At my new job, there are quite a few cyclists. I'm the only one in my department's shift that commutes by bike that I know of. (Though there are about 5 other bicycles that share the bike cage with my bike overnight) Some of the other cyclists and I were shooting the breeze during a slow period, and one said that he only lived 3 miles from the hospital. I asked, "Why don't you commute on your bike?"

"Oh, it's too short of a distance. It's just not worth it to bother for any distance under five miles."

LOL. Used to live less than 3 mi by bike and about 3 1/2 by car. I would ride straight to work in the mornings, 3-5 at lunch, then made the ride home 6-8. Averaged 12 mi per day. The nice thing about that is you can easily cut your ride short if you're not feeling up to it.

Years before, when I was driving the 3 1/2 mi to work a coworker berated me about not car pooling. She lived 20 mi or so from work. As we talked some more it turned out she drove 5 mi to her car pool point solo before actually car pooling. I had to laugh.

Yeah and on the other side of the coin, if the same coworker was living 5 miles from work and you as them, "Why don't they commute by bike?", I bet the answer is "I don't want to sweat by the time I get to work."

If the only reason they ride is to train, then I can understand the mindset. I just like to ride, so even my 1 mile to the grocery store is a good reason to get on my bike.

The mindset still doesn't hold water. Just because the shortest distance is less than x miles, doesn't mean that one can't take a longer route....especially after work.

Excuses are like...well you know.

I live 3.25 miles from work. It usually takes me 6.8 or 9.8 miles to get here and anywhere from 3.25 to 8 miles to get home. As my boss pointed out one morning, I like to get lost on the way to/from work.

When I bike, I get sweaty. I do understand not wanting to go just a little bit. That's why I often get lost on my way too work.

I heard something similar from the neighbour who works exactly 2km away (I know the distance because I bike to the bookstore located in the same building). The route is a straight line, flat, and is already popular with cycling commuters so the drivers are accustomed to us but she'd rather drive. Sweat is possible but if I take it slowly the ride is dryer and maybe 2 minutes longer.

Echoing this. Way too many people equate cycling with full spandex, proprietary shoes, gloves, and two full water bottles. For most of them it takes probably half an our of prep just to get on the bike. I know way too many cyclists like this.

When she says "it's not worth it", does she mean "it's not enough exercise" or "it's not enough joy of riding", or does she mean "I just WALK for short hops like this" or "I already have a season bus pass anyway, so I just use that."? If she takes the car that distance, she is in serious need of a brain transplant.

It's a he. He drives, I believe.

I can see it if they walk that far instead of driving.

I used to not take my motorcycle if I wasn't going that far. I'd either take off and go for a longer ride for the fun of it (that didn't go over too well when the folks were waiting for me to show up for dinner) or drive.

+1. I'd call them on it, personally. "Too far to bike, huh? So I take it you walk?"