# I'm considering starting a long bike commute in a very bike-unfriendly city. **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [August 29, 2011, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-considering-starting-a-long-bike-commute-in-a-very-bike-unfriendly-city/594520 "2011-08-29T17:46:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Ogre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ecb155/32.png) [@Ogre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ogre)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2011, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-considering-starting-a-long-bike-commute-in-a-very-bike-unfriendly-city/594520/21 "2011-08-29T21:56:59Z")
> [@Sauron](#): > > The 'ham! **Ogre** , why did I think you were in the Talladega area? > > I work in Hoover. If you’re truly biking into the downtown area, I’d say don’t do it. Sure, you’ll get great exercise and be ecologically and environmentally friendly. None of that will help you when you’re killed or seriously injured due to the idiot drivers around here. > > If you’re biking into one of the outlying areas, I’d be more inclined to think it’s a halfway good idea … nah, the more I think about it, I’d still say don’t do it. As you know, we’re just not set up for bikers in the metro area. > > Plus, how are you going to pick up barbecue for supper on your way home? Yep, biking straight into the heart of UAB. Believe it or not, the metro area is by far the safest part of the route. There are SO many alternate paths to take that I should be able to easily find a low-traffic path. Hell, I may just cross the tracks at 41st and take 1st South on the way in and out. Nobody EVER uses 1st South. What I’m worried about is the long, long stretch of 1st North outside the city (coming from the Roebuck area). And I also know two folks who bike commute to and from Pelham every day. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2011, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-considering-starting-a-long-bike-commute-in-a-very-bike-unfriendly-city/594520/22 "2011-08-29T22:01:00Z")
My brother lives right around Birmingham. They used to live in Hoover but they moved recently and I forget the new town name. Good luck with your commute. ---
**Author:** ![Ogre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ecb155/32.png) [@Ogre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ogre)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2011, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-considering-starting-a-long-bike-commute-in-a-very-bike-unfriendly-city/594520/23 "2011-08-29T22:04:52Z")
> [@Telemark](#): > > My brother lives right around Birmingham. They used to live in Hoover but they moved recently and I forget the new town name. Good luck with your commute. Thank you! I may try it out for the first time tomorrow. Will let you guys know how it goes. ---
**Author:** ![Sauron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce7236/32.png) [@Sauron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sauron)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2011, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-considering-starting-a-long-bike-commute-in-a-very-bike-unfriendly-city/594520/24 "2011-08-29T22:06:14Z")
> [@Ogre](#): > > Yep, biking straight into the heart of UAB. Believe it or not, the metro area is by far the safest part of the route. My bad – I wasn’t clear. The downtown area isn’t the problem, to my mind – it’s the seven or eight miles you’ll have to travel to GET to the downtown area that would scare the hair off my back. I don’t want to be the downer, but seriously, I think this has the potential to be a very dangerous thing to do. Especially coming from Roebuck! You’ll be sharing the road with Tarrant commuters! Think about what you’re considering, man! And lastly – do you truly know two people who bike to UAB from _Pelham_? ---
**Author:** ![redtail23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/3e96dc/32.png) [@redtail23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/redtail23)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2011, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-considering-starting-a-long-bike-commute-in-a-very-bike-unfriendly-city/594520/25 "2011-08-29T22:15:18Z")
> [@Ogre](#): > > Hmmm…I won’t be spending much money for a while. One of the reasons to do this is that I’m poor. Would putting kevlar road tires on my bike get me some of the benefits of a hybrid, without laying out tons of money? I was assuming you at least had slicks on the bike. If you’re still riding knobby MTB tires, then yes, this will help quite a lot. If you like the hybrid feel, try out a taller stem/handlebar setup (whenever you get a chance). That’s the other main difference between the two. > [@Ogre](#): > > Forgot to say: I have no shocks of any kind. It’s just an old school steel-frame bike. Sweet! Steel is real, baby! (Me too. Except I haven’t been on a trail in ages. :() I will warn you that you will eventually want fenders and racks/baskets/panniers if you get hooked on commuting. Good luck! ---
