Bicycle Commuting Part V: Selecting a Route

Route selection is key to a fun and safe ride to work. It is important to avoid busy streets, instead opting for quieter streets to avoid traffic that can add risk and stress to your daily commute. In fact, I added about a mile to my current commuting route to avoid a particular street, that while it was a direct route, it was so busy that I felt it was dangerous and the hurried drivers were often irritated by my mere presence. As such, I redirected my route along quieter streets, which is more relaxing, safer, and includes more hills, which I happen to like as it gives me a better workout before and after work.

It is best to look at your route on a map, either paper or digital. New web based map applications like Google Earth, Google Maps, or Yahoo Maps work great. Google Earth even lets you plot a path and will give you the distance. While some map websites and software can automatically plot a route, the routes generated are usually not the best, as they are designed for efficient automobile traveling, not safe bike commuting. As such, it is helpful to use the digital maps in combination with your knowledge of the streets and neighborhoods to determine the best route. The digital maps allow you to minimize your commuting distance while helping you to avoid congested, stressful, and potentially dangerous streets.

After examining a potential route, it is best to reconnoiter the route on bicycle prior to riding to work. The route should be pre-ridden to ensure it is safe, that it avoids any unnecessarily busy streets, and most importantly, to determine the amount of time required to get to and from work. If you test ride the route during the weekend, you may notice that traffic may be very different on a Monday morning is very different from when you test rode it on a weekend. Not to worry: adjust your route as necessary. Sometimes I take a different route just to keep the daily ride interesting.