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One year of cycling to work

• blakesterz 9y ago
  Very nice. I always think the second best thing to working remotely would be a job I could ride my bike to every day.
• zawerf 9y ago
  Getting hit by a car within a year is an anomaly right? He brushed it off as his "only accident" like it's supposed to be more commonplace.
  • def- 9y ago
    Yeah, I might have been unclear. I've been cycling for a few years before that and that was the first time I touched a car. The driver DID look straight at me though, seemingly noticing me, so I was really confused when she started speeding up anyway.
    • dspillett 9y ago
      In my experience it is not necessarily safe to assume that someone looking straight at you implies that they have noticed you. People can be quite distracted by both the environment or the insides of their own heads. Worse, some take eye contact as meaning you know they are there and are prepared to get out of the way of what-ever manoeuvre they are about to perform! Before my latest office move (it is not so close that messing around with the shed and locking up the bike at work and changing clothes if needed in bad weather add up to more than cycling saves over walking at a brisk pace) I rode to work for years, 3.5 miles each way for the most part, and while I've had a few near misses (the worst being a bus that halfway through overtaking me decided to shuffle in nearly sandwiching me between the bus and the road-side railings) I've never actually been touched by another vehicle. I'm on city roads, though small city (York, UK) rather than somewhere even more hectic than London, but here I'd say cycling to work is no less safe than walking.
    • gaius 9y ago
      The driver DID look straight at me though, seemingly noticing me Probably saccadic masking https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saccadic_masking https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saccadic_masking
  • symmetricsaurus 9y ago
    I've been biking to work for a bit more than two years now. Same distance to work and not even any close calls with cars. I do ride quite carefully though and make very sure that they see me and stop before I ride out in front of one.
    • tonyedgecombe 9y ago
      I always try and make eye contact with drivers at junctions which has worked well for me until a couple of weeks ago when someone looked straight at me then pulled out right in front of me. We didn't collide but it was very close.
      • deleted 9y ago
        [deleted]
  • c2h5oh 9y ago
    Cycled to work, weather permitting, for last 3 years. Got hit (more like nudged, but enough to cause a fall) by a car twice - nothing major only because I know how to tumble & roll. It easily could have been much worse.
  • lj3 9y ago
    I cycled every day for 7 years all over the San Francisco Bay Area without ever once being hit by a car or getting a door prize. I didn't run red lights and I maintained situational awareness at all times. And I was one of those guys who rode in the middle of the car lane even when a bicycle lane was available.
    • dominotw 9y ago
      > And I was one of those guys who rode in the middle of the car lane even when a bicycle lane was available. to avoid getting doored? Wouldn't this slow the traffic.
      • hobls 9y ago
        Traffic in SF is rarely going faster than a bicycle.
      • deathanatos 9y ago
        I do this to "take the lane"; essentially, if I'm in the middle of a lane, there is some reason why I want that lane — usually my own safety due to some other hazard, or perhaps I'm going to make an upcoming left — and I want/need drivers near me to essentially give me the same respect they'd give a car. Typically, the idea is that I would like drivers behind me to not pass me in the same lane that I'm in — that is, I'm trying to avoid having a driver do the typical half-assed job of passing by trying to squeeze their SUV in the same lane as me. (i.e., if you want to pass me, use another lane, not this one. If there isn't another lane: tough, I'll be out of your way ASAP — I don't like having a car behind me any more than a driver likes having a biker in front of them.) > Wouldn't this slow the traffic. Sometimes, yes. For me, most of the routes I take the car traffic moves at approximately the same speed or slower. If there's a huge speed difference and traffic is much faster, I'll usually avoid left turns and use a crosswalk to "turn", if I think that's safer. (Which has its own tradeoffs: one has to be very careful and ensure that drivers in the lane next to you are going to actually stop at the crosswalk before you enter it. Just because the light is red hardly means anything, and a lot of drivers will overshoot the stop line if they don't think anyone is going to be in the crosswalk when they do so.)
  • alistairSH 9y ago
    Yes, it's an anomaly. I've been a recreational cyclist for many years, and commuted on and off for years when I lived about 12 miles from the office (close enough to walk now). I've never been hit by a car, but have had a few close calls. Almost all of those were at intersections, where I had the right of way, but a car didn't see me and decided to proceed. Basically, if you are cycling on the road (and that includes bike lanes that aren't protected/separated), you have to assume cars don't see you. Ride defensively all the time. That will minimize accidents at intersections. Nothing you can do about getting run down from behind (other than not ride a bicycle). But, that's rare.
  • deathanatos 9y ago
    I've been biking for ~2 years, and I have had one very very close call, where I had to actually dodge a car, but I wasn't really in control of the situation. Scared the crap out of me, because I did not see him coming. I've had many other incidents where situational awareness let me see the idiot coming in advance enough that I was able to just easily avoid the collision. (The close call I had was an idiot in lane 1, which was a straight/left lane, who decided to turn right. The only right turn lane is lane 4: he cut off a lane of traffic, the bike lane, and the right-turn only lane. I had to take the right "with" him, essentially, or I would have hit him, and I could feel the traction in my back tire slipping the entire time from the huge amount of braking I was begging for.)
  • jandrese 9y ago
    Been biking to work for 4 years now and never had a close call with a car, but I try to avoid roads as much as possible. Luckily there is a bike trail that goes roughly in the direction I need. That said, there is one section where riding with the traffic is unavoidable and I hate it. I especially hate one particular stoplight that is on a sensor and the sensor is not strong enough to pick up my bike. I should point out that I ride in the suburbs and road traffic goes much faster than what I can sustain on a bike. Most roads are 35 or 45mph and hilly/curvy, so they are terrifying to cycle on.
  • bbarn 9y ago
    I have been doing it for ~15 years, and hit 4 times. I'd say if anything it's more common in your first year or two before you gain the experience to be able to predict driver actions by subtle signals.
