Author Topic: Biking to work? How far is too far?  (Read 5699 times)

jscully81

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Biking to work? How far is too far?
« on: October 20, 2019, 11:26:29 AM »
How far is too far?

I've been blessed with an incredible opportunity to work 3.2 miles from home for a significant salary (for me at least). I would love to get rid of my truck, or downgrade to a smaller car and bike to work.

The concern isn't the distance, I'm in good shape and exercise every day. The thing is, if I were to bike to work, some of the roads don't have sidewalks so I'd be biking on the shoulder. I'm perfectly okay doing that, it's the drivers I'm worried about. Somewhat small town in South Jersey. Lot of awful drivers.

How far do you bike to work? Anyone deal with anything similar? Is 3 miles too much? Would appreciate feedback!

BikeFanatic

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Re: Biking to work? How far is too far?
« Reply #1 on: October 20, 2019, 11:43:04 AM »
I have been  bike commuter for 18-20 years. IMO the distance is not as imporatant as the roads you ride on. I got so sick of my inner city bike commute becasue of the hazzadous roads the ENTIRE 4 MILES. But I still did it. Later I moved and took a very diiferent route, longer however 1/2 was bike path so pretty mellow and interesting scenery.  3 miles is nothing but on busy roads not pleasant  maybe very dangerous. Can you look on google earth and find an alternative route?

PS I knew a guy who would cut through closed grave yard, a golf course,  and even contruction sites, just  to be off road, when I ride with him it takes twice as long to get to work but it is interesting .
Good luck stay safe.

jscully81

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Re: Biking to work? How far is too far?
« Reply #2 on: October 20, 2019, 11:51:20 AM »
I have been  bike commuter for 18-20 years. IMO the distance is not as imporatant as the roads you ride on. I got so sick of my inner city bike commute becasue of the hazzadous roads the ENTIRE 4 MILES. But I still did it. Later I moved and took a very diiferent route, longer however 1/2 was bike path so pretty mellow and interesting scenery.  3 miles is nothing but on busy roads not pleasant  maybe very dangerous. Can you look on google earth and find an alternative route?

PS I knew a guy who would cut through closed grave yard, a golf course,  and even contruction sites, just  to be off road, when I ride with him it takes twice as long to get to work but it is interesting .
Good luck stay safe.

Thanks! This is actually really helpful and confirmed what I thought. The 3 miles is cake. It's really the roads. I'm going to look up a few different routes but as of right now I can't think of one that has either a bike lane or sidewalks. It's not heavy traffic but enough to be a bit concerning.

Thanks for the feedback!

PaulMaxime

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Re: Biking to work? How far is too far?
« Reply #3 on: October 20, 2019, 12:07:07 PM »
The thing is, if I were to bike to work, some of the roads don't have sidewalks so I'd be biking on the shoulder.

You should never ride on sidewalks anyway. The bicycle is a vehicle and is meant to be ridden on the street. Stay to the right as far as is practical and go in the same direction as traffic.

Sidewalks are pretty dangerous anyway. People pulling out of driveways don't expect to see a fast traveling vehicle coming down the sidewalk and will not see you. Pedestrians are way more unpredictable than cars.

jscully81

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Re: Biking to work? How far is too far?
« Reply #4 on: October 20, 2019, 12:13:42 PM »
The thing is, if I were to bike to work, some of the roads don't have sidewalks so I'd be biking on the shoulder.

You should never ride on sidewalks anyway. The bicycle is a vehicle and is meant to be ridden on the street. Stay to the right as far as is practical and go in the same direction as traffic.

Sidewalks are pretty dangerous anyway. People pulling out of driveways don't expect to see a fast traveling vehicle coming down the sidewalk and will not see you. Pedestrians are way more unpredictable than cars.

Hmm, I understand what you're saying but I'm not too sure about never riding on sidewalks.  Not too many people walk places around here, hence the lack of sidewalks. They would be empty when I would be on them. But that said, the roads are a bit narrow. The shoulders can barely fit a bike, just not sure how comfortable I'd be with cars flying past me on a narrow road.

35andFI

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Re: Biking to work? How far is too far?
« Reply #5 on: October 20, 2019, 12:23:58 PM »
I’m live in central Jersey and bike commute ~4.5 miles each way.

Sidewalks in the city are different from sidewalks elsewhere.
If you have to ride on a sidewalk to stay off of a busy road with no shoulder, and there are no township ordinances against it, go for it. I do.

There are certain places where you legally can’t ride on the side walk but those places are usually busier cities or downtown areas and traffic moves slower. Plus in these cases, there is usually some sort of cycling infrastructure.

jscully81

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Re: Biking to work? How far is too far?
« Reply #6 on: October 20, 2019, 01:11:48 PM »
I’m live in central Jersey and bike commute ~4.5 miles each way.

Sidewalks in the city are different from sidewalks elsewhere.
If you have to ride on a sidewalk to stay off of a busy road with no shoulder, and there are no township ordinances against it, go for it. I do.

