The best and worst part of your commute

[light_sabe_r]

Just wondering what obstacles people face on their commutes.

On the way there:
The best part of my commute is the trail that runs beside norman creek. In the afternoon riding along that on my way home I hear all the lorikeets going nuts. Plus the trail starts next to the Library so I usually duck in there and pick up a new book to read at home before I ride on.

The worst part is crossing Ipswich road to get to the hospital in the morning. It's 3 lanes of traffic to cross in each direction (6 in total) and is full of TRUCKS and disgruntled drivers going to Ipswich at supposedly 60kph but they really fly by!! It was also near where I crashed coming home
a few weeks back.

[newfsmith]

The worst part of my commute is the left turn into the driveway when I get to work. 2 years ago they widened the road so there are now nice paved shoulders, but the traffic is going at least 15 to 20 mph faster, getting a gap both directions in next to impossible.

The best part is a lot bigger, riding through the Audubon Sanctuary and adjoining Trustee's of Reservations sanctuary lets me see lots of wildlife and plants; and at the end I come to a chunk that is leased to an organic farmer so I ride through fields of sunflowers, tomatoes, pumpkin and corn. Since I commute year-round it get to see all of these go through their annual cycles.

[Tri Girl]

The best part: only a 15 minute commute, and little to no traffic in the morning.
The worst part: lots of cars in the afternoon and crossing a very busy 4 lane road. I still get scared there every day.

[makbike]

The worst part of my commute is that our school system goes back to work on Thursday and I'll find myself commuting. When I do commute the worst part is that the safest way to my school is down a very high traffic road (approximately one mile of travel) and dealing with parents who are late, high schooler in a rush to meet their friends before classes begin, school buses pushing me, etc.

The best part of my commute is from June to August when I don't have to commute. However, when I do commute the best part is turning of the busy 2 lane road onto the road that takes me to my school (approximately a one mile ride). Traffic is spread out and motorists are far nicer and very patient. I've actually had parents drive behind me and stay there until I reach my school making this part of the ride a lot of fun and hassle free.

[mimitabby]

The worst part of my commute is when i have to get into the left lane to turn left. Traffic is moving 35-40 mph and they want to get around me, and there I am trying to get into the left lane!

The best part of my commute is the hill home. There are NO right turns at all, for a mile. So I can merrily pedal uphill at my own speed pretty much not too scared that someone is going to try to take me out because the lane is very wide.
another best part of my commute is when I go through the old factory building where they used to make the old b-52 bomber airplanes. It's totally vacant, but there are still roads that go THROUGH the silent building. So as I silently pedal through, I imagine all the hustle and bustle that Rosie the Riveter and all those other gals were making during WWII.

[velogirl]

The best part of my commute is Washington Park. I work at a bike shop two miles from my house. Half way there is Washington Park. Since I bring my dog with me to work (she rides on the back of the bike), we always stop at Washington Park to play for a while. I think that's how I trained her to love riding on the bike -- we always go to the park!!!

The worst part of the commute is coming home. I live on a somewhat-busy street and even though it's the designated north-south bike route, it's terrible for bikes! There's usually broken glass in the non-existent bike lane and always busy. I'm only on this street for half a block, but it's just a couple of blocks from the freeway and right next to my condo complex is a shopping center with a grocery, starbucks, etc., so lots of folks are bustling in their cars. I have to make a left turn into my complex and it's always a challenge. Probably doesn't help that I was hit on this street in 2002 -- it's always creeped me out.

But did I mention the best part is going to the park?

[CorsairMac]

hmmmm - what an interesting thread:

Best Part: every day I ride!!

Worst Part: drivers that turn right without using a turn signal! lol

[Deanna]

Worst Part: drivers that turn right without using a turn signal! lol

That goes on my list too! I sometimes think turn signals are now an optional feature in cars.

[withm]

hmmmm - what an interesting thread:

Best Part: every day I ride!!

Worst Part: drivers that turn right without using a turn signal! lol

Sigh. Imagine having a $40,000 automobile that doesn't have turn signals. LOL.

[bikerHen]

WORST:
The "big long hill" only 1.5 miles into my ride.

Not long enough. It's 3 miles straight up the highway, or a 6 mile loop, or a twelve mile wandering path through good and bad neighborhoods and really busy streets.

The road I have to ride on my twelve mile loop has good wide shoulders but they are filled with all kinds of sand and gravel, sharp things, and stuff that fell from passing traffic. It's a very busy road with lots of big fast trucks.

Road Construction! Seriously disrupting my route right now.

Having to cross four lanes of 60+ mph traffic to get home, w/o a light.

BEST: Nothing very pretty to look at, but I'm riding my bike to work and for errands. And it feels great! bikerHen

[tulip]

Sigh. Imagine having a $40,000 automobile that doesn't have turn signals. LOL.

Ah, the Budget Model Lexus...I know them well!

[Geonz]

Best: the little sprints on smooth roads, the friendly people in cars and on bikes.

Worst: the hostile souls and the road construction, and the left turn across (student!) traffic to get across campus.

[HappyAnika]

Worst:
- Squeezing between big trucks and the median curb at an intersection on a 65 mph hwy (I approach slowly hoping I'll catch the red light).
- Afternoon thunderstorms
- The big hill I have to go up to get home toward the end of my ride when I'm exhausted
- Erratic prairie dogs who wait until just the right moment to run out into the path/shoulder

Best:
- The view on the way into work, the next best thing to being in the mountains is looking at them while riding my bike!
- Getting in 37 - 42 miles a day, saving gas and time by combining my workout with my commute
- A long list of possible routes (most of which are very nice)