**Author:** ![Al\_Bundy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e79b87/32.png) [@Al\_Bundy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Al_Bundy)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2011, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-considering-starting-a-long-bike-commute-in-a-very-bike-unfriendly-city/594520/26 "2011-08-29T22:48:20Z")
You might want to try it as a test, but I’d decide against it as a form of regular exercise. I’d also want fenders so I could go through puddles. The show stopper for me is the traffic you describe. Without a sidewalk or bike path, this is incredibly dangerous. Eventually, you will get hit by a car. Simple as that. And the helmet won’t be of much value when your chest gets crushed. Use the time you save by driving to exercise before or after work. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2011, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-considering-starting-a-long-bike-commute-in-a-very-bike-unfriendly-city/594520/27 "2011-08-30T01:55:55Z")
Sunglasses. The wrap-around style you see cyclists wear come with several different lenses for different light conditions. Make sure you get a clear one for night. Useful for keeping wind, dust and insects out of your eyes. Also, not squinting is more relaxing. ---
**Author:** ![Ogre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ecb155/32.png) [@Ogre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ogre)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2011, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-considering-starting-a-long-bike-commute-in-a-very-bike-unfriendly-city/594520/28 "2011-08-30T02:10:47Z")
By sheer, mind-blowing fortunate happenstance, I ran into an acquaintance of mine tonight. I was at a local nature preserve hunting down what I suspected was a rare plant (I was wrong), and long story, but this guy ended up coming with me. We talked on the trail, and it turns out that he’s a biker, and has done the ride from Roebuck to downtown many times. He just used a slightly different, lighter-traffic route. I think I’ll try a combination of the two, though, since there are BIG hills on part of his route, and I just don’t think I’m up to them yet. ---
**Author:** ![Ogre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ecb155/32.png) [@Ogre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ogre)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2011, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-considering-starting-a-long-bike-commute-in-a-very-bike-unfriendly-city/594520/29 "2011-08-31T18:42:00Z")
OK, so I’ve done a leg. 10 miles from my house to work. I’m sweating like crazy, because I opted to work from home this morning, then do the ride in the hottest possible conditions just to see how I handle it (I’m a little nuts that way). But it wasn’t bad at all! It was a hell of a lot of fun, to tell you the truth. People were friendly and considerate, and were mostly good about making eye contact and giving me a wave and a smile to acknowledge that they saw me. I made the entire distance in just over an hour, which means that I was averaging around 10 mph for the trip. Totally doable and practical. I look forward to the ride back. Bet I’ll sleep well tonight! ---
**Author:** ![Ogre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ecb155/32.png) [@Ogre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ogre)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2011, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-considering-starting-a-long-bike-commute-in-a-very-bike-unfriendly-city/594520/30 "2011-08-31T20:06:58Z")
I did suffer my first noob-related injury. I haven’t been on my bike for so long that I’m unused to unclipping from the pedals. As a result, at a downtown light, I had to make a quick stop to avoid getting hit, and fell over when I couldn’t get my damn feet free. :smack: Inaugural road rash. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2011, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-considering-starting-a-long-bike-commute-in-a-very-bike-unfriendly-city/594520/31 "2011-08-31T20:43:55Z")
> [@Ogre](#): > > I did suffer my first noob-related injury. I haven’t been on my bike for so long that I’m unused to unclipping from the pedals. As a result, at a downtown light, I had to make a quick stop to avoid getting hit, and fell over when I couldn’t get my damn feet free. :smack: There are two groups of clipless pedal riders: those who have fallen over at a stop sign because they forgot to unclip and those who are about to. Fortunately it usually only takes once to really learn the lesson. ---
**Author:** ![outlierrn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/outlierrn/32/3005_2.png) [@outlierrn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/outlierrn)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2011, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-considering-starting-a-long-bike-commute-in-a-very-bike-unfriendly-city/594520/32 "2011-08-31T20:58:53Z")
I always recommend people start with clipless set kinda loose to help avoid this, usually noobs benefit more from unclipping when the weren’t trying, than by not unclipping when they were. Definitely recommend spending some time with a map and maybe riding on your day off to evaluate routes, the fastest (and safest) route for a bike is often not the same as for cars. Even a route that adds 15% to the mileage may take less time if it avoids, say, a bunch of red lights. ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2011, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-considering-starting-a-long-bike-commute-in-a-very-bike-unfriendly-city/594520/33 "2011-08-31T21:08:01Z")