• cesis 9y ago
  Another bonus for bicycling/walking is very predictable arrival time as no traffic jams, public transportation issues etc impact them.
  • lmm 9y ago
    Agreed but only up to a point. I can easily spend 5 minutes in the queue for the lights near my flat (a lot of buses and lorries on that road so I can't always lane split safely), and I was delayed much longer once because police had closed the road after a collision.
    • celticninja 9y ago
      Turning round at a road closure is much easier for a cyclist and often they can be very quickly bypassed by becoming a pedestrian and walking your bike via an alternative route.
    • Aaargh20318 9y ago
      You don't have separate bicycle paths (and traffic lights) where you are ?
      • lmm 9y ago
        Most of my commute is along more cycle-friendly routes (not separate paths, but quiet roads) but I've got a "last mile" at both ends (from home onto the route and from the route to work) that runs across quite busy main roads, since ultimately I live on one of those.
        • parthdesai 9y ago
          Just walk the bike for that portion of your commute?
          • lmm 9y ago
            Could do, but the stop-start vehicle traffic is still faster than walking.
• jordache 9y ago
  that short of a commute? that's a no brainer for cycling to work.
  • Finnucane 9y ago
    Yeah, my ride is about 3 miles each way, so it's pretty easy. I live in the Boston area, so at times the weather can be rough, but it's manageable. If the roads are passable, I can ride (though it is in the 50s today here and expected to get near 70 tomorrow!). In the summer, when it's hot, I leave the house as early as I can manage. After eight years of daily bike commutes, the only serious accident I've had (i.e., injury-causing) was caused by another cyclist, not a car.
    • ocschwar 9y ago
      Medford to Haymarket commute for me, starting tomorrow.
  • sheepz 9y ago
    You would think so, but my commute to work is a little over 3 km and I used to drive a car to work, until I realized how ridiculous that was. I know co-workers who live even closer and still they drive.I live in a small town, but people still use cars for everything although we have good bike roads.
    • Fricken 9y ago
      I went from a 16 km bike commute to a 3 km one, and 3 km isn't far enough. I usually leave early to spend a little more time on my bike. On an average day the morning ride is the best part of my day.
      • _trampeltier 9y ago
        3km is not so much. From spring to fall I also use my bike for going to work. One way is 21km and it feels great. Often In the morning I would like to make an extra round.
• billsmithaustin 9y ago
  I live about the same distance from work as the writer, and I've been cycling to work since early October. I would have thought that such a short bike ride wouldn't have much of a health benefit, but I feel more energetic and my blood pressure is noticeably lower than it was a year ago.
  • lj3 9y ago
    Short distances on a bicycle are actually healthier than longer distances. Long distance cyclists tend to have issues with losing bone and muscle density.
    • thinkMOAR 9y ago
      and don't forget, sitting for long periods are known to lead to prostatitis; specially if you have a poor saddle on your bicycle
      • neves 9y ago
        What is a good/bad saddle?
        • QuotedForTruth 9y ago
          One that fits your butt. Basically you want to have your weight on the sit bones, not the tissue in between. Seats come in different widths and shapes to accommodate different shaped butts.
        • two2two 9y ago
          Custom ones can be made after they scan your pelvic region. Essentially, there's a depressed, or cutout section in the middle with two pads in parallel which should support your bones as the other poster mentioned.
        • thinkMOAR 9y ago
          i don't know, i know i have a bad one, as after 15+ mins of cycling, when i get off the bicycle... can't describe it differently.. my balls sleep... and i can describe that that is not a pleasant feeling. e.g. 10 fold worse then a sleeping foot or leg.
• jacknews 9y ago
  conclusion: what a lovely route, choosing to cycle it isn't even a decision, especially as the other options seems to take longer. The author is super lucky and I'm jealous. I cycle to work too, but in a busy city.
  • mattlondon 9y ago
    Totally agree - what a nice route to get to work. From what I could see, it looks like a lot of long, straight and - most importantly! - flat routes. Perfect for nice easy cycling. I sometimes run to work, but never ever run home as in London it is downhill to get to the centre, but uphill to get back out to the suburbs :)
  • Aaargh20318 9y ago
    I cycle to work in a busy city too, but fortunately the city I live in has a lot of parks and my route goes straight through one. It's really nice, especially on summer mornings. Would highly recommend.
  • otterpro 9y ago
    If I had a bike route to work, I'd take it over driving my car, even if the bike route takes longer and/or is further away. Mr. Money Mustache (https://www.mrmoneymustache.com/2013/06/13/bicycling-the-safest-form-of-transportation/ https://www.mrmoneymustache.com/2013/06/13/bicycling-the-saf...) wrote that riding bike is equivalent to printing money, and he has calculated that riding one mile is equivalent to gaining 1350 seconds of life. Unfortunately, I currently live in part of Florida where the roads are not designed for bikes. I once lived in the east of Bay Area, where it was so much more bike-able.
  • moosekaka 9y ago
    I would cycle to work if: i) the route was FLAT ii) the weather was DRY (no rain, sleet, snow)
    • jacknews 9y ago
      You could consider an electric bike to deal with hills.
• fmariluis 9y ago
  Very nice seeing that much nature before and after work, I cycle to work but it's all within the city. It's great, but I would love to see more trees and water.
• reti 9y ago
  I cycle around 3 times the distance he does daily to and from work in London. I've been doing this for 5 years. It's probably fair to say I take more days off than he does though (I leave the bike at home if going for a drink). I suppose the same could be said for any form of regular exercise, but it makes such an improvement to how I feel when I get to work, and my general well-being. The pollution in London has always been a bit of a concern, however I hope the exercise outweighs this for the most part. I save around £8 a day by not taking the train. I wish more people would give it a go. More people riding would result in better and safer infrastructure here. I do however, regularly see people get knocked off bikes and can understand the perceived risk and reluctance from others to try it. I'm envious of cities such as Copenhagen with great safe infrastructure, and where riding is the norm.
