4 ms·

When you factor in rush hour, it's definitely true for the Bay Area. I live in San Jose, a morning car commute on the 101 is ~30mins, return is ~50-60mins. Rid

When you factor in rush hour, it's definitely true for the Bay Area. I live in San Jose, a morning car commute on the 101 is ~30mins, return is ~50-60mins. Riding my bike is 45mins (43-48) each way. It's a complete wash and I get 90mins of exercise per day. If you don't want exercise, get an e-bike and go faster for less effort!

zbrozek 7y ago
I live a lot closer to work - 4.5 miles straight down Central Expressway. Even though my route is no better than what I could do by car, both my average and variance are much better by bike than by car. Typically 15 minutes door-to-door by bike. I can't touch that by car, with evening commutes often taking 45 minutes. I wave at my coworkers when I bike past them.
- retbull 7y ago
  When I am in SF often I can walk faster than I can drive.
  - DoreenMichele 7y ago
    In La Jolla, I had a bus pass because I had been running errands. I was tired and we had more stuff to do, so I took the bus since I already had a pass good for the whole day. It didn't cost anything. My sons walked to meet me somewhere midway to where we were going. They arrived about the same time I did. I would get ahead of them because the bus is faster -- when it's actually moving. Then we would sit at a light or get stuck in traffic, and I would watch my sons pull ahead of the bus. When we first gave up our car, it took no more time to pick up groceries on foot than by car. The same scenario often took place, where a car would zoom past us, then get stuck trying to turn into the parking lot. We were going into the store while they were looking for a parking space. Cars on the open highway going long distances are absolutely much faster than someone walking. But for many local trips, they aren't as advantageous as many Americans assume them to be and will vociferously argue they are when presented with such stories.
    - retbull 7y ago
      I live in a suburb so I have to drive to many places but I have started to notice that even if I can't walk to the store in less than 20 min it feels a ton less stressful than driving for 3 and parking for 5. I should probably get a bike as this is the perfect distance for it.
- soperj 7y ago
  You should be able to walk 4.5 miles in 45 minutes.
  - karthikb 7y ago
    Walking speed is 15-20 minutes per mile...a 4.5 mile walk for most people would be closer to 90 minutes.
  - MichaelDickens 7y ago
    A 10-minute mile pace is definitely not walking speed--that's about twice as fast as most people walk.
ip26 7y ago
FWIW A recent study found that e-bike riders get more net exercise, because they ride more. Basically Jevons Paradox.

zbrozek 7y ago

I live a lot closer to work - 4.5 miles straight down Central Expressway. Even though my route is no better than what I could do by car, both my average and variance are much better by bike than by car. Typically 15 minutes door-to-door by bike. I can't touch that by car, with evening commutes often taking 45 minutes. I wave at my coworkers when I bike past them.

retbull 7y ago
When I am in SF often I can walk faster than I can drive.
- DoreenMichele 7y ago
  In La Jolla, I had a bus pass because I had been running errands. I was tired and we had more stuff to do, so I took the bus since I already had a pass good for the whole day. It didn't cost anything. My sons walked to meet me somewhere midway to where we were going. They arrived about the same time I did. I would get ahead of them because the bus is faster -- when it's actually moving. Then we would sit at a light or get stuck in traffic, and I would watch my sons pull ahead of the bus. When we first gave up our car, it took no more time to pick up groceries on foot than by car. The same scenario often took place, where a car would zoom past us, then get stuck trying to turn into the parking lot. We were going into the store while they were looking for a parking space. Cars on the open highway going long distances are absolutely much faster than someone walking. But for many local trips, they aren't as advantageous as many Americans assume them to be and will vociferously argue they are when presented with such stories.
  - retbull 7y ago
    I live in a suburb so I have to drive to many places but I have started to notice that even if I can't walk to the store in less than 20 min it feels a ton less stressful than driving for 3 and parking for 5. I should probably get a bike as this is the perfect distance for it.
soperj 7y ago
You should be able to walk 4.5 miles in 45 minutes.
- karthikb 7y ago
  Walking speed is 15-20 minutes per mile...a 4.5 mile walk for most people would be closer to 90 minutes.
- MichaelDickens 7y ago
  A 10-minute mile pace is definitely not walking speed--that's about twice as fast as most people walk.

ip26 7y ago

FWIW A recent study found that e-bike riders get more net exercise, because they ride more. Basically Jevons Paradox.