> [@Ogre](#): > > 1. Traffic is going to be quite incredibly heavy. This is a main route into town. > 3a) Bike infrastructure does not exist for at least 8.5 miles of the route. After that, in the downtown area, there are the occasional bike lanes. > 3b) The route goes through some quite appalling neighborhoods. Fairly serious sketchiness. Burned-out houses, burglar-barred businesses, etc. for 2-3 miles. The route I’ll take is very busy, though, with a constant stream of traffic, so I’m hoping that the traffic danger can ameliorate the crime danger. > 3c) The road is four-laned throughout the route, with well-marked turn lanes, lights, etc. I’m hoping this will help me with the traffic. Check your life insurance policy to see that you are still covered in the event of suicide, 'cause that’s what your ride sounds like. ---
**Author:** ![Kevbo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e47774/32.png) [@Kevbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kevbo)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2011, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-considering-starting-a-long-bike-commute-in-a-very-bike-unfriendly-city/594520/34 "2011-08-31T23:21:07Z")
Good for you. I have been commuting by bike this whole spring and summer. I have lost nearly 50lbs, and saved hundreds on fuel. My commute is as short as 5 mi, but when my weight plateaued a month or so back, I started taking a longer scenic route when I have time, so I am averaging 125mi/week including errands at lunchtime and after work, and grocery shopping on the weekends. As for the danger, statistically I will live longer bicycling every day than I would have had I remained obese. (Two weeks ago I dropped below the 30bmi number most often cited as the “official” definition of obesity) If you see bicyclists that look like commuters, chat with them about possible routes. It is likely NOT as bad as you think. If not explore on your own for alternative routes for your bicycle commute. Don’t think like a car driver when selecting the route. People in my city that do not bike are terrified to try because they only see from a car drivers point of view. The only bikes they notice are riders on busy streets that have made poor route choices. It is actually not too bad. There are a lot of bike paths they don’t ever see, and these have some tunnels and bridges that allow safe crossing of freeways and busy streets. The roads with bike lanes are between the main arteries used by most of drivers. Even when the bike paths parallel the roads, drivers are focused on car traffic and never notice all those bikes. You can cut through residential neighborhoods and school zones at top speed without speeding, and without endangering pedestrians. Stop signs don’t cost much time, because you wouldn’t have been driving at 35mph for that time you stopped, and bikes stop and accelerate back to top speed in just a few seconds. You can cut through school yards and portage over medians. You can wait on the median and cross that busy street in two stages, where a car would have to wait 10 minutes for a long enough gap. You can often get through anyway when streets are closed for construction, or residential blocked to prevent shortcutting by car traffic. Stand on the pedals and you don’t even need to slow down for speed bumps. Stuff to watch out for: Eye all parked cars with suspicion and give any car with a driver in a wide birth…just assume they will open the door without checking the mirror. This is the biggest reason I will sometimes “hog the road” and annoy the car behind me. Watch the wheels of cars at side streets and driveways that you think see you and are waiting for you to pass. You will see the wheels start to turn before you can tell the car is moving forward (I hate spinner hubcaps!) Look for cars in parking lots moving toward the driveways…don’t give them the opportunity to hit you. 99.9% of the time, a driver that hits a bike or motorcycle “just didn’t see it” (an admission of guilt, not an excuse!) If a driver is getting pissed at you, this means they see you, and if they see you they are far less likely to kill you. Seriously, can you blame them for being mad at having to see the world locked in a cage. Really though, think about where you ride to be most visible, and where you are safest from what stupid stunt a driver might pull, and if it delays the car behind you for a few seconds, screw them. Review your local laws. In my city the traffic code says I should stay _at\_least_ 3 feet from parked cars, and I am NOT required to keep far to the right if there is not sufficient room to safely pass me, and that is defined as passing with 3’ of clearance between me and the car. On many residential streets there is not room to safely pass me if there are cars parked on both sides, and you can be sure I will be right in the middle to discourage it…and I will move over in 1/4 block where there are no parked cars on one side. If you commute on a bike, you will sometimes have to ride in the rain. Fenders are your friend. The plastic ones are durable, cheap, and easy to install on most bikes. I have found no garment that keeps me dry…if it keeps the rain out, it keeps the sweat in, and I end up not just wet, but wet and stinking, goretex included. Wool will keep you warm if not dry, and with fenders you end up wet and clean instead. If you have an office job, you need a way to clean up when you get to work, or enough time to make the commute at well under 10mph…unless you are freak that can ride fast and not sweat. Even if you ride slow, if you wear a backpack, you will pool sweat under the pack. Messenger bags work better than backpacks, and panniers work better still. Ortlieb makes good, simple panniers that are waterproof and attach nicely to a rack. ---