  • vivan 9y ago
    I live in London and I'd love to cycle to work, but the infrastructure (for my route) just isn't there. And for people who aren't experienced cyclists, it is even worse as lack of confidence actually leads to more accidents.
    • lmm 9y ago
      I was pleasantly surprised by how nice the route to work a cycling route planner gave me in London was. There are less nice parts at the beginning and end (as I get onto and off the cycle-friendly streets), but the majority of the route (some on Q2, some on quiet 20mph roads with no specific cycling provision) is not bad.
      • ZeroGravitas 9y ago
        https://www.cyclestreets.net/ https://www.cyclestreets.net/ is one such planner that may have bike only shorcuts that aren't marked on other map sources (it's based on OpenStreetMap and feeds cycle specific data back I believe).
    • codeulike 9y ago
      Maybe try it? Once I started cycling in London there was no looking back, even if I had to be on busy roads. Many residential roads in London are very quiet during the day so there may be a windy circuitous route that is very pleasant to be on. Or a busy direct route that is not as bad as you think. When theres a proper cycle lane that's nice but it is by no means vital.
• VyseofArcadia 9y ago
  Getting home at 17:00? I don't even get off work until 17:30, and if I'm lucky I get home before 18:30. Even cycling I'd only shave maybe 15 minutes off my commute, and if I'm really lucky I'd make it home alive. I wish I lived somewhere with more sustainable work hours and bike-friendly traffic. I'm totally drained when I finally get home.
  • izym 9y ago
    When do you get in though?
    • VyseofArcadia 9y ago
      8:30. My hours aren't all that terrible, but after burning the candle at both ends for the better part of a decade of grad school, I'm a little worried about burning out.
      • alistairSH 9y ago
        Cycling might help with the burn-out. The exercise is good for you. Getting out of a stressful drive is good for you. Etc. Even if the ride is a bit longer, it's probably a net positive. Especially if you end up at the gym or jogging anyways - you get to double-count the bike commute as part of your workout. You didn't mention riding after dusk as a problem, but there are plenty of good bike light options available now. LEDs and batteries have come a long way in the last 5-10 years and small, rechargeable lights are now powerful enough to provide adequate lighting for nighttime commutes (some are even bright enough for daytime use - so cars see you better).
        • VyseofArcadia 9y ago
          Thanks for the lighting tips. I'm actually taking some urban cycling classes next month. I think at this point I need knowledge and confidence to make cycling a part of my commute.
• simonbarker87 9y ago
  I live 1.2 miles from my unit/office. When looking for premises we actively looked for somewhere close to where us founders live so we could bike
  • alistairSH 9y ago
    I live about the same and walk. It's fantastic. Coming from a 12 mile (30-40 minute) drive, with occasional bike commuting, it really was a game-changer for my sanity. It helps that I walk across a golf course, so it's fairly quiet and green (vs city streets).
    • simonbarker87 9y ago
      I sometimes walk in but since I only work in the winter I never get to do it in the summer so spending 30 minutes in cold, wind and rain is not that nice. On the odd occasion I do walk I bring the dog with me and kill two birds with one stone, his walk and my commute!
• unicornporn 9y ago
  I'm at my 12 year of every day bike commuting. Before I commuted 10 km each direction, now I'm at 6 km. If I have activities after work, I ride to them too. So my total ride length is a fair bit longer than what my commute is. The public transportation network here in Stockholm is good, but wouldn't even consider cramming myself into a packed subway train or bus. Even at this time of the year when it's -5 degrees celcius and snowy I really enjoy my daily rides. It cuts commuting time in half and I shave off another two hours of sitting without moving a day. If possible, I highly recommend bike commuting. Get a good bike (with gears) and rack mounts for bags. Gravel/adventure bikes are fun to ride and work well on all surfaces. Supple 650b tyres are all the rage these days. They will give you plenty of comfort while sacrificing very little when it comes to performance[1]. Tomorrow I'll be going to the outskirts of town with work. Then it's 50 km. I already look forward to that workday adventure. :) [1] https://janheine.wordpress.com/2018/01/03/12-myths-in-cycling-1-wider-tires-are-slower/ https://janheine.wordpress.com/2018/01/03/12-myths-in-cyclin...
  • trevyn 9y ago
    Have you gotten in accidents?
    • unicornporn 9y ago
      I've fallen thrice (that I can remember). Two of these times was when I was stupid enough to ride on ice with slicks. The third time I tried to pull some fancy trick up a curb (just stupid). So, I've scratched my jeans. Other than that: nothing (touch wood). Nowadays I run studded tyres in the winter and they're crazy effective. I don't recommend riding without a helmet or hövding, but this article gives you some insights into the risks of riding a bike in cities: https://www.vox.com/2014/5/16/5720762/stop-forcing-people-to-wear-bike-helmets https://www.vox.com/2014/5/16/5720762/stop-forcing-people-to...
      • dguaraglia 9y ago
        How hostile are the drivers in Stockholm? Bay Area drivers aren’t super friendly to cyclists (to be fair, plenty of cyclists also behave like assholes, cutting in front of cars and crossing intersections when they shouldn’t.) My biggest concern during a year of using my bike to commute was making sure I didn’t get ran over by a car taking a turn, because signaling is not always their forte.
• rshetty 9y ago
  I also have been cycling for 2 years now everyday. 100kms average every week. Never have felt more enthusiastic and energetic at workplace. Helps concentrate on the work, beats bad traffic and gives a very good exercise overall
• parliament32 9y ago
  I've been walking to work (2km, 20 mins) every day for almost a year now, rain or shine. Previously I drove about an hour to get to work. There's a huge difference in alertness and energy when I sit down at my desk... early morning exercise is well worth it.
