How far is your routine round-trip commute?

[basketcase]

Like everyone else, gas prices are killing us around where I live! Naturally it hits hardest for those who drive the most. And given the nature of our work styles and the design of our communities, a commute is now the norm.

From Tuscaloosa, the nearest large metropolitan area is Birmingham, which can mean a commute (one way) of 40 miles, to 70 miles, depending on where one is going in the city. Everybody is moaning about fuel prices.

The only upshot I see is a boom in motorcycle commuting. There are some half-dozen new riders – or at least, new individuals commuting on various motorcycles along the lanes I frequent.

When bicycles start taking over, we will know alternative fuels have finally taken hold in the public mind…

[jmerlino]

Slightly off topic:

It's important to remember that gas prices, while at record highs in absolute dollars, are not at record highs in inflation-adjusted dollars. In today's dollars, gas peaked in 1981 at something like $3.20/gal. While the record highs then did lead to the development of more fuel efficient cars, they did not signal the end of gasoline as our major fuel source. I suspect that much the same thing will happpen this time around.

Personally, what I'd like to see is a growth in off-site employment and telecommuting. I'm a contractor and work from home. I have, literally, no commute, unless you count the walk from the bedroom to the livingroom. Consequently, gas prices don't really affect me that much. Sure a $10 fill up for the bike, or a $40 fill up for the car hurts, but if you're not doing it that often the pinch is mostly psychological. On the other hand I once had a 75 mile (each way) commute. I'd have to fill the tank several times per week, and even though this was when gas prices were very low, it still hurt.

There are a lot of jobs out there that don't really require a person's actual presence in the office. With things like email, instant messaging, and of course the phone, a person at home on his or her computer can be just as "present" as if he or she were at the office. This would have several beneficial effects: 1) it would reduce fuel consumption, 2) it would reduce traffic congestion(*), and 3) it would "lubricate" the economy by making people more flexible about where they could take jobs.

(*) Reducing traffic congestion would also be good for fuel consumption. Hybrid vehicles, as I understand it, don't do particularly well in stop-and-go traffic - they need a decent stretch of running at speed to get their electrics charged up and running. Even my non-hybrid Beetle gets much better mileage when I can drive it at speed for a while. Getting people off the roads would allow greater efficiency on the part of those people who do need to be on the roads.

Anyway, sorry for the digression. Just something I've been thinking about.

[lorazepam]

I do field service work, and have to take an astro van due to parts and tools. I can travel anywhere from 100 to 1200 miles in a day depending on where I am needed. It is a good thing the company supplies the vehicle and gas, because 19mpg would break me quick.
I do get to ride the bike once in a while when I know I have an easy job, and my customers really like the fact I ride up on a bike.

[jmerlino]

I do get to ride the bike once in a while when I know I have an easy job, and my customers really like the fact I ride up on a bike.

Yeah, man. If I called a service person and someone rode up to my house (especially on a Beemer) I'd be psyched! :D

[NGAK12]

Gas would have to get a lot more expensive before I would ever consider it. Safety & convenience are top priorities for me.
But just look at the real costs involved. Calculate the difference in gas mileage between your car & bike. Price difference between 87 octane (car) and 93 octane (bike). Then factor in the difference in things like tire wear on a bike (3-8000 miles for 2 tires vs. 35-40,000 for 4 on a car), depreciation & maintenance for a bike, extra gear to ride in 4 seasons, all types of weather, etc. and a car starts to look a lot better to me.

[BubbaZanetti]

yeah, bikes aren't that much cheaper to run than cars, cause you're always buying tires and new accessories for them, but in terms of happiness, a bike delivers much more. it's actually fun to ride to and from work and that puts a much better spin on your whole day. and i would way rather fill up 3 times a week @ 10 dollars than once or twice @ 35 dollars and not have any fun with the vehicle i'm putting that gas into

[jmerlino]

yeah, bikes aren't that much cheaper to run than cars, cause you're always buying tires and new accessories for them, but in terms of happiness, a bike delivers much more. it's actually fun to ride to and from work and that puts a much better spin on your whole day. and i would way rather fill up 3 times a week @ 10 dollars than once or twice @ 35 dollars and not have any fun with the vehicle i'm putting that gas into

True dat. If I had a commute, I'd probably bike it whenever the weather was nice enough. (Although as somebody (Gail?) said, it's not the 10 mile commute to work that'll get ya, it's the 75 mile commute home.)

[BobFV1]

Mine is 9 miles - no category for me in your poll....

[basketcase]

Hmm. A gap in the offerings...

I'll check and see if I can edit that.

Via edit. Nope. When I try and edit the original post it does not let me into the polls feature.