There are certain places where you legally can’t ride on the side walk but those places are usually busier cities or downtown areas and traffic moves slower. Plus in these cases, there is usually some sort of cycling infrastructure.

Yep, this describes the situation pretty well. No ordinances against bike riding on sidewalks and it's not a busy city where there's a lot of foot traffic. Hardly any, truly. So the sidewalks are a good option, just that there are sidewalks for maybe 1/4 of the ride.

Btw, how is the 4.5 miles? How long does it take?

35andFI

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Re: Biking to work? How far is too far?
« Reply #7 on: October 20, 2019, 02:17:50 PM »
I’m live in central Jersey and bike commute ~4.5 miles each way.

Sidewalks in the city are different from sidewalks elsewhere.
If you have to ride on a sidewalk to stay off of a busy road with no shoulder, and there are no township ordinances against it, go for it. I do.

There are certain places where you legally can’t ride on the side walk but those places are usually busier cities or downtown areas and traffic moves slower. Plus in these cases, there is usually some sort of cycling infrastructure.

Yep, this describes the situation pretty well. No ordinances against bike riding on sidewalks and it's not a busy city where there's a lot of foot traffic. Hardly any, truly. So the sidewalks are a good option, just that there are sidewalks for maybe 1/4 of the ride.

Btw, how is the 4.5 miles? How long does it take?

The 4.5 miles is great! Seems like a perfect distance for me.
I don’t time it but I think it takes around 20-25 minutes.

I ride 4.5 miles to work, then 2.5 miles to the gym, then 5 miles home for a total of 12 miles a day.

jscully81

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Re: Biking to work? How far is too far?
« Reply #8 on: October 20, 2019, 02:35:56 PM »
I’m live in central Jersey and bike commute ~4.5 miles each way.

Sidewalks in the city are different from sidewalks elsewhere.
If you have to ride on a sidewalk to stay off of a busy road with no shoulder, and there are no township ordinances against it, go for it. I do.

There are certain places where you legally can’t ride on the side walk but those places are usually busier cities or downtown areas and traffic moves slower. Plus in these cases, there is usually some sort of cycling infrastructure.

Yep, this describes the situation pretty well. No ordinances against bike riding on sidewalks and it's not a busy city where there's a lot of foot traffic. Hardly any, truly. So the sidewalks are a good option, just that there are sidewalks for maybe 1/4 of the ride.

Btw, how is the 4.5 miles? How long does it take?

The 4.5 miles is great! Seems like a perfect distance for me.
I don’t time it but I think it takes around 20-25 minutes.

I ride 4.5 miles to work, then 2.5 miles to the gym, then 5 miles home for a total of 12 miles a day.

Wow. That's awesome! The bike riding sounds like good exercise by itself. Thankfully, ,the job I'm about to accept, has a gym literally next door. Thinking about switching to that one so I can knock out both (unfortunately don't have the room at home for a home gym).

Just thought of another question as well. Does riding at night concern you? Do you wear anything reflective?

Thanks again!

RetiredAt63

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Re: Biking to work? How far is too far?
« Reply #9 on: October 20, 2019, 03:41:21 PM »
I’m live in central Jersey and bike commute ~4.5 miles each way.

Sidewalks in the city are different from sidewalks elsewhere.
If you have to ride on a sidewalk to stay off of a busy road with no shoulder, and there are no township ordinances against it, go for it. I do.

There are certain places where you legally can’t ride on the side walk but those places are usually busier cities or downtown areas and traffic moves slower. Plus in these cases, there is usually some sort of cycling infrastructure.

Yep, this describes the situation pretty well. No ordinances against bike riding on sidewalks and it's not a busy city where there's a lot of foot traffic. Hardly any, truly. So the sidewalks are a good option, just that there are sidewalks for maybe 1/4 of the ride.

Btw, how is the 4.5 miles? How long does it take?

The 4.5 miles is great! Seems like a perfect distance for me.
I don’t time it but I think it takes around 20-25 minutes.

I ride 4.5 miles to work, then 2.5 miles to the gym, then 5 miles home for a total of 12 miles a day.

Wow. That's awesome! The bike riding sounds like good exercise by itself. Thankfully, ,the job I'm about to accept, has a gym literally next door. Thinking about switching to that one so I can knock out both (unfortunately don't have the room at home for a home gym).

Just thought of another question as well. Does riding at night concern you? Do you wear anything reflective?

Thanks again!

Please wear reflective clothes, get lots of bike lights, everything.  I can't count how often as a driver I have come upon a cyclist at the last minute because they were invisible in the dark.  Plus the one time I almost hit a cyclist, it was when I was turning left into a driveway.  The cyclist was on the sidewalk, hidden by parked cars.  Good test of both our reflexes.

35andFI

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Re: Biking to work? How far is too far?
« Reply #10 on: October 20, 2019, 04:30:54 PM »
I’m live in central Jersey and bike commute ~4.5 miles each way.

