View Poll Results: given your current life circumstances, How long a commute would you do?
half an hour



6
4.72%
up to an hour, maybe a little more



75
59.06%
1-2 hours



30
23.62%
2-4 hours



8
6.30%
as long as it takes



8
6.30%
Voters: 127. You may not vote on this poll
How long a commute would you do?
#26
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 116
Likes: 0
From: Philly
I average 45 minutes each way which is about right. Nice days I can lengthen it out on the way home, but when I have to get in early it's not too big of a drag--plus it's just as fast as the train + walk to work, and I think driving + finding a parking spot would probably take just about as long/longer, I passed a motorcycle near the house this morning and he didn't catch up to me until I was 3/4 of the way to work.....
I don't think I'd ever go much more than 15 miles each way (it's 11-12 depending on the route now), but that's largely because I don't want to live way out in the 'burbs and I'd rather sacrifice some housing space for proximity to job/entertainment/fun.
I don't think I'd ever go much more than 15 miles each way (it's 11-12 depending on the route now), but that's largely because I don't want to live way out in the 'burbs and I'd rather sacrifice some housing space for proximity to job/entertainment/fun.
#27
Ha! Carlotta, my biking cap is off to you! 11 miles in 45 minutes? yikes! my 6 mile commute takes me 40 minutes!
__________________
"Think of bicycles as rideable art that can just about save the world". ~Grant Petersen
Cyclists fare best when they recognize that there are times when acting vehicularly is not the best practice, and are flexible enough to do what is necessary as the situation warrants.--Me
"Think of bicycles as rideable art that can just about save the world". ~Grant Petersen
Cyclists fare best when they recognize that there are times when acting vehicularly is not the best practice, and are flexible enough to do what is necessary as the situation warrants.--Me
#28
When I just started out riding, I was doing a 13 mile (26 mile) commute to post. On my mountain bike that was taking about an hour, to an hour and 15. Nowadays - many, many years later: I'd say I could push out a 25 mile one way in an hour and a half. Depending on the ride home, I could still find an excuse to add another 15 and still keep it easily under 3 hours
SO I went with whatever it takes, but I think my maximum daily range I would consider is about 50 miles away.

SO I went with whatever it takes, but I think my maximum daily range I would consider is about 50 miles away.
#29
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 116
Likes: 0
From: Philly

Most of it is MUP, so as long as I leave the house early enough to avoid runners/trail congestion, it's smooth sailing, if I had to deal with traffic/lights/etc it'd take quite a bit longer.
#30
born again cyclist
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 2,412
Likes: 88
From: Chicago
Bikes: I have five of brikes
my current commute is around 45-50 minutes each way. and that's about as much time as i like to dedicate every day to commuting. i suppose an hour or a little bit more would be my max one-way commute time.
#31
Will ride anywhere
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 180
Likes: 0
From: Louisvlle, KY
Bikes: 2009 Trek XO-1, 2006 Trek 7000
#32
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 checked 1-2 hours because that's what my one-way time is currently. When it was about 40 minutes (7 miles) each way I commuted most of the time. At about 1:15 (17 miles) for my new office, a couple times a week is good these days. This morning took 1:40 due to a flooded river crossing. Still beats driving. 
Part of the problem is that in January we became empty nesters. We have dogs, though, and if my wife is working late I feel like I need to get home ASAP to attend to them at the end of the day. (When my son was still home, he could take care of them.) With that, it's been tough to commute as often as I'd like. The distance isn't the killer, it's the extra time in the afternoon.

Part of the problem is that in January we became empty nesters. We have dogs, though, and if my wife is working late I feel like I need to get home ASAP to attend to them at the end of the day. (When my son was still home, he could take care of them.) With that, it's been tough to commute as often as I'd like. The distance isn't the killer, it's the extra time in the afternoon.
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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.
"However, it's never a good idea to overgeneralize."
Last edited by Doohickie; 04-11-11 at 10:02 AM.
#33
Infamous Member
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 24,360
Likes: 6
From: Ohio
Bikes: Surly Big Dummy, Fuji World, 80ish Bianchi
2 hours total time is about my limit. That translates to 30 miles each way max on just the bike, or a multi-modal commute of over 30 miles.
__________________
"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
#34
I picked an hour but that is pushing it. My winter commute is about 45 minutes which is longer than I like. The rest of the year it's 30 or less but on the way home I'll take a longer route a couple of times a week. I don't mind a longer ride on most days but it's more time than I want to commit to getting to and from work.
On a good day I can get to work in 25 minutes, so about 50 minutes on the bike per day with the option to go longer. I think that's about perfect. It's long enough that I feel like I've earned my snickers bar and short enough that I feel I'm not giving up any time over not choosing to drive.
On a good day I can get to work in 25 minutes, so about 50 minutes on the bike per day with the option to go longer. I think that's about perfect. It's long enough that I feel like I've earned my snickers bar and short enough that I feel I'm not giving up any time over not choosing to drive.
Last edited by tjspiel; 04-11-11 at 10:56 AM.
#35
Senior Member

Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 848
Likes: 21
From: Fort Collins CO
Bikes: Kona Dew, Kona Ute, Salsa Timberjack, Salsa Fargo, New belgium brewery cruisers-2014 and 2009 and 2007
anymore than an hour a day by any mode of transportation and I'm moving closer to work. right now it is at the most 30 minutes and that makes me very happy.
#37
born again cyclist
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 2,412
Likes: 88
From: Chicago
Bikes: I have five of brikes
bike: 45-50 minutes one way
train: 50-55 minutes one way
car: 35-60 minutes one way (bigger time window because traffic on LSD is so predictably unpredictable)
#38
Senior Member

Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 3,077
Likes: 4
From: Cary, NC
Bikes: 1983 Trek 500, 2002 Lemond Zurich, 2023 Litespeed Watia
If my one-way bike commute were to exceed 30-40 minutes, there would be fewer days of the week that I could spare the time compared to motoring. Currently my bike commute is 25 minutes but I take the long way home some days if I have time.
The time to change clothes, plus the extra travel time, competes with other family and work needs between dropping off the kids at school and getting home for dinner. I can justify an extra 30-45 minutes a day to "get in my ride" instead of motoring but not much more than that.
The time to change clothes, plus the extra travel time, competes with other family and work needs between dropping off the kids at school and getting home for dinner. I can justify an extra 30-45 minutes a day to "get in my ride" instead of motoring but not much more than that.
#41
Arizona Dessert

Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 15,029
Likes: 2,170
From: AZ
Bikes: Cannondale SuperSix, Lemond Poprad. Retired: Jamis Sputnik, Centurion LeMans Fixed, Diamond Back ascent ex
Part of the reason for my 45min limit is the weather.
It's just not possible to have that much exposure combined with hard physical exercise when it is 115F outside.
It's just not possible to have that much exposure combined with hard physical exercise when it is 115F outside.
#42
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 737
Likes: 0
From: Edmonton, Canada
I'm assuming we're talking one-way. I put a 1/2 hour. Any longer than that and I'm moving or turning the job down. My free time is just too important.
I've done commutes of 45 minutes to an hour, but only for summer jobs while I was in school. I also tended to take the bus far more frequently when I lived that far away.
I've done commutes of 45 minutes to an hour, but only for summer jobs while I was in school. I also tended to take the bus far more frequently when I lived that far away.
Last edited by neil; 04-11-11 at 02:38 PM.
#43
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 141
Likes: 0
From: Morrisville, NC
Bikes: Raleigh Mojave 4.0, Univega Via Carisma
Right now I do about 40 minutes one way (10 miles) but could do a my shortest 3 miler in about 12 mins. I am considering moving which would make my commute more like 20-25 miles. At that point I think I would have to limit the number of days I ride or get my wife to pick me up on her way home from work and just ride one way.
#44
I currently do 30 minutes in the morning and longer in evenings so an hour or so wouldn't be to much of a stretch for me. I'd just need more food, pants and shorts.
#45
I just started commuting after a 2 year hiatus. I was cycling in Raleigh, NC for 3 years but now I am in Seattle...lots more hills and this, a lot more slow going. I am doing approximately 22 miles one-way from Seattle to Kent. I did my first ride this past Friday and took just over 2 hours. I expect the time to improve as I do it more and because I just switched out my 700x40 tires for some 700x28 Specialized Armadillo's...should improve my efficiency
Looking to do this commute 3-4 days per week.
Looking to do this commute 3-4 days per week.
#46
For a consistent daily commute I like my current distance- 10.2 miles with a shorter 8 mile option when I need it. That gives me a round trip of 20 miles per day. If I were a fair weather commuter with maybe a max of 2 or 3 days a week I could go for a 30 mile each way commute. Since I use my bike as a primary means of local transport that means in addition to my 20 mile round trip commute I'll add on anywhere from another mile or two to ten or more on most days. So adding more miles to just my commute can mean a lot of total miles in a day.
#47
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 4,599
Likes: 158
From: Santa Fe, NM
Bikes: Vassago Moosknuckle Ti 29+ XTR, 90's Merckx Corsa-01 9sp Record, PROJECT: 1954 Frejus SuperCorsa
I'd go for up to 90 minutes or so, but couldn't see the practicality of any longer (I'd move closer). 3 hours a day on the bike is a tall order to maintain 5 days a week. I guess if the commute involved a longish section of rural roads that would make a difference to me.
Realistically, my biggest hurdle would be wake up time. I generally prefer to get 8 hours of sleep - particularly in the Winter, and am not very good at waking up. My deepest sleep tends to occur in the hours before 6AM, so anything earlier than 5:30 or so would be really tough for me to sustain.
Realistically, my biggest hurdle would be wake up time. I generally prefer to get 8 hours of sleep - particularly in the Winter, and am not very good at waking up. My deepest sleep tends to occur in the hours before 6AM, so anything earlier than 5:30 or so would be really tough for me to sustain.
#48
Just started commuting. I was initially going 10.5 miles each way and taking about 50 minutes but added another 2.5 miles for a better route. I'm now at about an hour average, +/- 15 mins depending on conditions and I'm happy with that. However I leave home 1.5 hours before my shift starts to factor in clean up/changing time. Not sure if this poll considers such things as preparation. Either way, the extra time on the bike saves me time otherwise spent on exercising later in the day so I think I come out on top.
#49
I voted an hour. Hopefully this is correct because I'm about to start a job thats about 15 miles away. Its an awesome job, but physical. Not much rest time once I'm done biking. The amount of time or distance doesn't concern me, its the fatigue.
#50
I opted for the "as long as it takes". My current job pays better than anything else I might find in the current job market. When I was driving it, it was roughly 1 hour r/t. Now that I've been forced to give up driving due to medical reasons, my multi-modal commute takes me around 4 hours r/t daily, 5 days a week.



