The best and worst part of your commute

[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?

[DebW]

My 13 mile commute from Wayland to Lexington, MA.

Worst: Rt. 2A in Lincoln/Lexington between Bedford Rd. and Old Mass Ave. Fast traffic and narrow. It used to be fast traffic, narrow, and bumpy, but it got repaved 2 years ago. Generally OK but occassionally I get passed too fast and too close by a bus or large truck. And I have to make a left turn getting off of it, which occassionally has me sitting on the double yellow line with cars whizzing by in both directions. The only reason I have to ride on this road is because Hanscom Air Force Base is between me and my destination.

Most annoying: All the road patches, which are only on the right 1/3 of the road of course. With my stiff 80s steel frame, this stuff is really unpleasant (like having your brain rattled sometimes). I take the center of the road if at all possible to avoid it.

Best: The road next to the Drumlin Farm Audubon Sanctuary. I get to look at the drumlin every day, and sometimes the sheep are in the field.

Most fun: The big hill on Bedford Rd. in Lincoln Center going north. It's a tough uphill, but a very fun downhill. I hit 36-38 mph going down, and it's fairly straight and then has a flat half mile until the Rt. 2 stop light. Going the other way there is a stop sign just at the bottom of the steep section, so I can't take much speed.

[Kimmyt]

Best Part: Being on the Trail in the morning, passing all the other commuters and cyclists and people walking their dog before work. I can get pretty fast on that nice flat trail, so I like to get into the drops and feel the road just hummmmm underneath my tires.

Worst Part: Norristown. Coming out of the trainstation onto a busy 2-lane road with potholes and broken glass and gravel. I have to continue on these roads for some time, and let me tell you that asphalt can get hot! Also, I hate sitting behind cars at traffic lights.... exhaust blows!

K.