Spinnerman
09-16-2005, 05:41 AM
I finally did my first commute to work.
First, for anyone who knows the location, my commute is from University Place, WA (near the High School) to Auburn, WA (down the road from the Super Mall near "C" St. & 15th St SW. The route I took was East to Bridgeport, South to 74th, East on 74th (which becomes 72nd St after crossing I-5) to Puyallup, WA where the road merges with Pioneer. Past Main and then a quick left and a right onto East Main Street which becomes Traffic Ave into Sumner, WA then north (I no longer remember the names of a couple of the roads, but have ridden this route on the weekends several times) but eventually link up with Milwaukee into the town of Pacific and then Algona onto the Interurban Trail and then on to work. Next week I would take a right onto South 3rd in Pacific which turns and becomes Ellingson. Then it is a short ride north to the Gym on my work complex and then a short half mile ride after the shower to the office.
The trip to work was very nice. I had many of the roads to myself because I had to leave so early. The distance was approximately 27 to 28 miles, but I couldn't tell you exactly because my light wouldn't let my wireless commuter track the miles. (note to self is that I will use my GPS next time). The only place I had any traffic to deal with was one impatient truck driver at 5:30 in the morning who had to slow a little for me just north of Sumner. I felt sorry for the guy to be in such a hurry at such an early hour that he almost rearended a semi-trailer. Showering was easy the ride was great. The only negative was I wasn't used to all the weight I carried in my messenger bag.
At work, it was a novelty for many in the office seeing my bike parked outside my office door since there wasn't room in my tiny office to park it. Many were very complementry on my efforts to commute by bike. I felt relaxed all day and my boss asked if she could find a a safe place for my bike on the main floor in the building if I would park it down there. She said leaving it where I had it for the next few weeks was fine until she found a place for me to put it. Now a couple of other colleagues in the office are going to ride their mountain bikes after seeing me ride in. (I hope they do).
The ride home was much more hectic and I did not nearly feel as calm and relaxed after I got home. Due to my wife's schedule, on two evenings. I have been looking for a shorter route that would cut about 8 miles off my ride. This would require going up and over Edgewood into Milton and then through the Tacoma Port area and across center street. I tried one option of this route, but the road in Fife on the south side of I-5 (I-5 runs east/west through the town) was way to busy. Everyone was courteous who passed me, but it is only a one lane road and has no shoulder or very limited shoulder. The other option is I could cross I-5 at Milton just north of Fife and get on Hwy 99 West Bound and then over to Hwy 509 into Tacoma. Both of these are major roads, but have very wide shoulders. I would be fine with the shoulders, but not sure how I would feel riding solo with cars going past on the next lane at 55 to 60 mph. The best route in terms of traffic is to retrace my morning commute to Puyallup and then up a lower traffic road then 72nd called Fruitland Ave to 85th and then West to McKinley, South to 96th and then West through Lakewood and into Steilacoom where I would turn north to finish the ride home. The problem with this option is it is over 30 miles.
My plan right now is to continue to ride both ways on Wednesdays since I am only in the office on Tue, Wed and Thurs. I will bring in extra clothes on Tuesday so I don't have to carry as much on me on Wednesday. Once I figure out a route home that I can safely do in 1:45 minutes includuing stopping for lights and traffic, I will drive my truck in on Tuesday AM, ride the bike each way through Thursday morning and then drive home on Thursday evening. At some point in the future, I am hoping that the Sounder Commuter Train will run at earlier times, then I could ride my bike from the office one mile north. Hop on the train into Tacoma and then have time to ride roads home that have low traffic volumes and arrive home with plenty of time to spare. This would also give me a morning option if I was running late and I could start riding into the office on my office days and combing the train and bike home each evening. Plus work will pay for my train fair.
Well, if anyone is familiar with the area and can offer some tips on a return route, I would appreciate it.
Thanks
First, for anyone who knows the location, my commute is from University Place, WA (near the High School) to Auburn, WA (down the road from the Super Mall near "C" St. & 15th St SW. The route I took was East to Bridgeport, South to 74th, East on 74th (which becomes 72nd St after crossing I-5) to Puyallup, WA where the road merges with Pioneer. Past Main and then a quick left and a right onto East Main Street which becomes Traffic Ave into Sumner, WA then north (I no longer remember the names of a couple of the roads, but have ridden this route on the weekends several times) but eventually link up with Milwaukee into the town of Pacific and then Algona onto the Interurban Trail and then on to work. Next week I would take a right onto South 3rd in Pacific which turns and becomes Ellingson. Then it is a short ride north to the Gym on my work complex and then a short half mile ride after the shower to the office.
The trip to work was very nice. I had many of the roads to myself because I had to leave so early. The distance was approximately 27 to 28 miles, but I couldn't tell you exactly because my light wouldn't let my wireless commuter track the miles. (note to self is that I will use my GPS next time). The only place I had any traffic to deal with was one impatient truck driver at 5:30 in the morning who had to slow a little for me just north of Sumner. I felt sorry for the guy to be in such a hurry at such an early hour that he almost rearended a semi-trailer. Showering was easy the ride was great. The only negative was I wasn't used to all the weight I carried in my messenger bag.
At work, it was a novelty for many in the office seeing my bike parked outside my office door since there wasn't room in my tiny office to park it. Many were very complementry on my efforts to commute by bike. I felt relaxed all day and my boss asked if she could find a a safe place for my bike on the main floor in the building if I would park it down there. She said leaving it where I had it for the next few weeks was fine until she found a place for me to put it. Now a couple of other colleagues in the office are going to ride their mountain bikes after seeing me ride in. (I hope they do).
The ride home was much more hectic and I did not nearly feel as calm and relaxed after I got home. Due to my wife's schedule, on two evenings. I have been looking for a shorter route that would cut about 8 miles off my ride. This would require going up and over Edgewood into Milton and then through the Tacoma Port area and across center street. I tried one option of this route, but the road in Fife on the south side of I-5 (I-5 runs east/west through the town) was way to busy. Everyone was courteous who passed me, but it is only a one lane road and has no shoulder or very limited shoulder. The other option is I could cross I-5 at Milton just north of Fife and get on Hwy 99 West Bound and then over to Hwy 509 into Tacoma. Both of these are major roads, but have very wide shoulders. I would be fine with the shoulders, but not sure how I would feel riding solo with cars going past on the next lane at 55 to 60 mph. The best route in terms of traffic is to retrace my morning commute to Puyallup and then up a lower traffic road then 72nd called Fruitland Ave to 85th and then West to McKinley, South to 96th and then West through Lakewood and into Steilacoom where I would turn north to finish the ride home. The problem with this option is it is over 30 miles.
My plan right now is to continue to ride both ways on Wednesdays since I am only in the office on Tue, Wed and Thurs. I will bring in extra clothes on Tuesday so I don't have to carry as much on me on Wednesday. Once I figure out a route home that I can safely do in 1:45 minutes includuing stopping for lights and traffic, I will drive my truck in on Tuesday AM, ride the bike each way through Thursday morning and then drive home on Thursday evening. At some point in the future, I am hoping that the Sounder Commuter Train will run at earlier times, then I could ride my bike from the office one mile north. Hop on the train into Tacoma and then have time to ride roads home that have low traffic volumes and arrive home with plenty of time to spare. This would also give me a morning option if I was running late and I could start riding into the office on my office days and combing the train and bike home each evening. Plus work will pay for my train fair.
Well, if anyone is familiar with the area and can offer some tips on a return route, I would appreciate it.
Thanks