Commuting - Quick Poll

[Greg Foulke]

I just received my commuter ebike this week (Amego Infinite). I have a 14-19 mile one-way commute to work going from the suburbs to downtown Columbus, Ohio. I have two options for a commute route:

Option 1: 19 miles total, 10 miles of that route along a dedicated bike/walk river path separated from the roadway.

Option 2: 14 miles total, but not using any dedicated bike/walk path. This route all along city roads/streets.

While commute time is not unimportant, I do value the safety/pleasant ride of having most my commute away from the roadway.

Which would you choose?

 

[Ian Moone]

Option 1 Most definitely Safer. ?

 

[Deleted member 18083]

Which would you choose?

Option One. There really isn't a viable second option given your absolutely correct safety concerns.

The first option includes a significant on-road section, but the riverside path is the deal clincher.

 

[Dale C]

The bike path . It is a daily reset button where you will find the joy in small things.

 

[christob]

No question, option 1.

 

[onlineaddy]

#1

 

[rich c]

Definitely option 1. Distracted driving has reached epidemic proportions. My wife was hit from behind in our car twice in 1 1/2 years. Both times she was stopped in a line of traffic at a red light. On the street I keep one eye on the mirror making sure I see some sort of movement that the car sees me and is moving over. Riding that much on streets really increases the odds of an accident!

 

[ebikemom]

1. Fewer miles with cars!

 

[vincent]

#1

 

[Greg Foulke]

Impossible to say. The question is too vague and there is not enough information. Maybe the 14 mile route of option 2 is safer than the 9 miles of urban riding included in option 1.

Distance covered isn’t everything...

The non-dedicated path riding in Option 1 is very similar to the road conditions in Option 2.

 

[Marci jo]

Hmmmm....I’m kinda 50/50 on this one. Option 1 still has 9 miles on streets & traffic. Too many drivers texting. Be sure your new bike has some powerful lights.
Either way, enjoy your commute!!

 

[Ravi Kempaiah]

Definitely option 1. Distracted driving has reached epidemic proportions. My wife was hit from behind in our car twice in 1 1/2 years. Both times she was stopped in a line of traffic at a red light. On the street I keep one eye on the mirror making sure I see some sort of movement that the car sees me and is moving over. Riding that much on streets really increases the odds of an accident!

I would vote for option 1 as well.
The number of drivers who have one hand on the steering and another on their phone, is just too high.
Many drivers have no idea how to maintain 4-5ft distance from a cyclist and they have no road sense when cyclists are around.

If I had an option like that, I would take the scenic/ river pathway even if it was 6 miles longer.

 

[6zfshdb]

As long as the bike path isn't crowded or in poor condition, my choice would be option #1. Option #2 does provide an alternative to break up the monotony, especially on light traffic days or during inclement weather.

 

[Curious George]

As long as the bike path isn't crowded or in poor condition, my choice would be option #1. Option #2 does provide an alternative to break up the monotony, especially on light traffic days or during inclement weather.

I agree with this.

 

[harryS]

It would depend on the 9 miles of option 1 that is not bike path. If it's low traffic street riding, then it would be option 1 for me. You said you're going downtown, so I suppose both routes come into your work place the same way, and if that is the most intense part of the ride, let's hope it's short.

 

[E-Wheels]

Which would you choose?

Which ever is the most fun and enjoyable

 

[Longhaulcruiser]

Take the safer way whenever you have time to. On days when you have to be somewhere, take the route with cars. That's what I do. I have appointments to keep every so often, and then I take the less enjoyable, less safe, but 3 miles shorter route.

 

[Bruce Arnold]

I'd go with #1 just because it sounds more pleasant, not because of safety. We live 5 miles out of town and there is only one way to get there, a 4 lane highway, so I take having roads with traffic for granted. We can, and often do, go a couple of miles out of our way to cut through a residential neighborhood that is quieter and attractive. With the dogwoods and azaleas starting to bloom, it's a little fairyland.

 

[Tars Tarkas]

I've never been too afraid of street riding and an extra 10 miles a day is pretty significant. As someone else said, there's too much unknown. Some streets have bike lanes or enough room to easily tolerate bikes. Taking some streets is suicide. A lot of drivers a good about bikes, some are idiots or murderers. If you take he streets, which you have to do anyway, I'd light the bike up with bright strobes on the front and back and a high viz shirt or jacket.

I'd probably try them both a few times and see how it goes each way. Ten extra miles amounts to around 40 minutes a day. If you have that much extra time, riding a bike is a good way to spend it.

TT

 

[Over50]

I'm late to the party on this thread but will opine nonetheless. I'd definitely take the safer route at the cost of a few extra miles. the e-bike makes that amount of extra mileage negligible/immaterial. the safer route is the way to go (based on the info given by the OP). although perhaps there are times (like days preceding a holiday) where light traffic might make the city street route a reasonable choice.

I have a similar decision although it is only 4 miles of my total commute (36 mile roundtrip). Leaving downtown at the end of a workday, I can take a greenway to get out of downtown or use sidewalks and city streets to make it to a bike lane route. the greenway adds an extra two miles but getting out of our downtown area is probably the most challenging part of my commute. the bike lanes are okay except when there is a sporting event or concert. the bike lanes pass a large arena that is the venue for pro hockey, basketball and many concerts. on nights of an event, the bike lanes are particularly dangerous. lots of traffic comprised of many drivers who are in the downtown area for the first time. they are mostly focused on finding parking and are not focused on pedestrians or bikes. also, crowds of people headed to the venue will walk in the bike lanes. parking lot attendants will set out their signs and stand in the bike lanes with their flags. so I monitor the event schedule and on days of an event I always take the greenway. other days I usually head to the bike lanes and opt for the shorter, more direct route.

the greenway offers its own frustrations although it is certainly safer for me as long as I ride responsibly. in addition to the extra mileage it is slower going. for one, having an e-bike I don't want to attract attention so I keep speeds low. but for two, pedestrians insist on walking in the bike lanes even though there are marked and dedicated walking/jogging lanes. dog walkers also walk in the bike lanes. dogs on long leashes or not on leashes are frequent. the dogs will criss-cross the bike lanes and are as predictable as squirrels. most pedestrians will walk with their backs to the bicycle traffic and will not hear an approaching bicycle. so in addition to the extra mileage it is usually a slower go vs the bike lanes on the downtown streets.