• NotQuantum 9y ago
  I've got a relatively short bike commute that takes around 20 minutes. By car it's a bit more due to traffic. I get some serious benefits from biking everyday. I'm always alert and awake when I get to work, I get the bare minimum exercise in for the week, I don't have to drive my car. I'd highly recommend biking to work if your local infrastructure is accommodating.
• thomasfl 9y ago
  I’ll keep cycling to work in the foreseeable future. I don’t think this post is of much use to anyone, but I had fun reflecting my last year of cycling to work. Thanks for reading. Good read. Modest author. Often it is the most personal blog postings, where people share details of their life, that attracts most readers.
  • jteppinette 9y ago
    I also appreciate more “out of office” articles.
• bitL 9y ago
  I was once at SAP and the roads around their HQ form a maze. No wonder public transport takes so much time. Bike would be vastly preferable, though it depends on weather. I've heard SAP allows fully remote work, so I am wondering why are you commuting to office anyway? You can save 1h/day for living your life easily.
  • def- 9y ago
    In our team we don't do full remote work, I don't know about other teams. You can occasionally do home office. I prefer being in the office for work for these reasons: - different space for work and private life makes it easier to separate them - being able to simply chat with colleagues a bit - looking over problems together more easily - get out of the house for a while, have a more regular daily routine - free lunch ;)
• trs80 9y ago
  >There are about 250 work days in a year in Baden-Württemberg, excluding weekends and public holidays. Of those I was missing for 34 days for vacations, being sick and doing home office. On 11 days I used public transportation, on 5 days a car. That leaves 200 days on which I cycled to work. Wish we had this here.
  • deleted 9y ago
    [deleted]
  • CalRobert 9y ago
    TBF, Germany is not an impossible place to get a work permit. They have the blue card as well, which is quite interesting.
    • hocuspocus 9y ago
      That's an understatement :) As a software engineer, the requirements are fairly trivial compared to pretty much every other developed nation in the world.
• at-fates-hands 9y ago
  I used to have a standard 9-5 gig and then I'd work at a bike shop during the week nights and on the weekends. I started biking in after a co-worker suggested it. I was pretty surprised. The ride was about 20-25 minutes, mainly through your standard US suburbs so not hard at all. I rode to work 3-4 times a week and then on Saturday or Sunday. I didn't change anything in my routine except for biking. I lost about 8 pounds, my blood pressure dropped and my already healthy cholesterol levels dropped another 4 points. I had more energy when I got to the shop and then had more energy when I got home. I was more willing to work on various projects when I got home instead of plunking down in front of the tv after being exhausted from a long day at the shop.
  • icebraining 9y ago
    I had more energy when I got to the shop and then had more energy when I got home. I envy you people. I've been cycling to work for about six months now, and while I enjoy it and it probably does me good, I don't feel more energized. Exercise has always left me drained.
• sulam 9y ago
  I wish we had the bike culture in the US that exists elsewhere. Twice in my life I have regularly commuted to work a reasonable distance by bike and each time the habit was punctuated by being hit by a car. I feel safer walking than I do on a bike here.
  • LarryDarrell 9y ago
    I bike commuted 20 miles round trip in West Michigan for a time. I stopped because I was tired of getting coal-rolled and having fast food soda cups thrown at me from cars. Bike commuting is great if you don't live near rednecks.
    • CalRobert 9y ago
      Or dbags in bmw's giving you punishment passes. Or people on their phones.
• ggregoire 9y ago
  I've always used a bike to go to work, but now I'm in Mexico City. Too many cars, too much air pollution. Cycling here is bad for your health. The public bicycle sharing system is really good and cheap. Some parts of the city are bike friendly. But the air quality is just so bad. The trucks that spew black smoke continuously. The buses that have never been controlled in 50 years. The SUVs traveling at 100 km/h on the lanes reserved for buses and bicycles. All the cars idling and honking in traffic after 6PM. It's really depressing. This city would be such a beautiful city without all those cars and trucks. Refs: - air quality: https://air.plumelabs.com/en/year/mexico https://air.plumelabs.com/en/year/mexico - ecoBici: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EcoBici_(Mexico_City) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EcoBici_(Mexico_City) - "Car ban fails to curb air pollution in Mexico City" http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-38840076 http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-38840076
  • maw 9y ago
    Between where and where? A lot of the obvious routes are terrible, but you can go a long way in this city zigging where everyone else zags. Avoid the bike lanes for the most part, though. You're probably in more danger in one of our bike lanes than out of one, due to all the morons blithely going the wrong way in them.
  • kilroy123 9y ago
    You're in Mexico City? So am I. Maybe we could connect sometime?
  • kqr 9y ago
    Unless you're saying Mexico City is worse than Beijing, you could go for two hours no problem: https://3kpnuxym9k04c8ilz2quku1czd-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/pollution-world-large.png https://3kpnuxym9k04c8ilz2quku1czd-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/w...
  • sumo89 9y ago
    You're exposed to more pollution sitting in a car in traffic than you are cycling through it in the open. http://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/cars/article-4599572/Avoid-air-pollution-changing-route-behaviour.html http://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/cars/article-4599572/Avoi...
• neves 9y ago
  Great route! Maybe it isn't necessary in temperate climates, but the most important point is that he has showers at work. In tropical countries it is a must. If more workplaces had showers a lot more people would cycle to work.
  • scottishfiction 9y ago
    I would say it's necessary in all climates - in colder climates you wrap up warmer, which means the same amount of sweat. On shower availability - all the companies (big and small) that I've worked for in Glasgow and London have had showers and cycle parking.