Darn -- maybe one of the moderators can make the change to say < 10 miles.

Sorry.

[IAMBOB]

My commute varies according to the weather. If it's raining it's about 20 miles one way, if it's not raining about 40 miles one way.. if it's a cloudless blue sky and I can smell the flowers blooming, or freshly cut grass.. At LEAST 150 each way...

[IAMBOB]

Then factor in the difference in things like tire wear on a bike (3-8000 miles for 2 tires vs. 35-40,000 for 4 on a car),
3 - 8000 miles on a tire?? You have to be kidding I hope!! That means I will soon have to buy new tires, and probably twice or three times a year...

Nope, still prefer the bike to the truck!

[BubbaZanetti]

3 - 8000 miles on a tire?? You have to be kidding I hope!! That means I will soon have to buy new tires, and probably twice or three times a year...

Nope, still prefer the bike to the truck!

i'm gonna get at least 10K out of my pilot roads if it kills me, i just put them on in june and they're looking fine w/about 8K, 2 sets of tires in 2 months is 2 much for my wallet

[GSTom]

My commute is under 2 miles and takes about 10 minutes on my bicycle. This is less time than it takes for me to get my gear on, roll the motorcycle out of the garage, be delayed at the traffic lights etc.

Sad part is that I have to ride through the "rough" part of town and the only other bicyclists I see are cigarette smoking down and outs who have lost their driver's licenses. :laugh

[Braddog]

I drive an old airhead that gets decent mileage and is easy on tires. My 4 wheeled vehicle of choice is a Ford F150 truck that gets about 1/3 the mileage that my bikes do. I've got Metzlers that have closeto 6000 miles on them, and they look almost new.

The majority of my riding is commuting. If I didn't ride my motorcycle to commute, I wouldn't get very many miles in.

There is a HUGE happiness factor. Riding to work gives a great start and a great end to my work day.

There is definitely a safety factor. I think the key is finding a decent route to your workplace, and sticking with it to learn the traffic patterns, learn the road very well, etc. You'll then feel a little more secure because you'll be able to predict potential problems better. At least in my humble opinion. There will always be the risk of an accident as long as your riding. The same could be said of driving in 4 wheels. The key is to continue learning, and realize that you never stop learning.

[basketcase]

Braddog commented -- There is a HUGE happiness factor. Riding to work gives a great start and a great end to my work day.
About a month before I re-entered riding some ... 10 + years ago, I was on my way home one afternon from Birmingham, AL, and passed a guy on a Gold Wing.

He was tooling along with the afternoon flow of traffic in dressy casual clothes, his necktie flapping in the wind, and with a huge look of contentment on his face.

It was early spring time and the weather was perfect. I remember thinking at the time, "That guy is loving this commute and here I am hating it."

I bought a bike the next month.

[selil]

If you want to see a funny look on peoples faces... I walk into the classroom, take of my stitch and in 30 seconds I'm standing there ready to conduct class in my coat and tie.... and Magnum boots shined like my smile... :)

The puzzled looks on my students faces is worth the hassle the deans and department heads give me over my ride.

[Bob_M]

This morning I took the long way, 6 miles, so that I could ride along the bike path along the Willamette River. There is an Osprey nest with a fledgling in it on route. :thumb
Pretty good stuff. I wonder how many other forum users are (semi) serious bicyclists?

[The_Veg]

I'm in the same boat as Loraz. I have a company van full of stuff, in this case a 2004 Chevy Express 2500 with a 6.6 litre V8 and a 32-gallon tank- thank goodness I don't buy the gas! I've driven it to client sites as close as 1 mile, as far as hundreds of miles. Around 99% of my work is done at client sites- I only stop in at the office maybe once every few weeks and then just for a few minutes for whatever adminstrative BS reason. Even when I just need the contents of a toolbag, I still take the van for several reasons:
-It's often too hot to ride, and the protective gear over my uniform and the resulting sweat means that I show up not looking like a pro who's in charge of the situation. This is very important since I'm a safety inspector and I work in hospitals.
-Cannot use company communications (2-way radio) on the bike.
-Company pays all expenses for the van and lets me take it home.
-If I'm in the van, my insurance is not involved if I am in an accident (in fact worker's comp will cover my injuries if I'm hurt while commuting in the van).
-I often get surprises during the day that either involve more hauling capability than the bike could ever hope for, or require the equipment in the van.
-And as a silly point, folks tend to get outta my way when they see the big white-and-blue behemoth bearing down on them in the mirror! :D

[kbasa]

Unless I'm traveling for work, I work from a home office.

