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Do you commute by bicycle every day to work?

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Commuting 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.
View Poll Results: How many days a week (week after week) do you commute by bike?
Only 1 day a week
1.01%
Only 2 days a week
5.03%
Only 3 days a week
11.06%
Only 4 days a week
17.59%
I commute every day for the work week 5/5
65.33%
Voters: 199. You may not vote on this poll

Do you commute by bicycle every day to work?

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Old 04-06-11 | 06:42 PM
  #1  
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Do you commute by bicycle every day to work?

Curiosity is killing me here.

Im just wondering putting aside health restraints, (ie: flu, etc), do you commute by bicycle every day, without a break to work? Be it rain, shine, snow....?

I have put 3 days a week, since my goal is 5 days. In past years though, I averaged about 2-3 days per week.

Last edited by macteacher; 04-06-11 at 06:47 PM. Reason: forgot to add info
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Old 04-06-11 | 06:58 PM
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I voted 4, but often I go all 5, or sometimes just 3.. it really just depends on different things, like if I need to bring something big/heavy to work (my photo gear for example), or if i'm just worn out.
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Old 04-06-11 | 07:25 PM
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Does having doctor or dentist appt consider an excuse to not commute? There's some doctor office that are out of the way in which case I cannot commute those day by bike. Otherwise, yes I do commute 5 days a week even through the pouring rain. BTW, this winter season here in the Bay Area has been one of the best rain season we had, now that I know I got through this one, hopefully everything else will be a "Walk in the Park".
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Old 04-06-11 | 07:27 PM
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I'm averaging 3-4 since I started commuting in late Feb and then we got two big snow storms. I stopped riding during that time since I don't feel safe riding the back roads when the weather is like that. Now I'm back in full throttle and hopefully doing it full time now. I alternate bikes alot during the week just to change things up.
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Old 04-06-11 | 07:39 PM
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I bike to work every day. I have several jobs and locations I work at but one of my jobs has been in the same location for the past 6 years and I think I may have driven there twice in the whole 6 years. I think I've gotten a ride home from a friend or family maybe 6 -10 times in the past 6 years. In the rare instance I do not ride the bike I take the bus.
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Old 04-06-11 | 07:42 PM
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Originally Posted by colleen c
Does having doctor or dentist appt consider an excuse to not commute? There's some doctor office that are out of the way in which case I cannot commute those day by bike.
My doctor is 2.5 miles in the wrong direction from work. But yesterday (it was a nice sunny day...) I decided that I deserved a few hours break from work and did the trip by bicycle.

Had a great time getting there. Didn't ride very fast so I wouldn't sweat. Doctor has a note about me being a cyclist and she started telling me her husband was an avid cyclist too. We had a long chat about health benefits and how not to get prostatitis from your bicycle seat.

If I can possibly do it, I will ride.

However... if you ride a bike only 1 day a week and enjoy it.. I'm all for that too.

Last edited by gerv; 04-06-11 at 07:53 PM. Reason: however... section
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Old 04-06-11 | 08:12 PM
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Originally Posted by gerv
My doctor is 2.5 miles in the wrong direction from work. But yesterday (it was a nice sunny day...) I decided that I deserved a few hours break from work and did the trip by bicycle.

Had a great time getting there. Didn't ride very fast so I wouldn't sweat. Doctor has a note about me being a cyclist and she started telling me her husband was an avid cyclist too. We had a long chat about health benefits and how not to get prostatitis from your bicycle seat.

If I can possibly do it, I will ride.

However... if you ride a bike only 1 day a week and enjoy it.. I'm all for that too.
I almost made a mistake riding my bike to the doctor office on the day of the appointment. That morning I was out the door ready to saddle up when it dawn on me that I cannot ride to the doctor office. The appointment was not mine but rather it was my mom's appointment and I was just a driver that day for her. At almost 80 years old, I don't think she would appreciate a Tandem either, so I just went back in the house and looked for my car keys.
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Old 04-06-11 | 08:17 PM
  #8  
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I only get to do my 27mi. round trip commute twice each week, tops. I have to take my middle school daughter to school the other days. I would happily commute four or five days per week if I didn't have to drop off my daughter.
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Old 04-06-11 | 08:27 PM
  #9  
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As a nurse I only work three days a week, unless I pick up an extra shift...So if I vote 3, that's every day for me. I'll sit this one out so as not to screw up the results.
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Old 04-06-11 | 08:42 PM
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From: Suburbia, Ontario

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Wow...im impressed by the results. It makes me feel like a wimp for not doing it more often. I will say this, being on this site provides that push I need to ride.
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Old 04-06-11 | 08:59 PM
  #11  
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Tell you what, in the last 6 months, I've had 0 day weeks, and 5 day weeks... just depends. I just got my first 5-day week in March, after much trying. I put "4 days" in the poll, because most weeks that's what I do. I should move to 5 days during the summer.
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Old 04-06-11 | 09:20 PM
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I bike every day. I bike commuted a few days a week for a few years and then decided to go whole hog and sold my car. I don't have an excuse now, so I bike regardless if the temp is way, way below zero F.

