Am I a commuter?
 

I retired a few years ago and recently started riding my bike again. I try to ride my road bike 10-20 miles several days a week and I ride my hybrid to the post office daily. The round trip to the post office is only 6 miles, but is my only steady "job" right now...so, am I a commuter or just a wannabe?

I wouldn't worry about labels. I hope I am still healthy enough to do that when I retire.

Wikipedia says Commuting is "...regular travel between one's place of residence and place of work or full-time study. " So I would say you are a commuter. :)

You forgot to post the next sentence :):

"It sometimes refers to any regular or often repeated traveling between locations, even when not work-related."

It doesn't matter. Just ride your bike and enjoy it. Don't worry about what other people think.

In my view, labels aren't important, but "commuters" tend to deal with a range of issues that you might share. For instance: 1) Dealing with a fixed route and schedule regardless of weather. 2) The bike / work interface -- parking, clothing, etc. 3) Sometimes carrying cargo. 3) Urban cycling in general.

This. For purposes of participation at Bike Forums, I'm guessing the commuting subforum will be a place you visit often because whether you are going to work or a volunteer position or the post office, we all face the same issues that [MENTION=386586]Gresp15C[/MENTION] mentions.

No, you are not a BF-recognized legitimate commuter until you win your first Cat 6 race.

I work from home and don't have a regular workplace to go to every day. Most of my riding is for transportation, not fun or exercise, though incidentally, I get a lot of fun and exercise from it. This is why I like this commuting section of bikeforums. I have a lot in common with folks here.

OP - To find out whether you are a commuter or not, send a "request for classification" to your Regional Director of Bike Commuter Association. Or you can just do what most of us do here: posting on the Commuting Forum. Once you have 100 posts, you are automatically qualified as a Commuter (Note: Actual bike riding isn't required). Cheer.

I don't think you're a commuter or even a wannabe commuter. Sorry. But I don't hold it against you.
Why do you ride to the post office daily? Do all your neighbours also visit it daily, and drive there? That seems like a lot of driving.

It's a commute to the post office. Welcome to the club.

You are if you want to be. Heck, you can be a UFO if you say you are.

You're a commuter in my book.

I can think of two types of bike riding:

1: Riding just to ride, for the enjoyment. Be it on a MTB trail, on a tour, or just doing circles around town.

2: Riding from point A to point B

if you do any of the latter, I'd consider it bike commuting.

I hereby declare thee a commuter.

+1. I think it's kind of a stretch as well, but hey, you're riding regularly which is better than a lot of people do. My plan is to retire somewhat early, and don't expect to call myself a "commuter" anymore after that point. Even though I do plan to ride regularly, and a lot of those trips will be to the same spots. (Does one "commute" to the bar?) :thumb:

Don't think for a moment that the decision here as to whether or not you're a commuter affects our willingness to accept you as a member to this forum, please join us. Whether or not your trips to the post office or not are considered commuting, you're still going to encounter many of the same experiences that we experience here and we will all benefit from your participation.

Is it fiction? :)

Of course.

Well, there you have it. It doesn't get any more authoritative than that :)

To me, the key thing is using your bike for transportation to a desired destination. If you use your bike that way, everyone would agree this is a good forum to post in. BUT last year there was a thread about what miles to count in the commuting mileage thread, and the majority of people seemed to agree you only get to count miles to/from work. I like the broader definition of commute, meaning to change locations, as in the commutative property. Largely because it would let me count 15% more miles in that $&@ thread!

Agree. You arent doing it to train for races, or mountain biking. so.....


Same, i do not A-B ride, i ride all over the place all day, usually not the same place more than once a week aside from grocery store.


At the very least, going to the post office falls under the "utility" cycling subtype, which is under the commuting umbrella in real life. There are people who have cargo specific bicycles & trailers etc, but that may be employment specific.

I second that. Welcome!

- Andy

The action in the noisy bar grinds to a halt. The piano player keeps his jaunty tune jangling for another two seconds and ceases suddenly, cringing. At the poker table, one player drops his hand and stares, his toothpick hanging. Two of the girls in the back put their heads together and make a comment you can't hear. The bartender stops polishing his glass. Across from him, the dusty cowboy doesn't look at you, but opens the snap on his holster.

"daily" - keyword

Yes.

So, the big question: Will he or she be back to check our answers?

This past spring a new spur/branch was opened on one of the local MUPs. Although I've been retired for a few years... I immediately realized the new path would allow bicycling to my former employers without having to tackle the multiple lanes of very heavy traffic.

The very next decent (weekend) day I rode the MUP over to the entrance gate of my former employer to check it out. I used a camera timer app on my phone to get a great selfie of me on the bicycle in front of the gate.

I realize that many if not most bicycle commuters sometimes take public transportation or even a car in winter months or when other plans/functions conflict with the bicycling. I know of NO specific minimum number of bicycle commutes that qualifies a person as a bicycle commuter. Even cyclists that only bicycle to work on occasions... when it may be both desirable and convenient... are considered bicycle commuters.

I posted my bicycling commuter selfie image on the social media I prefer...... declaring myself as a bicycle commuter. I think I'll bicycle in and visit my friends still at work on the "bicycle to work day" next spring.

You're not a commuter - you're what the commuters wannabe (retired and riding their bicycles).

Since you weren't going to work....

By the way this discussion is all in fun. It doesn't matter a damn how you define a bicycle commuter or if there is even a consensus.

I think Darth Lefty's dusty cowboy may have gotten him or her.