I don't vary really. I do a bike/train commute. The bike portion is right at 5 miles. In the morning I need to get to work on time, in the evening I have to catch the train, the only route that works is a straight line. I have been doing some minor tweaking because that straight line involves running down the entrance to a park district swimming pool facility and then on a bike path from the pool parking lot. In the morning no problem because while the facility is open as I pass by, patronage is quite low at that hour. In the evening it is saturated with giant minivans and SUVs piloted by parents who are yakking on the phone, looking at the kids in the seat behind them, and rushing to make their next offspring pick up/drop off. So I am looking at ways around that area in the evening and may have found a good one. I'd use it morning too but it involves walking my bike across a short stretch of lawn between two townhomes and I don't want to wear my welcome out by using it too much. In the evening no one could tell that I am not a townhome complex resident using the lawn as a shortcut so no one is likely to protest. In the morning I am obviously an interloper.

Since my pedaling commute is so short I would be going through neighborhoods so similar to the ones I pass through now that it would be impossible to get any variety even if I chose a route twice as long. Besides, there is a fair amount of variety as it is. Every day is a little different since the only person on my route who does exactly the same thing at the same time every day is me! The weather is different, the seasons vary, it is a pleasant little ride just as it is. No need to seek any more variety.

Ken

On the way to work I mainly use the same route, although depending on weather and available time I do change the first 1/3rd and the last 1/3rd of the route occasionally. Coming home I'm more likely to change route. I have many options which are 80% off-road work, through country parks etc.. I can double my mileage home and often do but haven't recently due to rubbish weather. The middle 1/3rd section is always the same for me though, not a great road as it's a single track road with poor visibility around bends and cars don't slow down much... there are plenty of horses to see and I usually see guys race/train some greyhounds which is a sight to see, very fast!

My route doesn't change. Most of the ride is on a bike path and enjoy the scenery/wildlife along the path, not having to dodge any cars and cycling with the same group of commuters.

I vary my morning commute a little bit, I have about four major options that keep the time between 40-55 minutes. (2 different first 2/3rds and 2 different last 1/3rds) coming home I usually do one of those, but I am prone to going for rec rides between work and home, often with the intention of swim in one of the many lakes or ocean beaches in my area.

My evening commute takes a few minutes more as I take a longer route through the forest... In the morning I'm usually just trying to get to work on time :/

AM is always the same. PM I have a couple of different routes depending on wind direction and errand running or time constraints. This year I haven't taken my eastern route home very often due to a bridge out and lots of construction that way.

when I head into the downtown area I mostly stick to the MUP thats follows the skytrain. The only times I switch up following it the whole way is when I'm hauling my trailer, or just lots of weight on the bike. One section is on road and is really narrow for two way traffic. Funny how roads that seem to rough for cars turn into bike routes This section of the road has lots of ups and downs, with ped lights right at the bottoms in couple locations.

For these areas I switch up to a main road. Improvise a bike lane from a semi used parking lane.