Commuter Shout out!

[Dead Fingers]

Work is 1.3 miles for me, so it is almost too easy to bike. That of course, is for approximately 7-10 months out of the year. With winter it gets a bit more difficult. :D

Also, to note, the Twin Cities is one of the better bike commuter towns in the country. As with the high cost of gas, more and more people are biking to work. What concerns me is the rise in accidents/fatalities and the fairly heated debate between bikers and drivers. They just had a memorial ride here to remember 4 riders who have been killed recently.
http://www.startribune.com/local/north/30176329.html?elr=KArksUUUU

[Moishe]

Work is 1.3 miles for me, so it is almost too easy to bike. That of course, is for approximately 7-10 months out of the year. With winter it gets a bit more difficult. :D

Also, to note, the Twin Cities is one of the better bike commuter towns in the country. As with the high cost of gas, more and more people are biking to work. What concerns me is the rise in accidents/fatalities and the fairly heated debate between bikers and drivers. They just had a memorial ride here to remember 4 riders who have been killed recently.
http://www.startribune.com/local/north/30176329.html?elr=KArksUUUU

I have about 15 miles round trip to commute which I try to do three times a week. Winters here have all but ceased to exist so wind is really the only thing you contend with b/w December and February. Austin is a fantastic bike town but the traffic has become much worse than ever.

Sadly your concern about safety is felt by most of us nation/world wide. I read the article you linked and the mention of the ghost bikes is something we do here in ATX as well. One of my favorite training routes has us pass one on the way out of town and it really does humble you and remind you to keep your ears open. Sadly many motorists are oblivious to the fact that we are traffic. I can't tell you how many times a mirror has come within inches of me. It really sucks.:mad:

If you didn't take part in the ride you should definitely get involved in the memorial rides to show solidarity for your fellow cyclists. I've linked below another ride which has become an annual thing called the "ride of silence". I didn't do it this past year due to a trip to NYC but the year before was one of the most somber experiences in years. Give it a look and if it appeals to you get involved.

http://www.rideofsilence.org/main.php

[RobtheAggie]

I ride 4.77 miles each way from my house to work. There are no shoulders here in Central GA so I am on the street. People are getting better at looking out for bikes, but I still feel the AC from cars every now and then.

[aveslacker]

My commute is about 6 miles roundtrip. It's a mix of roads and paved trails. Generally speaking riders are pretty watchful, but every once in a while I get a bozo who gets a little too close for comfort. It's a nice commute, though, particularly in the fall and spring.

You can commute here in the DC area pretty much year 'round, although I draw the line when there's ice on the roads. Summer doesn't bother me too much -- as a native Houstonian a little heat won't slow me down.

[Moishe]

My commute regardless of which way to go has me spinning down the service roads of two freeways. Real early or after 6pm is not too bad but any other time it's sketch city. Any other back-way or alternative route adds another 45 minutes to my ride:( With that said the weather here the past couple of days has been humid and rainy. Not ideal for going to work but riding is riding I guess.

[aveslacker]

My commute regardless of which way to go has me spinning down the service roads of two freeways. Real early or after 6pm is not too bad but any other time it's sketch city. Any other back-way or alternative route adds another 45 minutes to my ride:( With that said the weather here the past couple of days has been humid and rainy. Not ideal for going to work but riding is riding I guess.

Odd, I'd always figured Austin to be a very bike-friendly place. Oh well, proof that it isn't perfect, I suppose.

[Crimson Ace]

I'd love to commute to work, but Birmingham has to easily be one of the worst commuter cities in the US. Besides the mountains, the road system is extremely dangerous for cyclists.

PS... our mayor is a complete moron and will never do anything to assist in easing the pain and frustration of area cyclists.

:mad:

[Moishe]

Odd, I'd always figured Austin to be a very bike-friendly place. Oh well, proof that it isn't perfect, I suppose.

Compared to most cities it is but it's not the utopia it once was. Traffic here has gotten pretty bad in the short time I've actually lived here. I remember coming down to hang out with friends as recently five years ago and being able to have the whole road to yourself. Not what it once was. Change while good can also be a bitch.

