Cycling to work

[SumoDog68]

Would you consider riding your bicycle to work , and why? There is an interesting discussion on Bike Victoria forums about benefits of bike commuting. I love my bikes and love my cars , but believe that cycling is a sport and not capable of replacing a car for our daily transportation needs. Any thoughts?

[ABoringUsername]

Quite a few people do at my work. If your work as good enough facilities (i.e shower, change room) it is probably a good idea.

[sgt_doofey]

I would if I wasn't approximately 80 kms from work. Although, I guess I'd loose the beer belly pretty quick.
It also probably comes down to the route you have to take. In my case, I have the choice of 2 different routes. One is a 90km/h road which has trucks going along it, and the other is a 100km/h road which has trucks going along it. Neither sound like a very safe option to me, so I stick with the car.

[Yellow_Festiva]

I would in an instant, but 25km on the freeway is not possible.

Also, our motoring friends don't seem to get on well with bike riders as a whole, shame really. It works so well in many other countries.

[xbgs351]

I would love to ride to work, but my job requires that I have a ute full of tools and stock. If there was a secure place to park the ute at work I would leave it there overnight and ride.

My fiance often rides to work, especially when the weather is warmer or she isn't working really long hours. One of her workmates rides to work everyday as does his wife. They save a fortune on fuel as they live out of town.

Plenty of people in my cycle club also ride to work. It kills two birds with one stone as it is training and commuting in one.

[yabby6]

I would do it, but not in my current situation with a 75km commute.

When I move closer it will become an option, as my work does have change rooms, showers, bike racks. And with a few hundred people on site in an area just outside the centre of town, car parks can be scarce depending on start times.

Big plus as it is exercise as well, which I struggle to find time for.

Only drawback will be here in Vic it gets bloody cold sometimes. But I'd rather ride the bike 15 minutes than drive the car 3 minutes, and only take the car when I have to drive further to give it time to warm up properly.

[Windsor220]

I am actually considering doing this. I work only 5km from home and fuel prices are getting quite high. Would be good just to leave the XR8 for the weekends. Good way of keeping fit to. Just got to buy a bike.

[Rob]

I'd ride to work for sure, but, like others, the long trip to work means it's not possible.

[XR6_190]

I would love to cycle to and from work every chance I get, but a 42Km trip and the fact I do shift work and am quite often travelling at 3:30 in the morning makes it an unattractive prospect.

[Matty4]

My supervisor rides to work every day. He commutes 30k each way every day (he's a triathlete : ) Once a week he runs in
We do shift work too so he rides home at 3.00am along Beach Rd here in Melb. Constantly complains about the cold, but then he keeps his training up and this allows him to eat 7 full meals a day :togo:

Me, I live 60k away, and it ain't a flat ride either, otherwise I would if I lived much closer

[aussiblue]

No. I used to cycle a lot and as a result one of my first jobs was in a bike shop repairing bikes. I would like to return to cycling but, unfortunately I injured my knee 35 years ago playing football and have not been able to cycle any real distance since without my knee seizing up. Nonetheless, I have just had some tests to decide if knee surgery is required now and perhaps if they decide to proceed and fix it properly this time I might be able to cycle again but I am not counting on it.

As I get travel sick on buses, there is not yet a close train station, its just too hilly a route to in-line skate to work and is too far to run or walk I am left with little option but to drive.

[paule11]

I used to enjoyed it but lots of close calls had a road bicycle and when I would get up over 40kph too many close calls with getting cut off and doors opening.
Brought a touring bike doesnt go as fast and ride on bike paths occasionally.
It doesnt take much longer on the bicycle to get home in the afternoons because of the slow traffic

[Tribal]

The job I have at the moment allows me to do a 30k round trip from home everyday. Definitely the best way to start and end the day if you can.

Originally Posted by xbgs351

It kills two birds with one stone as it is training and commuting in one.

Exactly, fitness and stamina goes through the roof, but I would never just go for a ride in my spare time.

