Its official, driving to work slower than bike...

[confusedcyclist]

Despite the tedious drizzle, lack of sunshine and early start, today is a great day as I will be taking receipt of my brand spanking new Defy 1, which will be my first road bike and (I hope) will make me a 100%-committed-all-weather bike commuter.

Had to drive in today as the bike is being delivered to the office as part of C2W scheme and will need to get it back home to fit SPDs etc, Boy o' boy did I notice a difference driving in, when out on the bike, gone are the worries of queing at the lights, waiting for grannies to turn left or right or parallel park, seems like forever since I last drove to work, and despite the yucky weather, I was yearning to be out on the road on my 'real' form of transport. Makes you wonder why more people don't try it. So far all I hear is lame excuses about hills, and roads or other road users. That said, it is funny looking back at my greener days on the bike worrying if I could hack the "EPIC" 9 mile ride in an sustain that over 2 or maybe 3 days a week, while now it feels plain weird to be in the car even just 1 day!

Now, where is that courier?

Keep an eye out for me on tomorrow's run in, I'll be the guy with the huge smile on his face...

 

[Ganymede]

So true - I had to drive to Maidstone in the rush hour yesterday for an appointment - road closures, gridlock, lots of jockeying for position. I so wished for the bike.

Enjoy your new one!

 

[vickster]

Assume you are getting mudguards

Even on a bike you may need to queue at lights, red ones aren't optional for cyclists (no, even in central London )

Jockeying for position sounds like central London bike commuting!

Just be careful, especially in the wet, lower light levels, ditsy school run mums

 

[confusedcyclist]

Assume you are getting mudguards

Even on a bike you may need to queue at lights, red ones aren't optional for cyclists (no, even in central London )

Jockeying for position sounds like central London bike commuting!

Just be careful, especially in the wet, lower light levels, ditsy school run mums

Mud guards on the shopping list

By not queuing, I meant filtering to the front, not skipping lights! It's the feeling of being nimble and squeezing through tight spots and not being held up that I love most.

The bike arrived by the way, didn't quite have the 'new bike smell' that I imagined, but it is all lovely and shiny!

 

[vernon]

Not all commutes are quicker by bike. My fifteen miles from Leeds to Bradford takes forty minutes in my car. I'd be ecstatic if I could do it in double the time on a bike while lamenting the loss of up to an hour and a half that I could devote to other things.

Don't get me wrong, respect to those who choose to commute by bike but it is not a universal or quicker solution to all commutes.

 

[cyberknight]

Not all commutes are quicker by bike. My fifteen miles from Leeds to Bradford takes forty minutes in my car. I'd be ecstatic if I could do it in double the time on a bike while lamenting the loss of up to an hour and a half that I could devote to other things.

Don't get me wrong, respect to those who choose to commute by bike but it is not a universal or quicker solution to all commutes.

+1
I cycle commute ( not atm full of snot and 2 hours + overtime on nights mean i am struggling just to work ) i can get home in the car door to door in under half an hour, on the bike door to door its more like 50 minutes .Although my route is mainly country lanes with national speed limit and at non standard traffic jam times.

 

[NorvernRob]

My 7 mile drive to work takes 10 minutes door to door. It would take a good 25 minutes by bike.

 

[cosmicbike]

Mine depends on whether I'm working earlies or nights. Bike is quicker to get in on nights, slower home. The opposite is true for earlies.

 

[Moodyman]

Agree with Vernon that on longer commutes with fast flowing traffic; a car is quicker.

But shorter commutes in a busy urban environment a bike is quicker.

 

[BlackPanther]

My ride in takes about 50 mins as I take it steady to arrive unsweaty. Home takes me around 35-40 mins, 25 mile round trip.

On the motorbike 20 mins in, 25 mins home .

In the car 25 mins in, and anything from 40 mins to an hour to get home.

BUT, regardless of how long it takes, at least when you're cycling you're almost never stationary, so it feels a lot faster.

And that, my friends, is why last year (for commuting) I did around 100 miles in the car, 300 miles on the motorbike, and almost 6,000 miles using pedal power.

 

[RichK]

Car is 30 to 40 minutes. Bike is 20 minutes if (IF) I go the short route

 

[Drago]

Driving takes about 17 mins, cycling about 30. Not enough of a difference to weigh heavily against the bike.

 

[Torvi]

30 minutes walking, 15 minutes driving and only 10 minutes cycling for me. So bike>anything else.

 

[Pier]

I don't have a car (yet) so must be bike
Some times I take the train, which is much slower compared to the bike.

 

[sheffgirl]

I don't have a car, cycling is quicker than the bus for me. I have to set off at 7.30 at the latest to get to work for 8.15 (I start at 8.30) if I'm cycling. Whereas I have to catch the bus at 7.20, meaning I have to leave the house earlier. My commute is 9.4 miles, hardly any traffic lights to slow me down, IIRC there's only 2 sets.
Today I got a lift. I was intending to cycle and even switched Strava on, then forgot to switch it off. Got to work about 5 minutes sooner than I would have done, only managed an average of 20mph in the van! I've known it take longer, the traffic can get bad as you get towards the city centre.