    • bbarn 9y ago
      I've only had a shower in one of the places I've worked in the last 15 years I've been biking to work. I think the need for a shower is a common misunderstanding. One thing that helps immensely is having an entirely separate, bike specific set of clothes to wear in, and then you can change in a bathroom or dark room if needed. I live in Chicago (so freezing and very hot at times in the year) ride 11 miles (~18km) each way, almost every day. I keep a pair of shoes, and a towel at work. I take a shower before I leave in the morning, and put deodorant on when I get to work. I rarely need the towel unless it's very hot in the summer. I have a space over a heater I dry out my clothes away from other people. (If anything, having a place to store bike clothes is more important than a shower IMO). I considered that I might be immune to my own smell, but I've had people ask me things like "How come you don't smell bad after riding" and honest friends I've asked and been told no. (The same friends that will happily tell me my outfits look ridiculous)
  • nytesky 9y ago
    I find that packing my clothes to change, toiletries, and then unpacking and trying to shower and change in the shared shower at work to be very time-consuming, and cuts I find that packing my clothes to change, toiletries, and then unpacking and trying to shower and change and we shared shower that were to be very time-consuming. Do you consider the time in the office while showering and changing as part of your workday, or do u work additional time To make up for it. And do you change back To bike clothes for ride home? Showering and dressing at home is much quicker, saves at least 15 minutes a day.
• EastLondonCoder 9y ago
  Interesting to see comments about bike commuting in Stockholm and London since I tried it in both cities. Commuting by bike in Stockholm is a breeze even if you are biking in parts of the city with lots of traffic. Its also a beautiful city which adds to the experience. I have tried to commute by bike in London but its to scary for me. I think it would be fine if you can find a path through residential areas, but for me thats impossible. Biking in the central parts of London I feel that a slight lapse in concentration could end up with a very bad accident.
  • lhopki01 9y ago
    How long ago did you bike in London? In the 9 years I've been cycling to work in London that change has been very dramatic.
  • Cynddl 9y ago
    I found biking in London much easier than in many large European cities, especially since a large fraction of drivers keep enough space on the left for bikers to pass, making commute fast even in heavy traffic. In France or Belgium on the contrary, you often have to slalom between cars, either on the left or on the right. I wouldn't say it's much safer in London, but definitely a little more than Brussels for instance, where many small streets are a nightmare.
• ibdf 9y ago
  I have a short commute to work, only 2.2 miles each way, but I have been doing it for the last 2 years every workday, under any conditions. From the very beginning I told myself, no excuses. I also realized that if I wanted to stick to it, I would want to be comfortable and not miserable, so I bought gear for the rainy days and winter weather, and a nice backpack to carry everything I need. I live in a big city, so driving and parking is always a challenge... it's nice not to worry about it where to park and how bad is the traffic.
• darklajid 9y ago
  I commuted by bike (6km one way) in Tel Aviv, Israel and it was awesome. Great route, bike lanes/parks and a (tiny, but who cares) shower in the office. Did that for one year straight, just like the person in the article. Now I'm living in Singapore, a city that has a traffic problem and tries to reduce the cars on the streets. You'd think they would welcome bikes, but riding a bike here sucks. Big time. It's basically unbearable. There are no sidewalks to speak of on a lot of roads. Often the sidewalks are divided in two segments of different heights. Tables will be on the sidewalk, garbage bins will block it. Riding on the road - the norm in my home country - is discouraged by every local I've met, both bike fans and car drivers. You can ride the bike in this city, sometimes, in some places. But it's a pain in the rear to use it for commutes and a very, very bad experience around the central part of Singapore. Park connectors/outward regions are fine, but the traffic infested center is no place for a bike, which is quite sad.. What I'm trying to say is: I agree that the article describes a great way to live, something I dearly miss. I believe that this isn't possible for a lot of people though, in spite of the benefits it would provide to them and their surroundings.
  • 77pt77 9y ago
    Biking in Singapore's humid heat does not sound pleasant at all.
    • deleted 9y ago
      [deleted]
    • notauser 9y ago
      It's actually really nice to bike in Singapore, provided you can shower at work. I cycled every day for a month along a mix of park connectors (cycle paths) and two and three lane roads. I only had one close pass from a car because on nearly all roads they have a whole extra lane to use to pass you in so if you ride assertively (in the middle of a lane) they just go around you. And the park connectors are beautiful, fast tarmac with no cars at all. With some creativity you can link them up to create a great commute to most places. My route home went past a Riverside pub - I was on segregated cycle lanes the rest of the way home so I could easily stop for a beer with little risk. You do usually arrive soaking wet from sweat or the rain. But that's a minor inconvenience compared to being cold! Biking in Singapore is warm, fast, and safe - much better than most places I've commuted.
• dagurp 9y ago
  Those of you who want to cycle but live far away from work or in a hilly area, get an ebike. I really think they are the future of commuting.
  • Finnucane 9y ago
    A friend of mine recently got one, and she likes it a lot. Her commute is more than mine (nine miles over some of the hillier parts of Boston), so the electric assist makes it easier for her to get to work efficiently without excessive overheating.
  • tonyedgecombe 9y ago
    I have one and it is fantastic, I can dress for the destination as it's easy to ride without getting drenched in sweat. Also I'll take a pleasant or safer route even if it extends the journey. I'm usually doing 100+ miles a week on it. The only downside is it does need more maintenance than my normal bike, chains only last for about 1200 miles for instance.
  • rubidium 9y ago
    That's me. 15.1 miles each way. Pretty flat (150 ft elevation change). Any recommendations for electric bikes at that range and use? Assume an average speed of 15 mph will still take me an hour though...