[Ives]

No, because I dont want to be holding the traffic.

[XM-221]

I ride to work every day ... rain, hail or shine. But then again it only takes 4mins, and it's all down hill : Even coming home it's a 7min ride. Saves me on fuel and keeps me fit, and i'm saving $$$'s on rego & insurance : The only problem is that when I need to bring something home or take something there I have to organise for it to be picked up by a mate.

[vanman_75]

i am concidering it for a couple days a month to keep a bit fitter ,but as others have said 38 k to work , good idea though with current fuels dramas

[Pinch]

I have been thinking about this because a few others at our work commute by bike. If I can work out a way to get to the north end of the city from the end of the bike path around Botany Bay via Brighton Le Sands I would consider a few days a month riding into the city from the Shire (about 25ks). Pretty much all down hill to the start off the off road path at Taren Point, its just the last bit to Martin Place I can't work out. Wouldnt save road space though as I already have a yearly train ticket for the commute.

I do ride around my local area quite a lot to the shops etc, and to visit friends and family. My parents are about 15 k away, but a river in the middle of the two means that I have to drive there either of two ways around, whereas when I ride I can go a direct route via a pedestrian/cycleway bridge meaning it takes the same time to ride as it does to drive.

I really only drive these days for fun, to tow (can't pull the Malibu with my pushie), or to pick up lots or big stuff from the shops - or if its raining!

[TZENU]

Would love to ride to work, but there appears to be too many idiots on the roads that lead to my work.....
Most of the time i end up driving home from work and then riding to lysterfield for some fun.!!!!

[old-jim]

I ride to work 4 days a week. 52k round trip. I am lucky that it is bike path most of the way - Springvale Rd (Donvale) alongside the eastern freeway to the City. I ride a mountain bike with slick tyres.
Melbourne can get cold in winter, but a good pair of gloves and a beanie under the helmet keep the cold out.
Work is pretty well setup with secure bike parking and showers. I take 1 hr 20 minutes door to door against 1 hour by public transport.

If an old-fart like me can do it, it cannot be that hard. you just need to be organised.
I have been doing it for so many years now it is just routine.

cheers - jim

[ieatsports_cars]

i live 2 kms away from work, so i brought a bike ,and in one week i saved my self $7 dollars in fuel

[Orbit]

Everyday i ride to work.

Used to ride mango hill to brisbane metro and back everyday while i was in QLD as well.

[Mongoose]

I used to ride to work all the time, before i got my license. Now all my short sunday trips are done in the buick, with all other trips covered in the falcon

[dave351cid]

i ride to work 2 weeks out of every 3. get a work landcruiser the 3rd week while on call out duty.
i have only got 3 blocks to go to work with no traffic except for when crossing the highway i have to watch the trucks. not worth starting the car to go that far and even that short ride each day is a noticable help to my fittness.

[FTE217]

Originally Posted by Ives

No, because I dont want to be holding the traffic.

What a silly post

I got back into riding mid last year on a roadie. Nice early morning rides will do me for fun.
Love it but nah I'll pass riding to work and back, it's ridable distance but not going to lug around my laptop and bits and then get called out from time to time.
Plus riding around Sydney in peak hrs is at own risk imo with the disrepectful driver of this day and age.

[RSgerry]

i used to ride once a week to my old job, about 15km each way. my current place doesnt have lockers so i have nowhere to leave a towel or toiletries. however, i start a new job in Perth City in three weeks, so hopefully there are facilities for lockers and showers. otherwise it is looking like public transport. but i really enjoyed the ride to work as most of it was on cycle paths.

[AUIII]

I use to ride every day gordon park to brisbane cbd it was about 15 minutes quicker than the car cost nothing to park and I was on bike tracks for most of the way, as mentioned before its a great way to start and end the day but I only did it because of the bike tracks I wouldn't ride on main roads.

[xr8-200]

I don't ride because it is a 60km trip for me but a lot of people I work with do. Our company encourages it by offering free bike servicing for those who cycle regularly.