Sidewalks in the city are different from sidewalks elsewhere.
If you have to ride on a sidewalk to stay off of a busy road with no shoulder, and there are no township ordinances against it, go for it. I do.

There are certain places where you legally can’t ride on the side walk but those places are usually busier cities or downtown areas and traffic moves slower. Plus in these cases, there is usually some sort of cycling infrastructure.

Yep, this describes the situation pretty well. No ordinances against bike riding on sidewalks and it's not a busy city where there's a lot of foot traffic. Hardly any, truly. So the sidewalks are a good option, just that there are sidewalks for maybe 1/4 of the ride.

Btw, how is the 4.5 miles? How long does it take?

The 4.5 miles is great! Seems like a perfect distance for me.
I don’t time it but I think it takes around 20-25 minutes.

I ride 4.5 miles to work, then 2.5 miles to the gym, then 5 miles home for a total of 12 miles a day.

Wow. That's awesome! The bike riding sounds like good exercise by itself. Thankfully, ,the job I'm about to accept, has a gym literally next door. Thinking about switching to that one so I can knock out both (unfortunately don't have the room at home for a home gym).

Just thought of another question as well. Does riding at night concern you? Do you wear anything reflective?

Thanks again!

The cycling is great cardio but doesn’t take the place of weight lifting. I still do legs too!
Getting that gym membership next to work sounds like it would work well.
Plus, you can use their showers if you don’t have them at your work.

Riding at night does not concern me since I purchased great lights (niterider solas 250 for the rear and niterider 1200 boost for the front). I also have a bright red backpack with reflective stripes that I’m usually wearing.

Just make sure that you ride with the flow of traffic whenever possible.
« Last Edit: October 20, 2019, 04:33:22 PM by 35andFI »

Boofinator

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Re: Biking to work? How far is too far?
« Reply #11 on: October 20, 2019, 05:53:39 PM »
How far is too far is very cyclist-specific, and of course can be increased. Regardless, 3.5 miles shouldn't be too far for anybody who has any kind of shape. (To give an anecdote, when I first rode 20 miles to work I was as sore as I've ever been doing anything in my life; the second time I was sore, but at least I could still walk; since then things have gotten progressively easier, where now the 40-mile round trip is no big deal.)

But I don't think that answers the heart of your question. Good cycling infrastructure on your route to and from work is critical for an enjoyable ride, in my opinion. I ride bike paths where possible, but otherwise only ride on roads with good shoulders. When lanes get narrow enough to where there is no safe space for a car to path, it turns rather more stressful than enjoyable for me.

Does your city have a cycling website? Mine has a large map of the city showing where designated bike lanes are, which has been key for me finding enjoyable routes.

35andFI

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Re: Biking to work? How far is too far?
« Reply #12 on: October 20, 2019, 06:30:35 PM »
How far is too far is very cyclist-specific, and of course can be increased. Regardless, 3.5 miles shouldn't be too far for anybody who has any kind of shape. (To give an anecdote, when I first rode 20 miles to work I was as sore as I've ever been doing anything in my life; the second time I was sore, but at least I could still walk; since then things have gotten progressively easier, where now the 40-mile round trip is no big deal.)

But I don't think that answers the heart of your question. Good cycling infrastructure on your route to and from work is critical for an enjoyable ride, in my opinion. I ride bike paths where possible, but otherwise only ride on roads with good shoulders. When lanes get narrow enough to where there is no safe space for a car to path, it turns rather more stressful than enjoyable for me.

Does your city have a cycling website? Mine has a large map of the city showing where designated bike lanes are, which has been key for me finding enjoyable routes.

Wow, 20 miles?? That’s awesome! How long does that take you?
I have the opportunity to move 20 miles away and save $200/mo in rent but I didn’t think I’d be able to make that commute.
I’d probably have to give up on the gym though. Don’t know how I’d have the time/energy.

jscully81

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Re: Biking to work? How far is too far?
« Reply #13 on: October 20, 2019, 07:45:11 PM »
Is there an app that tells you what the best bike route to take would be?

julia

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Re: Biking to work? How far is too far?
« Reply #14 on: October 20, 2019, 08:53:23 PM »
I cycled over 5000km once just to see Los Angeles ;) Took 2 months but was well worth it! Last summer my partner and I cycled 2500km across Europe, I made a fun video if you're interested: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6NT9s4bM990

But to answer your question, I once cycled 8km each way to work at 5:30am. The roads were traffic free, the air was crisp, and the world was quiet. Commute back home was not too friendly.
Now I cycle about 3km each way through city traffic with lots of construction. I find the construction makes it faster to get to work because I can go where cars can't.


