I'd like to try commuting, but...

[newfsmith]

I would encourage you to actually try commuting. I commuted 8.5 miles to my job (also as a vet tech) for 8 years. My route was suburban with moderately heavy traffic in places. I had one surface crossing of a 6 lane road. I also commuted year round, and often was coming home at 9 or 10 pm.

I found vet teching to be very well suited to bike commuting, after all I was just changing into scrubs when I got to work. While I didn't shower when I got to work in the summer, I did hose my head off in the treatment room tub. After you've held a couple dogs with ear infections, you don't smell fresh anymore anyway. None of my co-workers or boss ever objected. I was usually the first one there in the morning, and often the last to leave at night. Morning rides got me energised for the day, evening trips let me de-stress.

The big investment to make is (as already pointed out) in lighting. A couple of Planet Bike Superflashes on your rack will do nicely, one flashing, one steady. On my handlebars I use a Princeton Tec Switchback 2 backed up with an Eos on my helmet. Helmet lights make you much more visible at intersections, looking left & right warns traffic from side streets that you exist. In the winter invest in at least a front studded tire to help control skidding. Rear tires don't need studs for traction.

This is my route. It does have some short hills. Where it goes through the wildlife sanctuary (large wooded section) the road is narrow 2 lane with no shoulders to speak of. Unfortunately, that is used a lot as a cut-thru to I-95 so there is a lot of 40-55 mph traffic even though it is posted for 30.
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&sour...07617&t=h&z=12