How Was Your Commute Today?

[Tri Girl]

It's not so enjoyable now after the time change I enjoy starting in the dark and riding into the sunrise, but I don't like riding as much after dark.

I feel EXACTLY the same way. I don't mind morning darkness when drivers are awake and just starting the day. In the evening when they've had a stressful workday and are tired, night riding makes me FAR more nervous.

Plus, I feel like I'm running late in the morning when it's bright as daylight. I've found myself riding faster because I feel like I'm late. No worries- in a month it will be dark both ways.

[7rider]

I feel EXACTLY the same way. I don't mind morning darkness when drivers are awake and just starting the day. In the evening when they've had a stressful workday and are tired, night riding makes me FAR more nervous.

Funny. I think this is common. I was just having this discussion with a co-worker as we approached the return to standard time -- that I'd much rather ride in the morning when it's dark than in the evening when it's dark. The one bright spot is (this week anyway), I've been able to wake up and get out the door earlier than normal. Couple with NOT lifting at the gym when I get to work in the a.m., and I'm clocked in early so I can leave early in the afternoon and get home before full dark. But, next week, that likely won't be the case.

Stopped at CVS after lunch today to pick up some AA batteries for my balky rear light. WOW! Guess my light wasn't working properly because it needed new batteries. That certainly made me feel a bit better about the ride home (and my day-glow road worker's/crossing guards' vest - I get no end to the ribbing from my co-workers over that ).

[malkin]

I'm kind of the opposite.
I want to be home when it is dark. Stay home until it is light and hurry home when it is dark.

[carlotta]

I'm definitely in the group that would rather ride to work in the dark.... I had almost a month where it was fully dark when I was leaving before the time change, now it's still pretty dark until I'm almost at work and that will change to dark, dark, dark soon.

There are many fewer drivers out in the mornings, and just fewer people/loiterers in the pre-dawn than in the evenings (a short stretch is through some not-so-nice bits of town) which is also better. Also fewer ninja runners/cyclists out at 6am than at 6pm......

Plus, getting home after dark (and leaving in the am before it gets light), is just a bummer......I have flexible hours and can work from home in the evenings, I'm just not very good at leaving work by ~4pm....

[carlotta]

Today reminded me why I like leaving at 6am (even if I hate getting up at 5....).

First couple miles of my commute are on decently busy, fairly narrow streets. At 6am, it's me, a few buses and a few cars. Not so at 8am. I don't mind riding in traffic, but it completely messes up my timing in hitting green lights.....I've got it down so I don't have to unclip unless something really random happens for the first 1.5 miles, but not today. Stop. go. stop. go.

Then I've got ~6 miles of MUP, not too bad at 8 vs 6 (more general public, but fewer obnoxious crew teams who will run 4 across and NOT yield). Had to deal with a headwind, but hopefully it won't shift during the day and I'll have a nice tailwind tonight.

Lastly, it's back into the streets for a mile or so. That stretch is fairly busy regardless of commute time, but bikes on the street go from me plus one or two (early), to me plus 15 obnoxious students (late). Running lights (when the oncoming lane has a green left turn arrow), passing me on the right when I'm stopped at a red light, and (my favorite) passing me when I'm at a light, only to ride REALLY slowly in front of me, so we play leapfrog for a couple lights....

I have to be at work early tomorrow, so no choice on commute times, but I will definitely be leaving at 6 on Wednesday......ugh. Sorry...needed to vent. But it's still (and always) better than the train

[7rider]

A pet peeve of mine of other bike commuters.
I'm waiting at a light (or stop sign, but most often a light), just standing there, minding my own business, waiting from my turn to go.
A cyclist comes up behind me - usually unannounced, usually male - and proceeds to go around me and park himself in front of me. Often, it's to run the light/sign, or to "jump" the light (cross light turned red, but our light is a mere second away from turning green).
What makes one think it's okay to come up to someone waiting and cut ahead? Would you do that in a car? Or if I were waiting for a teller at a bank? Would you cut in front of me at the checkout line of a grocery store? Why can't you wait behind me and wait your turn like I am doing? Pass me when we're through when it is safe to do so, as I expect every other vehicle on the road to do.
Grrrrr....

[redrhodie]

That's a justifiable pet peeve. I haven't had that done to me, but I bet I wouldn't like it, either.