    • dagurp 9y ago
      I was hoping that someone more knowledgeable would answer this. I think they best community to look at is Endless Sphere[1] but you could also check out /r/ebikes[2] (although I warn you you that they are all about making DIY bikes that are unnecessarily powerful in my opinion. Then there's electric bike review[3]. He's reviewed an incredible number of different bikes. [1]https://endless-sphere.com/forums/ https://endless-sphere.com/forums/ [2]https://www.reddit.com/r/ebikes/ https://www.reddit.com/r/ebikes/ [3]https://electricbikereview.com/ https://electricbikereview.com/
  • criddell 9y ago
    I was thinking about an ebike to help battle the wind. I can manage the hills between my house and the office, but I never take my bicycle if the forecast projects 13 mph or higher wind. I hate the wind and it feels like I'm always riding into it.
• comprev 9y ago
  Cycling to work is normal here in the Netherlands, especially in the cities. Given a few times when I've been sick, I've ridden almost every day to work and back (8km), regardless of the weather (and the Dutch weather is famous for being rubbish). I'm a cyclist at heart so really enjoy the daily commute along the canals, back streets and cycle paths of the city. To be fair, even the nightclubs have cycle parking - and an attendant present too for security.
  • w0utert 9y ago
    6km one-way isn't very remarkable here indeed, in terms of distance I would consider it a short bike ride. I'm cycling ~8km each day myself now, but I have colleagues who do ~15km one-way each day, which I would consider on the high end for a bike commute. I agree with the sentiment of the article though, which is that cycling to work basically has only advantages if the weather is good. When it's raining or particularly windy I still take the car, but on all other days I greatly prefer cycling. No traffic, no problems finding a parking spot, it wakes you up in the morning, makes you hungry (in a good way), saves money, and for me it basically eliminates the need to allocate any extra time for additional exercise.
    • CalRobert 9y ago
      This is a huge plus -"basically eliminates the need to allocate any extra time for additional exercise." I live too close to work for the ride to be any sort of exercise now (1 km). I certainly like the speed, but sometimes I miss when I had a 40km round trip commute (down the beach for 90% of it no less!). I could eat whatever I wanted and still be in great shape. Of course, that was when I got hit by a car, and my ribs still ache some mornings 8 years later.
    • keithnz 9y ago
      any using e bikes? I keep pondering it, it's ~20km for me to commute one way. Luckily there's bike path nearly the whole way, but seems on the edge of being practical. One advantage is there is no extra charge for taking a bike on a train if I end up with bike troubles.
  • 9y ago
• monaghanboy 9y ago
  I bike everyday to work in the South Bay, Silicon Valley area. Everyone I talk to here can't imagine life without a car, but I haven't had any issues; lots of bike paths here, and all groceries and the gym are just minutes away. Sometimes when it rains I carpool, and I see how annoyed and irate most drivers get when commuting. So I don't regret not owning a car. The downside is not being easily able to take day trips, so I still might buy one some day.
  • kurthr 9y ago
    Which freeways do you cross under/over? How do you do it safely? I'd happily ride on trails or small streets (and have) , but most of the regular commute riders I know do ~30mi rt a day... most of them doing it more than 5 yearrs have been in an injury accident. Maybe cyclists talk about accidents more than divers, but the percentage certainly seems higher.
    • avitzurel 9y ago
      I live in SJ and work in Menlo Park. My direct door-to-door commute is 19mi. Takes me about 50-55 minutes. None of it is on bike paths. I take Foothill from the cupertino border all the way to menlo Park. I can also go into cupertino and take the bike path to the edge of the 101 (close to the PA airport). If you want to make it longer, you can take Stevens Canyon to Foothill. This makes the commute 30mi but also less traffic and much more challenging to ride. I would say on average I commute to work about 3 days a week during the summer. I just don't like commuting back in the dark during the winter. In terms of accidents, I've had none. I had 2 close calls over the course of 3 years. One was a complete jerk and one was due to the sun angle (something you need to be aware of as a cyclist too). Bay Area is really awesome for riding to work. Foothill is busy but also gets a lot of rider traffic so drivers tend to be more patient. I also find that a lot of it is up to you, some riders ride like the road belongs to them.
      • CalRobert 9y ago
        The bay area was a weird dichotomy to me. I used to live in Berkeley and work in Newark. I'd bart to Fremont, then cycle the last five miles. I got screamed at and swerved at by jerks in brodozers on a routine basis. Once I was able to avoid the south bay life became far more pleasant.
• spacehunt 9y ago
  I'd love to cycle to work, but the terrain and the density plus the weather here in Hong Kong means it just won't work.
• csytan 9y ago
  When I was living in NYC, cycling to work in the summer was the best part of my day. It took me ~30 mins to get from the Upper West Side to the office in Alphabet city. Commuting by subway would take ~50 mins.
• edotrajan 9y ago
  Cycling to Work in India, since this new year. No gears. Basic cycle + 3 locks + Air pump = $90USD. 15Kilometers. Already saved $20USD/ month. Never going back to Automobiles again. My friends are also trying to start biking to commute after I've made it. Many thought I'd go back to MotorBike after 1 week but I persevered and it's a joy riding the bike. Highly recommend to people in Indian Metro, just add 10 minutes to average 7km commute. Happy riding !
  • Karrot_Kream 9y ago
    Which city in India?
    • edotrajan 9y ago
      Chennai, Tamilnadu
• nmeofthestate 9y ago
  As a counterbalance to all the positivity, I cycle to work and don't enjoy it or feel much benefit from it. In comparison, driving is so much more comfortable (especially in bad weather) and a bit quicker.
  • KarenSatantsby 9y ago
    knees.. they like you I think - your knees. I love my bike my knees dont
  • HumanDrivenDev 9y ago
    Driving is much less mentally taxing. It's nice to be able to just... drive down the road without constantly worrying about doors being open or cars pulling out from driveways/side streets without seeing you. I've never been hit by a car and I want to keep it that way, so my eyes are constantly scanning everything.
    • JepZ 9y ago
      Actually, it really depends where you are cycling. In fact I don't enjoy cycling in the city, but as soon as you get out of the traffic you can relax your mind much better on the bicycle.
