View Poll Results: Do you ever commute at night?
Yes I do, every ride



29
37.18%
No I don't



3
3.85%
Occasionally



47
60.26%
Multiple Choice Poll. Voters: 78. You may not vote on this poll
Do you ever commute at night?
#27
Not safe for work


Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 2,123
Likes: 8
From: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Bikes: KHS Town and Country 100 & Jamis Durango Femme 1.0
I used to ride in the dark 3 times a week most of the year because of shifts that ended between 8-10 pm. During the late evening the roads are much less hectic and I'd get home 5 or 10 minutes earlier than during rush hour. I think the earliest in the morning I ever left home with my bike was around 6:45 and it was still dark out but the sky lightened considerably during those commutes. Too bad I was too sleepy and caffeine deprived to enjoy them.
#32
born again cyclist
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 2,412
Likes: 88
From: Chicago
Bikes: I have five of brikes
that would depend on the city.
this is the city i ride through in the "dark" in the winter months. "dark" is in quotes because it never actually ever gets dark in chicago, just the ubiquitous orange glow of the sodium street lights.
this is the city i ride through in the "dark" in the winter months. "dark" is in quotes because it never actually ever gets dark in chicago, just the ubiquitous orange glow of the sodium street lights.
#34
Plays in traffic
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 6,971
Likes: 15
From: Rochester, NY
Bikes: 1996 Litespeed Classic, 2006 Trek Portland, 2013 Ribble Winter/Audax, 2016 Giant Talon 4
I too chose "Occasionally", but "Seasonally" would be a better description. Every commute home in after dark in Standard Time. In Daylight Time, twice a week for about a month or so before/after the switch to/from Standard Time.
#35
Yes. I rotate to a shift where I get off at 10PM, every two weeks. SO I commute in the dark half of the time.
#37
Unlisted member
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 6,192
Likes: 435
From: Chicagoland
Bikes: Specialized Hardrock
#38
Senior Member
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 506
Likes: 6
From: Omaha, Ne
Bikes: Trek Belleville, Workcycles opa, Schwinn
Same thing with me. While I commute at night half of the year, it is not exactly "dark". More of a murky orange. I do love the LATE nights when I commute home at 1am. I almost have many roads to myself.
#39
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 766
Likes: 0
From: Columbia, Maryland
Bikes: Trek 820 mtb, A no name red steel pipe bike, my commuter
I commute in the early morning when it is still dark. There is a window of light for about 2 weeks in June, then it is mostly dark gray and finally dark again. We are already heading back into the darkness.
#40
invisible friend
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 955
Likes: 0
From: Decatur, Alabama
Bikes: Gary Fisher Tassajara hardtail mtb, '01 Rans Wave, '98 Raleigh R700, Mid-80's Takara Professional, '91 Bianchi Alfana
I work swing 12 shifts from 5:45 to 5:45, so yes, especially during the colder months with shorter periods of sunlight, I'm travelling in the dark both ways.
#41
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 2,285
Likes: 1
From: Kherson, Ukraine
Bikes: Old steel GT's, for touring and commuting
Do you ever commute at night?
I work night shift at a hospital, in Seattle. Most of the year my commute into work is in darkness. Sometimes my ride home in the morning it is still dark.
I work night shift at a hospital, in Seattle. Most of the year my commute into work is in darkness. Sometimes my ride home in the morning it is still dark.
#42
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 1,965
Likes: 6
From: Falls City, OR
Bikes: 2012 Salsa Fargo 2, Rocky Mountain Fusion, circa '93
#43
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 1,536
Likes: 4
From: central ohio
Bikes: 96 gary fisher 'utopia' : 99 Softride 'Norwester'(for sale), 1972 Raleigh Twenty. Surly 1x1 converted to 1x8, 96 Turner Burner

I do it every morning. My commute starts at 4am. The temperature on this day was 10 degrees. The headlight is a Romisen RC-N3 bought in 2007. It's a great, cheap light for commuting at night.
Last edited by scoatw; 08-05-11 at 05:05 PM.
#45
nashcommguy
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 2,499
Likes: 0
From: nashville, tn
Bikes: Commuters: Fuji Delray road, Fuji Discovery mtb...Touring: Softride Traveler...Road: C-dale SR300
As changes come w/t seasons I find myself riding at least one leg of my commute in the dark. Worked 2nd shift for years and prefer it to any other. No waking to an alarm and the ride home always has less traffic.
Sometimes, when living urban I would just go for rides around the city for no reason other than to ride. W/a rural existence now I often take night rides on the Natchez Trace Parkway. It's a national park that's bike friendly and has a speed limit of 40 mph. When the moon is full one doesn't even need a headlight.
Sometimes, when living urban I would just go for rides around the city for no reason other than to ride. W/a rural existence now I often take night rides on the Natchez Trace Parkway. It's a national park that's bike friendly and has a speed limit of 40 mph. When the moon is full one doesn't even need a headlight.
#46
Slogging along
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 1,148
Likes: 0
From: San Fernando Valley, SoCal
Bikes: Cannondale Synapse '06, Mongoose titanium road bike '00--my commuter. Yes, Mongoose once made a decent ti road bike.
I am also one of those "Seasonally" guys. I need to be at work by 6:30 AM so during the dark portion of the year, I commute in the, well, dark.
#47
In fact I'm thinking of doing an all night ride soon. Leave about midnight, get back around 6AM. Just a tour around the city. Have the road mostly to myself, get some nighttime pics, grab something to eat about 4AM. Not this weekend though, payday weekend and to many drunks on the road.