Anoushka

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Re: Biking to work? How far is too far?
« Reply #15 on: October 20, 2019, 08:58:07 PM »
My husband uses the Strava app. It doesn't tell you which routes are the best, but you can see what routes other cyclists use and what their times are.
In our area, the cycling issues are aggressive drivers and topography. We only live about 3.5 miles from his office, but there is a huge ridge between our house and downtown. Cars use a tunnel, but it is absolutely not safe for cyclists, so he has to ride over the ridge, which is quite a challenge.

His solution to that has been to drive through the tunnel, park in a residential neighborhood and take quiet residential streets for the remaining 3 miles on his bike.
« Last Edit: October 20, 2019, 09:03:17 PM by Anoushka »

moof

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Re: Biking to work? How far is too far?
« Reply #16 on: October 20, 2019, 09:43:02 PM »
I used to have 7.5 mile commute each way, and I would say about 10 miles each way would be my limit.  Beyond that just sucks too much time.

Currently I am just over 3 miles from work, but I take a 4.5 mile route there to be able to stick to bike friendly roads, and take a 3.5 mile route home to avoid left hand turns on major roads.

The sad thing is that the new office has a much less efficient shower and locker room arrangement, so even though I am closer I get to my desk at the same time.

Not Sure

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Re: Biking to work? How far is too far?
« Reply #17 on: October 20, 2019, 11:20:24 PM »
My husband uses the Strava app. It doesn't tell you which routes are the best, but you can see what routes other cyclists use and what their times are.
In our area, the cycling issues are aggressive drivers and topography. We only live about 3.5 miles from his office, but there is a huge ridge between our house and downtown. Cars use a tunnel, but it is absolutely not safe for cyclists, so he has to ride over the ridge, which is quite a challenge.

His solution to that has been to drive through the tunnel, park in a residential neighborhood and take quiet residential streets for the remaining 3 miles on his bike.

Good suggestion!  The Strava heatmap is awesome for this.  https://www.strava.com/heatmap#7.00/-120.90000/38.36000/hot/all

Also, 3-miles is an easy bike commute unless there are complicating factors like a big hill or stout wind.  It's in walking range if you don't have to carry anything.

Boofinator

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Re: Biking to work? How far is too far?
« Reply #18 on: October 21, 2019, 08:27:31 AM »
How far is too far is very cyclist-specific, and of course can be increased. Regardless, 3.5 miles shouldn't be too far for anybody who has any kind of shape. (To give an anecdote, when I first rode 20 miles to work I was as sore as I've ever been doing anything in my life; the second time I was sore, but at least I could still walk; since then things have gotten progressively easier, where now the 40-mile round trip is no big deal.)

But I don't think that answers the heart of your question. Good cycling infrastructure on your route to and from work is critical for an enjoyable ride, in my opinion. I ride bike paths where possible, but otherwise only ride on roads with good shoulders. When lanes get narrow enough to where there is no safe space for a car to path, it turns rather more stressful than enjoyable for me.

Does your city have a cycling website? Mine has a large map of the city showing where designated bike lanes are, which has been key for me finding enjoyable routes.

Wow, 20 miles?? That’s awesome! How long does that take you?
I have the opportunity to move 20 miles away and save $200/mo in rent but I didn’t think I’d be able to make that commute.
I’d probably have to give up on the gym though. Don’t know how I’d have the time/energy.

I don't do it every day, but on average it's been taking me about 1 hour 15 minutes each way. When you add to that the required showers afterward, it takes about 1 hour 30 minutes. This compares with the bus ride I take most days when not riding, which is about 1 hour 5 minutes in the morning and 1 hour 30 minutes in the afternoon (both of which include a short 1-mile bike ride to/from my house to the bus stop). I've been averaging about three 20-mile bike trips per week (some days I throw my bike on the bus rack for the ride to or from work).

All of that being said, I wouldn't recommend a 20-mile bike commute each day (200 miles per week!). For me, I think no more than 5 miles each way would be the sweet spot. Unless you lived somewhere really warm, at this distance you probably wouldn't need a shower and a change of clothes when you get to work, so the bike commute starts getting really competitive time-wise with the clown car commute, so it wins in just about every aspect of the decision-making process.

PaulMaxime

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Re: Biking to work? How far is too far?
« Reply #19 on: October 21, 2019, 09:12:02 AM »
Is there an app that tells you what the best bike route to take would be?

I don't know about an app, but depending on where you live there are often old roads that go to the same places that the highways do and a little study of the map can find a good route.

I used to live in downtown Baltimore City near the harbor and once or twice a week I would bike commute to my job in Columbia, Md (about 20 miles away). At first glance there's nothing but highway. But with a little study I found a great route that led through parks and backroads. I loved that route. Little or no traffic along almost the entire thing.


35andFI

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Re: Biking to work? How far is too far?
« Reply #20 on: October 21, 2019, 09:33:54 AM »
Is there an app that tells you what the best bike route to take would be?

I don't know about an app, but depending on where you live there are often old roads that go to the same places that the highways do and a little study of the map can find a good route.