    • wffurr 9y ago
      That's not what driving is like in my city. When I drive, I continually worry about all the same things I worry about on my bike, plus it's harder to stop and check directions or take a break, because parking is so difficult around here. Knowing how much danger I pose to everyone around me while operating a 2-ton overpowered steel death machine is incredibly nerve wracking, as opposed to being on my bicycle and only having to really worry about myself.
  • rconti 9y ago
    I rather enjoy my bicycle commute, but I agree, I don't arrive at work any more ready to tackle the day or productive/energetic than if I drive. I prefer to bicycle, but I also love driving, and of course the car is always more comfortable.
• jxub 9y ago
  Let me make some Spanish propaganda. Riding a bike in Valencia is awesome, as there is a cheap bike sharing service (Valenbici) and lots of bike lanes. The city is flat, it never snows and it rains just a couple of weeks a year, making it perhaps the best bike city in Spain.
• jacobmoe 9y ago
  I run to work 4 days/week (work from home the other day). It's about 6 miles from my place in Brooklyn to the office in Manhattan. Took me a while to work up to 6 miles as a daily routine but can do it easily now. Combining my commute with my daily exercise has been fantastic, I'd recommend it to anyone who is able for a couple reasons: it's efficient (you have to take time out of your day getting to work anyway), and it makes it easy to stick to the routine (I try to put the option of taking the subway out of my mind).
• nsedlet 9y ago
  I commute about 6 miles each way between Brooklyn (home) and Manhattan (work). I've been raving about it to everyone I know because it's legitimately changed my life. It feels amazing, saves money, keeps me in much better shape, gives me more energy at work. It's slightly faster than the subway, and significantly faster than driving/cabbing at rush hour. I also love that transit time is very consistent (even relative to the subway, which has lately been wonky). It's great to arrive for our morning standup exactly 7 minutes early, rather than having to pad in 30 minutes of unproductive dead space in case the subway has some problem. NYC bike paths have gotten pretty good over the years, such that I can use protected lanes for ~70% of the trip, and dedicated lanes for >90%. No accidents yet but several close calls, mostly with pedestrians. New York streets are crowded and aggressive, but the speeds are low and drivers are relatively vigilant.
  • scosman 9y ago
    Agreed. Most people really underestimate the benefits. - I save $1700/yr on transit (Toronto TTC Pass). Savings would be even higher if I drove (parking costs, maintenance) - Massive health benefit from of turning 3hr/week of commute from sitting into cardio: https://theconversation.com/cycling-to-work-major-new-study-suggests-health-benefits-are-staggering-76292 https://theconversation.com/cycling-to-work-major-new-study-... - Others: Time savings, commute consistency, happiness
  • dietrichepp 9y ago
    This is similar to my experience—6 miles between Brooklyn and Manhattan. The protected lanes are surprisingly dangerous when there’s no separate turn signal for cars. Compare 1st Ave to 8th Ave for an example. That said, it still feels way safer than biking in the suburbs, where cars will go 40 mph around a blind corner because there’s not much traffic.
  • tomca32 9y ago
    Yeah, subway being "wonky" lately is putting it lightly. I'd love to bike to work. When I lived back in Europe, I used to bike every day to work and back. However, biking in NYC is just insanely dangerous in comparison. I'm really surprised how people do it at all. There aren't real bike paths, and you're supposed to bike on the road right next to all the cars. That's constantly being just one small mistake away from injury/death. I just don't want that risk.
• sandover 9y ago
  I've been cycling to work in downtown LA for nearly 8 years, 4 miles each way. I'm faster than a car over that commute. The weather is fantastic, and I am physically in great shape. Mental benefits are huge. I've gone about 15,000 miles in dense urban environments without any accidents of any kind. There are a number of keys to this: - Think like a driver -- it helps to be a good driver first - Think, period. Don't listen to music, pay attention. - Don't ride in the door zone. Don't let drivers make you ride in the door zone. If you need the lane, take the lane. It's your right. - Use flashing lights on front and back, at all times of day. Nobody else except emergency vehicles is allowed to have flashing lights. There's a good reason: they are unmissable and very distracting. - Wear brightly colored shirts and a bright colored helmet. - If you don't wear a helmet, don't worry about it, it doesn't mitigate that much risk. The exercise benefits of biking do way more to increase your life expectancy than skipping a helmet does to reduce it.
  • troncjb 9y ago
    > If you don't wear a helmet, don't worry about it, it doesn't mitigate that much risk. The exercise benefits of biking do way more to increase your life expectancy than skipping a helmet does to reduce it. This is very, very stupid advice.
    • maw 9y ago
      Citation needed. (FWIW, I always use a helmet except when I use shared bikes, which is rare, only a few times a year. I get on one of my own bikes, helmeted, hundreds of times a year.)
      • troncjb 9y ago
        I really don't need to cite anything to tell you that if you get in an accident you are better off wearing more protective gear. I don't care that very few cyclists get in bad accidents compared to walkers and joggers. I care that if I am in an accident, my brain doesn't become a smear on the pavement.
• lflux 9y ago
  I've been biking to work every day for over 6 months now, though mine is considerably shorter - 2 miles in SF. I got tired of being stuck on cramped muni trains not going anywhere and figured I could use a little exercise every day.
  • jteppinette 9y ago
    What is your opinion on cycling in the city. I live in SOMA and haven’t started riding yet. I used to ride all the time in GA, but it definitely seems more dangerous out here.
    • gregcoombe 9y ago
      When I lived in SF I would ride pretty everywhere. The SF Bike Coalition is one of the most effective lobbying organizations I've ever seen, and they've done a huge amount to transform the city to make it bike friendly. In return, the number of people biking has really skyrocketed in the last 10 years. There are often good bike lanes along routes, and sometimes they are even separated. They have a pretty good map that shows you bike lanes, so you could use that to plan out some routes while you're getting familiar. Anecdotally, the motorists are more aware of bikes now than they used to be (just because there are more of them), but you still need to ride pretty defensively.