[aveslacker]

Compared to most cities it is but it's not the utopia it once was. Traffic here has gotten pretty bad in the short time I've actually lived here. I remember coming down to hang out with friends as recently five years ago and being able to have the whole road to yourself. Not what it once was. Change while good can also be a bitch.

And it is pretty hilly, obviously. I remember it going through a big change in the late 90's, when the tech types invaded. It was pretty stark -- happened over the course of something like a year or two.

Still a great place, though.

[Moishe]

And it is pretty hilly, obviously. I remember it going through a big change in the late 90's, when the tech types invaded. It was pretty stark -- happened over the course of something like a year or two.

Still a great place, though.

Yeah the change was meteoric. We do have our share of hill within city limits. While it's not like climbing in Europe or the Rockies for that matter you still have some brutally steep hills to contend with. If you like to suffer you can always do repeats. I did this two Falls ago to prepare for a Montana trip and it really helped. Where Austin has failed is in growing it's commuting infrastructure at the city government level. We had a nice run where all the money alloted to the alternative commuting program was never used? Politicos:mad: Recently Lance has started lobbying for Austin to get it's commuter programs back in gear. We'll see what happens. If not now then when he's Governor:D

[Dead Fingers]

I will have to see if it went through, BUT Section 211 of the Bailout Bill has benefits for those who commute to work.
http://banking.senate.gov/public/_files/latestversionAYO08C32_xml.pdf

Articles
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/10/08/BA1D13DRO7.DTL

http://www.dispatchpolitics.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2008/10/16/copy/BikeBenefit.ART_ART_10-16-08_B1_B2BK8GV.html?adsec=politics&sid=101

[RobtheAggie]

I will have to see if it went through, BUT Section 211 of the Bailout Bill has benefits for those who commute to work.
http://banking.senate.gov/public/_files/latestversionAYO08C32_xml.pdf

Articles
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/10/08/BA1D13DRO7.DTL

http://www.dispatchpolitics.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2008/10/16/copy/BikeBenefit.ART_ART_10-16-08_B1_B2BK8GV.html?adsec=politics&sid=101

Pork Barrel at its finest!

[Moishe]

Rode about three times since returning from the islands and just not feeling it. I guess 10 days of Red Stripes, ganja and shrooms can have that kinda impact. Helluva way to turn 40 though. While down there I rode a rickety mountain bike from my villa to downtown Negril and that was the most scared I've ever been on a commute. Jamaicans are wonderful people but they can't drive for shit.

[Dead Fingers]

Pork Barrel at its finest!

Are you getting your $20.00 per month?
http://www.bicyclefrenzy.com/356/are-you-getting-your-2000-per-month/

[aveslacker]

After two weeks of icy roads, illness and tricky work schedules, I stepped into my pedals today. Felt like an eternity since I last commuted, but it's always a nice feeling to feel like you've already done something when you sit down at work.

I must be getting used to the cold, too, because it was about 35 this morning when I left and I felt pretty toasty.:eek:

[Moishe]

After two weeks of icy roads, illness and tricky work schedules, I stepped into my pedals today. Felt like an eternity since I last commuted, but it's always a nice feeling to feel like you've already done something when you sit down at work.

I must be getting used to the cold, too, because it was about 35 this morning when I left and I felt pretty toasty.:eek:

When I commute to work it is impossible for me to sit still for what seems like an eternity. It is a nice feeling though to know you've already accomplished more than most of your co-workers without having even logged onto your computer.

[RobtheAggie]

About a week ago it was 16 when I left for work at 5:45am. A little cool on the toes. Today it will be 70 when I go home!

[Moishe]

About a week ago it was 16 when I left for work at 5:45am. A little cool on the toes. Today it will be 70 when I go home!

We had a day within the past couple of weeks in which the difference b/w the low and the high was somewhere around 50 degrees. With 70 degrees outside you'll be going for a ride right?

[RobtheAggie]

We had a day within the past couple of weeks in which the difference b/w the low and the high was somewhere around 50 degrees. With 70 degrees outside you'll be going for a ride right?

I have only driven to work three times this year. That was not due to the cold, but the rain and cold. As a former Upstate New Yorker living in the south, I take the cold while I can.

[RobtheAggie]

24 degrees this morning. I live riding to work!