I used to live in downtown Baltimore City near the harbor and once or twice a week I would bike commute to my job in Columbia, Md (about 20 miles away). At first glance there's nothing but highway. But with a little study I found a great route that led through parks and backroads. I loved that route. Little or no traffic along almost the entire thing.

Agreed. I use Google maps bicycle directions to start with.
I like to use the satellite view to see any paths that might work for me.

Google maps gives decent suggestions but using the satellite view with a little bit of area knowledge, I can plan safer routes.

hadabeardonce

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Re: Biking to work? How far is too far?
« Reply #21 on: October 21, 2019, 09:36:07 AM »
How far is too far?
https://nypost.com/2018/07/07/google-engineer-uses-a-rowboat-to-commute-to-work-in-nyc/
Google engineer uses a rowboat to commute to work in NYC
he tows it with a bicycle as a part of his trek.

Boofinator

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35andFI

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Re: Biking to work? How far is too far?
« Reply #23 on: October 21, 2019, 09:46:14 AM »
How far is too far?
https://nypost.com/2018/07/07/google-engineer-uses-a-rowboat-to-commute-to-work-in-nyc/
Google engineer uses a rowboat to commute to work in NYC
he tows it with a bicycle as a part of his trek.

That's badass. Love it.

What cities are you guys living in? Here's some examples of city websites showing bicycle routes.

NYC: https://www1.nyc.gov/html/dot/html/bicyclists/bikemaps.shtml

LA: https://dpw.lacounty.gov/pdd/bike/map.cfm

Chicago: https://www.chicago.gov/city/en/depts/cdot/provdrs/bike/svcs/bike_maps.html

Baltimore: https://transportation.baltimorecity.gov/sites/default/files/Bike%20Baltimore%20Map.pdf

I'm right outside of downtown Princeton, NJ. Not exactly a city. I have to get creative with the bike routes.

GuitarStv

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Re: Biking to work? How far is too far?
« Reply #24 on: October 21, 2019, 09:50:40 AM »
I do 11 miles each way right now.  It's a good distance.  Under 5 miles wouldn't be as fun.  :P

Boofinator

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Re: Biking to work? How far is too far?
« Reply #25 on: October 21, 2019, 10:00:10 AM »
I'm right outside of downtown Princeton, NJ. Not exactly a city. I have to get creative with the bike routes.

Ask and ye shall receive:

https://www.princetonnj.gov/guide/getting-around-princeton

https://www.princetonnj.gov/resources/bicycle-maps

Boofinator

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Re: Biking to work? How far is too far?
« Reply #26 on: October 21, 2019, 10:09:31 AM »
I do 11 miles each way right now.  It's a good distance.  Under 5 miles wouldn't be as fun.  :P

I like 5 miles because it cuts out the logistics. No getting sweaty or snotty (summer vs winter), no bringing an extra change of clothes, etc. Under 5 miles, the decision of whether to bike or drive should be a no-brainer for most people, because you get the fun of riding the bike and the simplicity of just hopping on your vehicle and going, plus a little boost of exercise.

That being said, I enjoy my 20-mile rides, even though it adds significant time to my commute.

darkadams00

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Re: Biking to work? How far is too far?
« Reply #27 on: October 21, 2019, 07:13:18 PM »
8 miles each way most days. Twice a week I leave earlier and ride a 17.4 mile route to work. Can’t ride at the same time or in the afternoon on the longer route. The last four miles are basically 5 long hills with dual lanes, 25+ cars deep—doable but not enjoyable. The 8-mile route has several red lights, but it’s about exactly 30 mins most trips. Any longer would probably feel less than fun during temps < 25 degrees F or on rainy days. Given my experience and talks with other folks, I would say 10 miles one way seems to be about the max for most if they’re bike commuting more than once or twice a week. I don’t know anyone personally who’s biking that far daily.

PDXTabs

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Re: Biking to work? How far is too far?
« Reply #28 on: October 21, 2019, 08:17:40 PM »
How far is too far?

I've been blessed with an incredible opportunity to work 3.2 miles from home for a significant salary (for me at least). I would love to get rid of my truck, or downgrade to a smaller car and bike to work.

The average person can do 10 miles round trip with a little practice. I used to do 14 RT without complaining. But if the roads suck it may still be dis-spiriting.

Travis

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Re: Biking to work? How far is too far?
« Reply #29 on: October 21, 2019, 08:52:16 PM »
My bicycle commute is 15-30 minutes (depending on which office I'm heading to that morning). I don't think I could put up with anything more than 30 mins.  The roads are decent, the drivers are reckless and impatient, and my trail bike is not optimal for an urban ride.

EscapedApe

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Re: Biking to work? How far is too far?
« Reply #30 on: October 21, 2019, 11:24:07 PM »
My bike commute is super short. I live 2 miles from work, and I can bike there in about ten minutes.

I'm almost thinking about moving further away from work so I can get a better ride! XD

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Re: Biking to work? How far is too far?
« Reply #31 on: October 22, 2019, 09:20:13 AM »
What cities are you guys living in? Here's some examples of city websites showing bicycle routes.