    • dev_throw 9y ago
      Its totally doable, just be wary of your surroundings and try to move with the flow of other bike traffic. Moving as a herd makes you more predictable to cars.
    • lflux 9y ago
      Only other city I've ridden is Stockholm, and I commute on Folsom which has a striped lane but basically: a) Make sure you're visible. I always have lights and reflectors, and wear hi-vis jacket if it's dark out b) Always assume there's an Uber about to do something dumb and dangerous - ride defensively, don't assume that drivers see you, seek eye contact, don't be afraid to take the lane c) Relax, take it easy, it's a wonderful city to ride in.
• kayoone 9y ago
  I am so jealous. I did 7000km in the last 2 1/2 years commuting to and from work, which i love and totally agree with most of the benefits that you mentioned, however i do all of this in Berlin city traffic. Really jealous of your route through nature!
• wffurr 9y ago
  I think that's amazing that a small-ish town or city in Germany has such great public transport and bike routes. That all seems to be limited to much larger cities in the US.
• matt_the_bass 9y ago
  Where I live, we have a lot of “salmon” I.e. people biking against the traffic (the wrong way). They’ve been my biggest danger. I’ve hit them more than once.
• Tomte 9y ago
  The bike is great. VSF fahrradmanufaktur. Used to be an organisation, run by a few hundred smallish bike shops who worked together, but was bought up by a company later. Still great bikes. Steel frame, sensible parts that work well together (none standing out as a customer magnet and coupled with lower-quality other parts), sensible prices. And a really beautiful color scheme. I have a very similar one as the author (or maybe the same?). But I really should have gotten the sister model with hub gear and chain case.
• SlowBro 9y ago
  I don't like bike commuting. I have biked 2 miles/3.2km each way to the office for the past 16 years, at least twice a week and usually all five days. I still don't like it. Maybe I'm just a fat, lazy son of a gun? Maybe I don't have an enjoyable bike? The commute is pretty, safe, flat, and quiet. Birds, ponds, and trees, with very few cars and no hills. The weather here is tolerable and I don't sweat enough to require a shower. The only close calls I had were at the beginning when I wasn't being careful. (There is a small section mixed with heavy traffic.) Every time I get to the office I'm glad the ride is over, and every time I must leave to go home I don't look forward to the ride. I don't arrive invigorated, and in fact the opposite. I've lost and gained weight seemingly unrelated to the number of miles ridden. I've had several bikes in that time but none of them really seem to "fit", nor are they very fast. I want a nice silky commuter with fenders and panniers and thin wheels but that's always pretty far out of reach from budget, and I'm not 100% convinced it will make a big difference anyway. So I stick to a Craigslist special with a backpack, with upgrades to the ride as I get money. I remember enjoying biking so much as a kid. I would ride all over the place, and hardly a year has passed since childhood that I don't put on a lot of miles on two wheels. But now as an adult it's just drudgery. Don't know why. And it's not just the commute I don't like. Also tried to do some trails and longer rides for fun, but it turned into the same drudgery quickly. I don't know what else I can do. But I'll continue to soldier on with the ride.
  • bertrand-caron 9y ago
    Hey, thanks for sharing your (unpopular, at least in this thread) opinion. Would you care going a bit more in details about what you hate about it? In my experience, good gear makes a tremendous difference, and it's a logarithmic curve; the first few hundred dollars get you most of the way. Maintenance also goes a long way, you'd be surprised of the friction losses of severely under-inflated tires, or a rusty chain/cassette. Finally, having the right type of bike is a game-changer, I am always amazed at how many people commute in urban environments with a heavy, slow, double-suspension mountain bike when they could be zipping around on a road bike and having some fun! I've also found that having a GPS watch to record your commute helps a lot with gratification. At the end of the day, I think commuting by bike in an enjoyable experience compared to the alternative most people have in an urban environment: packed/slow/expensive/unreliable public transport, or traffic jams. Maybe you should alternate between the two to remind you of why you commute by bike ;)
• deleted 9y ago
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• ePierre 9y ago
  I like to ride my bike to work because it's much faster than taking the bus (20 minutes versus 40+ minutes) . However, when it rains, I take the bus. And it rains quite often where I live (Taipei). Any advice from fellow bikers? Clothes to wear, gear to get, etc.
  • def- 9y ago
    I take a towel with me to dry my exposed body parts. I use Vaude softshell jacket (Posta) and pants (Tirano), but they are more for colder weather. In summer I'd prefer to switch clothes after arrival. There are also overpants and overshoes for the rain, but personally I don't like them because they make you sweat more.
• perilunar 9y ago
  How bizarre that his bike path cuts across an airfield (with traffic lights and a boom gate) instead of going around it. Never seen that before.
• todd8 9y ago
  I met a nice person once that worked at an IBM location. He was in fantastic shape, he commuted to work 5 miles away—on foot! He ran both ways. I barely qualified to run the Boston Marathon and had a good time running the race through my old college neighborhoods. This guy, who was a runner friend of a runner friend, was in a very different category, very fast. He trained on top of the weekly 50 miles of commuting.
• willbarkis 9y ago
  + 1 MILLION Cancer hit a friend of mine not that long ago. And as I was biking to work with my two kiddos the other day, I was thinking about him. What would be my ideal day? I wondered. What would I do with my time if I had gotten his diagnosis of a more or less non-treatable form of pancreatic cancer? I thought about it. And I realized that it would start just like that one. Biking with my kids to daycare and then work. It is hard to put into words the myriad reasons. Everyone has their own reasons why they go the way they go to get where they want to go. I know few things in life but I have found my bliss biking to and from work everyday.
• deleted 9y ago
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