My only suggestion is (also) to look at alternate routes. If you're used to driving, you think of routes as a driver, so it's easy to miss the "perfect" bike route because you're thinking of the most direct way to drive. When I bike commute, I ride a road that is about 3-4 blocks north of the one I would take in a car and then turn south about 2 roads sooner, but it's a parallel route and has bike lanes and has a speed limit of 35 mph (instead of up to 45). Since it's a slower road with more lights, it generally has next to no car traffic during commuter hours. I'd say go out at a time with little traffic (maybe early on a Saturday) on your bike and explore what other options you might not see from behind the wheel of a car. And check to see what Google bike directions suggest. Google can come up with some awful routes but has had some great suggestions I wouldn't have known!