NYC: https://www1.nyc.gov/html/dot/html/bicyclists/bikemaps.shtml

LA: https://dpw.lacounty.gov/pdd/bike/map.cfm

Chicago: https://www.chicago.gov/city/en/depts/cdot/provdrs/bike/svcs/bike_maps.html

Baltimore: https://transportation.baltimorecity.gov/sites/default/files/Bike%20Baltimore%20Map.pdf

LA's map is fake, FYI.  Most of the (disjointed, unconnected) lines on the map (all of the pink ones) are 'bike routes.'  A bike route is a regular road, with no bike infrastructure or traffic calming whatsoever, but has occasional small green signs on the side of the road that say 'bike route.'  A couple of newer ones they just opened near me are even lazier - they don't even have signs on the 'bike route' itself, but on a cross street leading up to the bike route, there's a sign with arrows in either direction that indicate the status.  Sure, that'll make things safe for me!  That's what passes for bike infrastructure in LA county.

Still, I make it work. 

Boofinator

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Re: Biking to work? How far is too far?
« Reply #32 on: October 22, 2019, 09:57:42 AM »
LA's map is fake, FYI.  Most of the (disjointed, unconnected) lines on the map (all of the pink ones) are 'bike routes.'  A bike route is a regular road, with no bike infrastructure or traffic calming whatsoever, but has occasional small green signs on the side of the road that say 'bike route.'  A couple of newer ones they just opened near me are even lazier - they don't even have signs on the 'bike route' itself, but on a cross street leading up to the bike route, there's a sign with arrows in either direction that indicate the status.  Sure, that'll make things safe for me!  That's what passes for bike infrastructure in LA county.

Still, I make it work.

I've had a similar (but thankfully more bike-friendly) experience in my city. Most of the roads indicated on the city map as bicycle friendly are great, however I've come across exceptions where I feel I'm putting my life in somebody else's hands, despite the road being marked as a bicycle route. In those cases, I just avoid the streets where I don't feel comfortable (or if I do ride them, make it on a Sunday morning).

I can't express how thankful I am for the level of bicycle infrastructure in my city, even though it's not perfect. It's sad that LA, which probably has the closest one can realistically get to perfect cycling weather, doesn't have the infrastructure to allow for safe cycling.

GuitarStv

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Re: Biking to work? How far is too far?
« Reply #33 on: October 22, 2019, 10:40:57 AM »
What cities are you guys living in? Here's some examples of city websites showing bicycle routes.

NYC: https://www1.nyc.gov/html/dot/html/bicyclists/bikemaps.shtml

LA: https://dpw.lacounty.gov/pdd/bike/map.cfm

Chicago: https://www.chicago.gov/city/en/depts/cdot/provdrs/bike/svcs/bike_maps.html

Baltimore: https://transportation.baltimorecity.gov/sites/default/files/Bike%20Baltimore%20Map.pdf

LA's map is fake, FYI.  Most of the (disjointed, unconnected) lines on the map (all of the pink ones) are 'bike routes.'  A bike route is a regular road, with no bike infrastructure or traffic calming whatsoever, but has occasional small green signs on the side of the road that say 'bike route.'  A couple of newer ones they just opened near me are even lazier - they don't even have signs on the 'bike route' itself, but on a cross street leading up to the bike route, there's a sign with arrows in either direction that indicate the status.  Sure, that'll make things safe for me!  That's what passes for bike infrastructure in LA county.

Still, I make it work.

That's how the area of Toronto that I commute through is.  I've got .6 km of bike lanes on a 20 km one way trip.  But I'm on a 'bike route' for 1/5th of my journey.

:P

habanero

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Re: Biking to work? How far is too far?
« Reply #34 on: October 22, 2019, 10:47:14 AM »
If you want to get some proper exercise from the bike commute I'd say 3 miles is way too short. At least if you are already quite fit as you say. It does beat driving or riding the bus hands down of course, but it's very short for a training session. You should look into if there is a more pleasant and bike-friendly route a little longer unless you are really pressed for time to get back and forth. On the flipside, using it as training is likely to require a shower and bringing clothes / having somewhere at work to store clothes. I live 4 miles from work and take detours to get more mileage out of it. The commute is some of the best time of my day, and it's almost entirely out of traffic as well.   

For finding bike-friendly routes the Strava app can be quite good - it suggests routing based on where other users of the app have cycled. At least it works quite well in areas where many people ride a bike.

Arbitrage

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Re: Biking to work? How far is too far?
« Reply #35 on: October 22, 2019, 01:43:13 PM »
It's sad that LA, which probably has the closest one can realistically get to perfect cycling weather, doesn't have the infrastructure to allow for safe cycling.

