over the Manhattan Bridge.

I'm sure there are plenty of options, I've probably been on most of them in the past on the weekends when I did my more serious road riding.

I tend to take a variety of routes to work, some shorter, some longer, some more scenic than others. Going home I am more likely to take the shortest/fastest route.

My ride into work doesn't change as it is the flatest route, and shortest to keep from sweeting to much, the route home I have varied some for a change of scenery or to lengthen the ride

I take pretty much the same route into work every day; the only thing that changes is which particular side roads I use to get from one arterial to another. This is limited by (1) topography, and (2) the fact that it's really, really difficult to get up in the mornings. My ride in is hilly, but direct ... and there really isn't a way around the hills, so direct is what matters.

While I've also found the ideal route home, I tend to vary this more. I don't usually have an immediate "deadline" after work, so I'll take different streets or trails if it's nice out, to change my scenery, or for whatever reason. Sometimes I'm just having too much fun to stop, and do a lap around the lake...

My ride into work is usually the same each day - It's the most direct/fastest route, although not the most 'fun'. Usually I'm more concerned with getting into the office on time.

On the ride home, I tend to mix up my routes a bit more - I'm not in a rush, and it's nice to unwind a bit after working all day. If I'm in a rush, its the same route I take into work, and I'm home in 15 minutes. If I feel like a little bit longer but not too intense ride, I head over to a bike trail that takes me near home and I'm back in an hour.

If I'm feeling ambitious, well - I'd rather quickly go home, offload my work stuff, change into more cycling clothes and head out for the evening.

Its always good to know other route options available.

I have to keep my routes open as my primary route, which uses a dedicated bike path and is the quickest, is often flooded. It runs along a creek that drains a reservoir. The last couple weeks, the creek has been high enough that the water level goes up to my pedals.

I probably have a dozen different routes, varying from 3.8 to 40 miles.

I take the shortest route to work but going home I triple or quadruple the distance. That way I won't have to worry about sweat.