The bulk of my commute it a road with three lanes each way and a 60 mph speed limit. However, the shoulder is the same width as a regular lane and the road is straight as an arrow. I feel perfectly comfortable on this road. I feel less comfortable on the road I take for .25 miles that is pretty busy and has a bike lane. My commute begins 5:30 am, long before the rush starts at 7:15. I ride home at 4:00, just beginning to see the volume increase. The scariest thing about riding home is the high school along the way lets out at 4:05 and that means teen drivers are on that busy road!

If the road does not have an adequate shoulder, try alternate routes. Many commuters avoid the road I use and take routes through the neighborhoods that line the road.