Sad indeed.  Perfect weather for it, largely flat within the basin itself, bad car-induced air quality, ability to save a lot of time on a bike due to the horrible car traffic, but no public/political will to make anything substantial happen.  The concept of transporting your body anywhere...even just a block or two...without driving (usually alone) in a giant car is completely foreign here, and any suggestion of diverting transportation resources - be they financial, land use, or otherwise - away from just more lanes of road for cars is anathema.  Can't wait to leave.

vand

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Re: Biking to work? How far is too far?
« Reply #36 on: October 23, 2019, 02:16:38 AM »
3miles? LOL. You can jog that.

jscully81

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Re: Biking to work? How far is too far?
« Reply #37 on: October 23, 2019, 07:08:09 AM »
How far is too far?

I've been blessed with an incredible opportunity to work 3.2 miles from home for a significant salary (for me at least). I would love to get rid of my truck, or downgrade to a smaller car and bike to work.

The average person can do 10 miles round trip with a little practice. I used to do 14 RT without complaining. But if the roads suck it may still be dis-spiriting.

Yep, I drove the routes today to check the bike lanes (they're not exactly bike lanes, but shoulders) and they are extremely narrow at times. Seems as if my safest route is about 4 miles, adds a little extra time but is the safest, road wise.

I have a standard mountain bike, it's relatively new and in good condition, but would anyone recommend getting a better bike since I'd be biking regularly? Did you spend more on a bike knowing you'd get the value?

GuitarStv

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Re: Biking to work? How far is too far?
« Reply #38 on: October 23, 2019, 07:27:52 AM »
3 miles is a short enough distance that you could comfortably do it on any bike at all.


That said, if you're hellbent on buying something new, spend several months commuting first.  If you find things that bother you about the bike you've got, then think about buying something different.

Boofinator

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Re: Biking to work? How far is too far?
« Reply #39 on: October 23, 2019, 07:58:50 AM »
I have a standard mountain bike, it's relatively new and in good condition, but would anyone recommend getting a better bike since I'd be biking regularly? Did you spend more on a bike knowing you'd get the value?

For me, this question should only be answered relative to your financial situation. If you're financially strapped, I'd stick with whatever bike you have until you dig out of your hole. If, on the other hand, you're doing relatively well financially, an 8-mile round trip would lend itself well to a road bike (~2,000 miles annually, if biking 5 days per week). Monitor your friendly neighborhood Craigslist for a decent deal on a road bike that fits you, and you will quickly appreciate the added minutes to your day.

35andFI

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Re: Biking to work? How far is too far?
« Reply #40 on: October 23, 2019, 08:52:33 AM »
I would use the bike that you have. If after a little while you think that something else can do the job better, and you are in a position to make that purchase, go for it!

I spent ~$600 on a decent hybrid bike (2017 Giant Roam 2) that I knew I'd be commuting with eventually.
The only bike that I had at the time was a Tony Hawk mountain bike from Walmart that I sold for $30.

The type of bike that you get should also depend on the type of riding that you will be doing.
For example, I ride an average of ~12 miles per day but a lot of that is on dirt/gravel trails where a road bike wouldn't cut it.

cbr shadow

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Re: Biking to work? How far is too far?
« Reply #41 on: October 23, 2019, 10:20:34 AM »
My commute is 30 miles and hilly.  I typically drive or take the free shuttle, but I bike it at least 1x per week. 
I think 30 miles with hills is too much for most people to commute by bike at all, let alone daily.  The free shuttle allows for me to take the bike with me to work and then ride it home.

Boofinator

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Re: Biking to work? How far is too far?
« Reply #42 on: October 23, 2019, 10:32:31 AM »
My commute is 30 miles and hilly.  I typically drive or take the free shuttle, but I bike it at least 1x per week. 
I think 30 miles with hills is too much for most people to commute by bike at all, let alone daily.  The free shuttle allows for me to take the bike with me to work and then ride it home.

I'm in a similar position. My commute is about 20 miles, with about 600 ft elevation gain each way (not hilly, but not totally flat). The city bus makes biking exponentially easier: During the summer I can bike in on the mornings and avoid the grueling afternoon rides, whereas in the winter I can bike in the afternoon and avoid all of the logistics involved in not freezing during morning rides. And to top it off, the city bus only costs $1 per ride, which is far cheaper than driving (not to mention more enjoyable too).

EscapedApe

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Re: Biking to work? How far is too far?
« Reply #43 on: October 23, 2019, 11:13:51 AM »
Ain't no mountain high enough.

Ain't no valley low enough.

Ain't no river wide enough.

To keep me from biking to work, babe.

mspym

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Re: Biking to work? How far is too far?
« Reply #44 on: October 23, 2019, 01:51:52 PM »
My previous commute was ~7km each way, mostly flat and through parkland. Our office moved and now I have a 5km hilly ride being chased by buses to get to the train. Overall I am riding faster and getting fitter on the new commute than the old one. I looked at riding the whole way and it's 16km through Sydney's heaviest traffic which I am not going to do - it's scary and polluted.

