Howdy all,

Help me figure out which route is better to ride to work. I've been going over and over it in my mind trying to figure out which one is safer -- don't really care about length as they are both between 7-9 miles one way so not that big a difference. I've ridden all these roads on weekends and off times and I still can't make up my mind. I've asked friends who are familiar with the roads and they all think I'm crazy for trying to ride to work in the first place. I plan to get there early and beat the rush, but the way back things start getting busy around 2:30-3 and don't slow down until 7:30.

To work:

Route A:
Take neighborhood roads to a 2 lane road with speed limit of 45 that has a bike lane. Bike lane is usually clean, but there are tree branches with thorns leaning into it in several places. At one point have to make a left turn, but can always turn right nto an apartment complex, turn around and get a light. Go under a highway, then take another 2 lane road (Duval) where the speed limit is 35. Line of sight is bad on this road as it is really winding, and of course nobody goes 35. It does have "bike route" signs on it but there is not a bike lane. (There is a white line painted about 6 inches from the curb, but I don't think that's much of a lane!) Sign saying "Bike Route Ends" about 3/10 of a mile before it goes over a highway and the speed limit changes to 45, then have to make an immediate left into work. Again, can turn right, go down a road a ways and turn around to get a light.

Route B:
Take neighborhood roads to a 2 lane road with a speed limit of 60 that has a really wide shoulder. Shoulder doesn't seem to get cleaned that often and there's always debris. There's usually lots of cyclists on this road on the weekend though. Bad thing about this route is that the shoulder becomes a right turn lane every few miles so would have to get over into the straight lane -- this isn't a problem on the weekends when you go early and there's no traffic, but not sure how tricky it would be during the week. Turn right onto a 2 lane road where the speed limit is 35, then turn onto Duval mentioned above right before the highway intersection, and have to take a left into work.

Then on the way home, I have the same two options as above. Either way on the way back home I'd have to be on the worst section of Duval. Also, at one point on Duval the right lane becomes a right turn only and it's always a mess with people trying to get into it at the last possible minute so they get a good place in line. If I took Route B back home I'd need to be in the right turn lane, if I took route A back I'd need to go straight. In either case, there's a sign that says "Bike Route Ends" right before this tricky section!

Duval has a bunch of businesses and apartment complexes on it so there are always people turning in and out. Oh and there's a train track to cross too.

Other bad thing about route B on the way back is that I'd need to make a left turn. Can always become a ped and hoof it though.

There may be a way to only ride on route B for a little while, I've been looking at maps and might have found a road that makes it through a bunch of neighborhoods (most neighborhoods don't connect around here, don't ask me why). Planning on trying to figure it out this weekend, but I'm not holding my breath.

Thanks for any an all advice! I have ridden to work a few times before, but I either went really early and had my husband pick me up after (since we were going to do stuff together after it was on his way) or I rode in on the weekends when there wasn't traffic.

The reality is that until you ride these two routes in actual commuting conditions on multiple days, you simply will not know. My gut says to go with the first route, but there are so many variables that you can't say. There are all kinds of variables that only really appear when you're out there, riding the route day to day. You'll just have to try both and see which one you like.

The reality is that until you ride these two routes in actual commuting conditions on multiple days, you simply will not know. My gut says to go with the first route, but there are so many variables that you can't say. There are all kinds of variables that only really appear when you're out there, riding the route day to day. You'll just have to try both and see which one you like.

But I wanted to make sure I wasn't doing something stupid by even considering one or the other. Thanks.

I like roads with as few of those as possible. I'll take my chances with lefts, because I can decide what to do when I get to it, but turning drivers are always a threat, especially if they're sleepy or hurrying. Ride the roads as others suggest, but if one has lots of stores and restaurants on it, you'll probably like the other one better.

Howdy all,

Help me figure out which route is better to ride to work. I've been going over and over it in my mind trying to figure out which one is safer -- don't really care about length as they are both between 7-9 miles one way so not that big a difference. I've ridden all these roads on weekends and off times and I still can't make up my mind. I've asked friends who are familiar with the roads and they all think I'm crazy for trying to ride to work in the first place. I plan to get there early and beat the rush, but the way back things start getting busy around 2:30-3 and don't slow down until 7:30.