**Author:** ![Ogre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ecb155/32.png) [@Ogre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ogre)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2011, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-considering-starting-a-long-bike-commute-in-a-very-bike-unfriendly-city/594520/35 "2011-09-01T02:31:35Z")
As chippy as everything went this morning, it all went to crap this afternoon. I had neglected to finish putting together my road kit in my eagerness to get started, so when my back tire came up flat, I ended up walking for 20 blocks of pure ghetto. Nothing happened. Nobody bothered me, but I was still annoyed at having to call my wife for a ride when I had this perfectly good, if unusable, bike I was walking with. All that has now been remedied. I have extra tubes, and I replaced my knobbies with kevlar-lined road slicks this evening. A bike tool and a frame pump round out the kit (along with a patch kit just in case.) I’ll be giving the route another go tomorrow morning. ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2011, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-considering-starting-a-long-bike-commute-in-a-very-bike-unfriendly-city/594520/36 "2011-09-01T14:35:53Z")
> [@Kevbo](#): > > Eye all parked cars with suspicion and give any car with a driver in a wide birth…just assume they will open the door without checking the mirror. That brings back painful memories. > [@Kevbo](#): > > 99.9% of the time, a driver that hits a bike or motorcycle “just didn’t see it” (an admission of guilt, not an excuse!) Hell, I’ve even been hit while stopped at a light because the driver didn’t see me. ---
**Author:** ![Quercus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/7ab992/32.png) [@Quercus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quercus)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2011, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-considering-starting-a-long-bike-commute-in-a-very-bike-unfriendly-city/594520/37 "2011-09-01T14:45:20Z")
First, read this for safety advice: [Bicycling Street Smarts](http://www.bikexprt.com/streetsmarts/index.htm) (Short version: ride where drivers can see you, which means where cars are.) One of the most difficult parts of safe cycling is getting over the psychological uneasiness/fear of having a giant smoke-breathing monster Right Behind You where you can’t see it. Your instinct is to get out of the way and hide. But that’s actually the most dangerous thing to do: statistics back up the simple idea that drivers don’t generally hit things they can see, especially cyclists right in the middle of the lane. On the other hand, drivers do hit cyclists they didn’t see, because the cyclist was riding on the sidewalk, or going the wrong way, or so close to parked cars that they were hard to see, etc. Anyway, safety rant aside, here’s my other $.02. You might consider drop bars at some point; even if it means getting a new frame (get a used 10-speed or something). Being able to shift position makes things a lot more comfortable for any ride over ten minutes. Get a rack and panniers. Straps digging into your shoulders, a sweaty back, and trying to balance with a pack swinging around all suck. I bring my shoes, clothes, and towel with me every commute (I sweat way too much to wear cycling clothes at work), so I need two big ones. But even if you don’t bring clothes every day, you’ll want somewhere to carry rain gear. Speaking of which, one thing I love are cheap waterproof overbooties from Campmor. com. ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2011, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-considering-starting-a-long-bike-commute-in-a-very-bike-unfriendly-city/594520/38 "2011-09-01T21:47:37Z")
> [@Ogre](#): > > I ran into an acquaintance of mine tonight. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2011, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-considering-starting-a-long-bike-commute-in-a-very-bike-unfriendly-city/594520/39 "2011-09-01T21:54:57Z")
I decided long ago it wasn’t worth the risk. Let’s presume you save $100 on gas a month. One trip to the ER will wipe out months of gas savings. Get hospitalized? Now you are losing serious money. People around here never yield to bicycles. I’d love to ride to work, but the six lane road there would eventually get me badly hurt or killed on a bicycle. I keep hoping someday we’ll get bike paths around the city. That would encourage everyone to ride. ---
**Author:** ![jasonh300](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/46a35a/32.png) [@jasonh300](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jasonh300)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2011, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-considering-starting-a-long-bike-commute-in-a-very-bike-unfriendly-city/594520/40 "2011-09-02T00:59:29Z")
So you’re turning your 8 hour work day into a 10 hour work day, and you’re not getting paid for 2 hours of it? Unless that 20 mile round trip commute was costing me about $40 a day, it wouldn’t be worth it to me. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-considering-starting-a-long-bike-commute-in-a-very-bike-unfriendly-city/594520.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-considering-starting-a-long-bike-commute-in-a-very-bike-unfriendly-city/594520.md?page=3)