My rule of thumb is under 2km I walk, over that I'll ride up to 50min and over that it's public transport.

Boofinator

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Re: Biking to work? How far is too far?
« Reply #45 on: October 23, 2019, 02:02:50 PM »
My previous commute was ~7km each way, mostly flat and through parkland. Our office moved and now I have a 5km hilly ride being chased by buses to get to the train. Overall I am riding faster and getting fitter on the new commute than the old one. I looked at riding the whole way and it's 16km through Sydney's heaviest traffic which I am not going to do - it's scary and polluted.

My rule of thumb is under 2km I walk, over that I'll ride up to 50min and over that it's public transport.

Have you by chanced used the city's resources to optimize your ride?

https://www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/explore/getting-around/cycling

mspym

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Re: Biking to work? How far is too far?
« Reply #46 on: October 23, 2019, 04:57:56 PM »
My previous commute was ~7km each way, mostly flat and through parkland. Our office moved and now I have a 5km hilly ride being chased by buses to get to the train. Overall I am riding faster and getting fitter on the new commute than the old one. I looked at riding the whole way and it's 16km through Sydney's heaviest traffic which I am not going to do - it's scary and polluted.

My rule of thumb is under 2km I walk, over that I'll ride up to 50min and over that it's public transport.

Have you by chanced used the city's resources to optimize your ride?

https://www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/explore/getting-around/cycling
Thanks. I've been riding in Sydney for 7 years now and this is my optimal route for directness + low traffic where possible. It's just the nature of the beast that I have to get across the Inner West commuter traffic. On the other hand, it is making me ride faster to get to the quiet spots as soon as I can. Plus it's still better than being stuck on one of those buses : )
« Last Edit: October 23, 2019, 05:03:06 PM by mspym »

EscapedApe

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Re: Biking to work? How far is too far?
« Reply #47 on: October 23, 2019, 05:09:32 PM »
How far is too far?

I've been blessed with an incredible opportunity to work 3.2 miles from home for a significant salary (for me at least). I would love to get rid of my truck, or downgrade to a smaller car and bike to work.

The concern isn't the distance, I'm in good shape and exercise every day. The thing is, if I were to bike to work, some of the roads don't have sidewalks so I'd be biking on the shoulder. I'm perfectly okay doing that, it's the drivers I'm worried about. Somewhat small town in South Jersey. Lot of awful drivers.

How far do you bike to work? Anyone deal with anything similar? Is 3 miles too much? Would appreciate feedback!

I don't know anything about drivers in Jersey, but I think if you follow the rules of the road you should be pretty safe. That means:

  • Always drive WITH traffic flow, on the right side, so you are more visible.
  • Wear lots of high-vis clothing or accessories, and get good lights for your bike.

jscully81

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Re: Biking to work? How far is too far?
« Reply #48 on: October 24, 2019, 08:49:53 AM »
If you want to get some proper exercise from the bike commute I'd say 3 miles is way too short. At least if you are already quite fit as you say. It does beat driving or riding the bus hands down of course, but it's very short for a training session. You should look into if there is a more pleasant and bike-friendly route a little longer unless you are really pressed for time to get back and forth. On the flipside, using it as training is likely to require a shower and bringing clothes / having somewhere at work to store clothes. I live 4 miles from work and take detours to get more mileage out of it. The commute is some of the best time of my day, and it's almost entirely out of traffic as well.   

For finding bike-friendly routes the Strava app can be quite good - it suggests routing based on where other users of the app have cycled. At least it works quite well in areas where many people ride a bike.

Yeah I exercise consistently, and play hockey twice a week. No problem on the distance.

And what about those that bike in the dead of winter? Any concern? Southern NJ doesn't get a ton of snow but just the normal freezing temps in the winter.

Arbitrage

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Re: Biking to work? How far is too far?
« Reply #49 on: October 24, 2019, 08:57:08 AM »
If you want to get some proper exercise from the bike commute I'd say 3 miles is way too short. At least if you are already quite fit as you say. It does beat driving or riding the bus hands down of course, but it's very short for a training session. You should look into if there is a more pleasant and bike-friendly route a little longer unless you are really pressed for time to get back and forth. On the flipside, using it as training is likely to require a shower and bringing clothes / having somewhere at work to store clothes. I live 4 miles from work and take detours to get more mileage out of it. The commute is some of the best time of my day, and it's almost entirely out of traffic as well.   

For finding bike-friendly routes the Strava app can be quite good - it suggests routing based on where other users of the app have cycled. At least it works quite well in areas where many people ride a bike.


Yeah I exercise consistently, and play hockey twice a week. No problem on the distance.

And what about those that bike in the dead of winter? Any concern? Southern NJ doesn't get a ton of snow but just the normal freezing temps in the winter.

Might be worth it to refer you to this other thread, which has many extensive discussions on winter biking and other topics:

https://forum.mrmoneymustache.com/throw-down-the-gauntlet/start-biking-to-work-cycling-newbies-chat/1100/