The few times that I have used a cab usually involved me needing to get the airport. I have not found a completely viable way to get there with the gear I need for a week or more away from home without taking my cargo bike. I am not comfortable leaving my cargo bike outside at an airport for a couple weeks, so hence the cab.

That said, when I am going out of town via airplane, I usually ride to my office (plus a train ride), which is then just a few miles from the airport, and take a cab from there. My co-workers are pretty sure that I am certifiably crazy.
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Old 04-06-11 | 09:23 PM
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i do mine once a week, and mostly on fridays. i need to ride more often
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Old 04-06-11 | 09:56 PM
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Work 4 days per week, ride bike on 3.
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Old 04-06-11 | 11:31 PM
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Typically I take a car one day out of the week to run errands I can't do on a bike. Some weeks I don't need to do that and I'll ride every day.
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Old 04-07-11 | 03:08 AM
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I work 5 days a week, and I ride everyday.
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Old 04-07-11 | 03:12 AM
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I voted 4 days.

I work Sunday through Thursday, sometimes work overtime on Friday.

Since I leave so early in the morning, I would be headed to work on Sunday the same time the drunks leave the bars Saturday night. Plus the train doesn't run on Sunday so I'd have to do the whole 50 mile round trip. My wife doesn't need the car, so I drive. That is the day I swap out and replenish supplies (towel, recovery drink, soap, etc.).

I ride the rest of the week, even if, no, especially if I work on Friday.
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Old 04-07-11 | 03:22 AM
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Before being made redundant I rode 5/5 and as soon as I'm working again I will do the same.

This is made easier by not owning a car (not holding a licence, I never bothered learning to drive). Everything is done by bike when it can be.
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Old 04-07-11 | 03:55 AM
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If I can't get to work by bike, I don't go. Dr or dentist appointment? Ride the bike. Grocery store, ride bike or walk.

That's true for well over a year now. The last time I got to work other than by bicycle was due to icy roads. Then I bought studded tires, so now there's no exception.

Now ask me the last time I went to the gas station.
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Old 04-07-11 | 05:48 AM
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Depends on the week. If I have my druthers, I ride every day...but I don't always get my druthers.
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Old 04-07-11 | 05:55 AM
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I aim for every day but something always comes up at least one day -- bad weather, work commitments, errands, doctor appts., etc. So it averages out to about 4 days/week. Sometimes I only ride 2 or 3 days, but then sometimes I'll string together some 5-day weeks.

I don't sweat it if I have to drive a day or two, and use those days to restock clothes, food and supplies, and return dirty laundry. Also, my legs get worn out if I ride too many days in a row. Sometimes I just need a recovery day.
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Old 04-07-11 | 06:56 AM
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5/5 here
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Old 04-07-11 | 07:58 AM
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i shoot for all five, and have done so for the past couple weeks. sometimes things come up that make taking the train into work easier, so i can't say that i bike to work every single day of the work year, but i'm 5/5 most of the time.




Originally Posted by scroca
Now ask me the last time I went to the gas station.
yep. i've been car-free for 11 years. i remember using a gas pump once upon a time, but it's all such a distant hazy memory now.

Last edited by Steely Dan; 04-07-11 at 08:01 AM.
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Old 04-07-11 | 08:00 AM
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If you have the flu, what the HELL are you doing going to work? That's irresponsible. I have never had a boss that wouldn't chase my ass back out of the building if I came in.

As for light illnesses, if I'm well enough to be at work, I'll be better off if I ride. I'm much more alert and feel better after riding, even if I'm not 100% well, or haven't had enough sleep.

I don't really care about the weather. I will drive if it's truly miserable, which right now I define as more than about 3 inches of wet, slippery snow. Rain I don't care about. I wouldn't ride in heavy fog if all I had was run-of-the-mill taillights either, but with 3 Superflashes and a MagicShine tail plus reflective vest, I feel OK. I am about to order a 2nd MagicShine tail though.

I'll also drive if I need to go to the home improvement store and pick up a few hundred pounds of building supplies. It's silly not to since it's 11 miles to work and the store is 2 miles PAST work.
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Old 04-07-11 | 08:01 AM
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avg 2-3 days a week...
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