[James.A]

52 miles round trip, though I have lately been taking the car. I leave before dawn, and I have an option to take 2 lanes all the way or jump on the interstate half way there. I won't take the 2 lane before daylight because of the deer menace. Construction on the interstate has made the slab a bone jarring hazzard, so no riding commute for 3 weeks. The good news is that there was a finished lane open this morning. Back in the saddle come monday.

[BradfordBenn]

Yup, showing up in formal clothes under the 'Stich is a blast.

Also I did a service call on the RT, it is always a blast to see their reactions.

[Callmethebreeze]

Unless I'm traveling for work, I work from a home office.
Dave,
Do you perform a core function? :rofl
Just kidding!
Breeze

[YB in IN]

Yup, showing up in formal clothes under the 'Stich is a blast.

Also I did a service call on the RT, it is always a blast to see their reactions.

I rode to a gig in just a tuxedo onetime. I got some pretty funny looks from other motorists.

[selil]

I rode to a gig in just a tuxedo onetime. I got some pretty funny looks from other motorists.


When I was in Daytona a few years back during trailer week a very young (20 or at most 25) young lady on a K75 rode up and parked next to me just off main street. Full face Arai, Aerostich, and good boots. She opened up one of her system cases took off her helmet chatting amiably about nothing. Then she shed her stich stopping me cold. The lovely young lass was wearing a very tiny string type bikini and her boots... She shed her boots for flip-flops and I rolled my tounge back up in my head (I was a 30 something bachelor) while watching her head off down main street.

I decided right then and there I would only wear a thong with my stitch. Getting it on over my stitch is a headache but I think the look is worth it.

[jmerlino]

I decided right then and there I would only wear a thong with my stitch. Getting it on over my stitch is a headache but I think the look is worth it.

Ba-dump tssshh!

[kbasa]

Dave,
Do you perform a core function? :rofl
Just kidding!
Breeze

I'm in sales, so if I'm spending lots of time in the office, we've got big problems.


Like finding a new job. :hide

[PacWestGS]

I do field service work, and have to take an astro van due to parts and tools. I can travel anywhere from 100 to 1200 miles in a day depending on where I am needed. It is a good thing the company supplies the vehicle and gas, because 19mpg would break me quick.
I do get to ride the bike once in a while when I know I have an easy job, and my customers really like the fact I ride up on a bike.

Lorazepam, 1200 miles is not, I repete not, a commute. That is a journey to somewhere. Exactly what are you smokin' HA HA :brow

[knary]

0 miles. I'm always at work. :cry

[MarkF]

Slightly off topic:

It's important to remember that gas prices, while at record highs in absolute dollars, are not at record highs in inflation-adjusted dollars. In today's dollars, gas peaked in 1981 at something like $3.20/gal.

Adjusted for inflation milk has steadily increased without much a fuss. Milk is transported less distance and requires less processing than gasoline yet cost more per gallon. What's up with that?

P.S. My commute is 15 mi. one way - if I go straight there or home. That doesn't happen often.

[PacWestGS]

My daily (semi-daily) grind is 45-miles one-way. If I do and it's not very often, I'll return the same day for a 90-mile commute. More than is wanted it's an every other day equation four days a week, the fifth day is a 90-mile trip.

Suit and tie some days, pressed Dockers and collard shirt the rest of time.

I don't have a beef with the cost of gas, it has been suppressed for far too long and has led to an over consumption by many Americans and their super-size me SUVs. Everybody should ride bikes.

You don't hear people complain about buying a half-liter of water for $2.39 and that takes no processing.

I'm sure glad "W" took us to war for "OIL", 'cause it sure is helping the motorcycle industry.

P.S. I own a ’96 ¾-ton heavy duty diesel P/U cost me over $75.00 to fill it up (it’s currently collecting dust)

[Burnszilla]

I commute 5 days a week 60 miles roundtrip. When my wife asked me to drive the Xterra last Saturday it felt awkward, like I forgot how to drive a 4 wheeled vehicle.

[ScottM]

Due to rediculous price of housing in the Bay Area and my absolute reluctance to spend 750K for a fixer-upper, I have chosen to live away. Nice house on a golf course with lots of different ways to get to work without the slab. Granted $12 fill ups three or four times a week is pricey, it sure beats the $35 every other day for the car and $80 for the Dodge 2500 Cummins. By the way, if you are not aware diesel is over $3.10 in sunny California now!
:bikes

[boofer]

Nine miles round trip. :dunno One stop sign on the way in, all highway. Fortunately I have no GPS, so I get lost alot :thumb

Tim

[BradfordBenn]

My new commute is 8 miles each way. However I now have a blackberry, so I am not sure when I am not working. :brad