To work:

Route A:
Take neighborhood roads to a 2 lane road with speed limit of 45 that has a bike lane. Bike lane is usually clean, but there are tree branches with thorns leaning into it in several places. At one point have to make a left turn, but can always turn right nto an apartment complex, turn around and get a light. Go under a highway, then take another 2 lane road (Duval) where the speed limit is 35. Line of sight is bad on this road as it is really winding, and of course nobody goes 35. It does have "bike route" signs on it but there is not a bike lane. (There is a white line painted about 6 inches from the curb, but I don't think that's much of a lane!) Sign saying "Bike Route Ends" about 3/10 of a mile before it goes over a highway and the speed limit changes to 45, then have to make an immediate left into work. Again, can turn right, go down a road a ways and turn around to get a light.

Route B:
Take neighborhood roads to a 2 lane road with a speed limit of 60 that has a really wide shoulder. Shoulder doesn't seem to get cleaned that often and there's always debris. There's usually lots of cyclists on this road on the weekend though. Bad thing about this route is that the shoulder becomes a right turn lane every few miles so would have to get over into the straight lane -- this isn't a problem on the weekends when you go early and there's no traffic, but not sure how tricky it would be during the week. Turn right onto a 2 lane road where the speed limit is 35, then turn onto Duval mentioned above right before the highway intersection, and have to take a left into work.

Then on the way home, I have the same two options as above. Either way on the way back home I'd have to be on the worst section of Duval. Also, at one point on Duval the right lane becomes a right turn only and it's always a mess with people trying to get into it at the last possible minute so they get a good place in line. If I took Route B back home I'd need to be in the right turn lane, if I took route A back I'd need to go straight. In either case, there's a sign that says "Bike Route Ends" right before this tricky section!

Duval has a bunch of businesses and apartment complexes on it so there are always people turning in and out. Oh and there's a train track to cross too.

Other bad thing about route B on the way back is that I'd need to make a left turn. Can always become a ped and hoof it though.

There may be a way to only ride on route B for a little while, I've been looking at maps and might have found a road that makes it through a bunch of neighborhoods (most neighborhoods don't connect around here, don't ask me why). Planning on trying to figure it out this weekend, but I'm not holding my breath.

Thanks for any an all advice! I have ridden to work a few times before, but I either went really early and had my husband pick me up after (since we were going to do stuff together after it was on his way) or I rode in on the weekends when there wasn't traffic.

I don't know the routes, but I am willing to throw a wrench into the whole equation and suggest that a route of 7-9 miles is very short, and therefore, there might even be a longer route that would require more of a detour to get there that would be an even better option for you. Again, I don't know this for a fact, just a suggestion that maybe you haven't considered "all" of the options just yet.

Either way, good to hear that you are going to commute.

I don't know the routes, but I am willing to throw a wrench into the whole equation and suggest that a route of 7-9 miles is very short, and therefore, there might even be a longer route that would require more of a detour to get there that would be an even better option for you. Again, I don't know this for a fact, just a suggestion that maybe you haven't considered "all" of the options just yet.

Either way, good to hear that you are going to commute.

I agree. When I commute to work, it is 20 miles one way- not the most direct route, but certainly the safest and most scenic. I'll also take a deserted MUT (haters be damned) on the way home to avoid a very busy shoulderless road that functions as a residential freeway.

When I ride to class, it is 7 miles, and doesn't even feel like a workout- only worth doing to avoid using my car.

I don't know the routes, but I am willing to throw a wrench into the whole equation and suggest that a route of 7-9 miles is very short, and therefore, there might even be a longer route that would require more of a detour to get there that would be an even better option for you. Again, I don't know this for a fact, just a suggestion that maybe you haven't considered "all" of the options just yet.

Either way, good to hear that you are going to commute.

When I drive there usingroute A it's a 4.5 mile trip. :)

Trying to rack my brain to come up with a better way and I've been staring at maps, but so far I haven't come up with anything.

When I drive there usingroute A it's a 4.5 mile trip. :)

Trying to rack my brain to come up with a better way and I've been staring at maps, but so far I haven't come up with anything.

I would go with Kerry Irons suggestion then and just start riding in. You may find that one route will work best in the AM but is not a good option for the PM commute. I can think of some of my weekend training loops that are great options on the weekend, but on many of these loops I would consider another option if i were to commute in the AM or PM. You might find that there are some options that come to mind after some time commuting that you didn't even think of from starring at the map.