Comments on: Off Hour Commuting for You and Me http://www.commutebybike.com/2010/01/27/off-hour-commuting-for-you-and-me/ Tips, Hints, Reviews and Safety for Bike Commuters Wed, 19 Jun 2013 22:38:51 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.2 By: Dann Golden-Collum http://www.commutebybike.com/2010/01/27/off-hour-commuting-for-you-and-me/comment-page-1/#comment-153258 Dann Golden-Collum Sun, 31 Jan 2010 03:05:12 +0000 http://commutebybike.com/?p=4177#comment-153258 Reporting for Portland, OR: Mornings, I leave the house between 4:10am and 5:30am, depending on when I need to start my day. The ride is just under half an hour for 12 miles one way. At this time of day, I rarely have to watch for much traffic. Nights, I leave the workplace between 2:30pm and 4pm - sometimes as late as 9pm. During this portion of the commute, I have about four miles of tricky riding where I have to dodge in and out of traffic - even with bike lanes. Back in the early 80's in Iowa, I worked 7pm to 3am, and rode in all kinds of weather. Reporting for Portland, OR:

Mornings, I leave the house between 4:10am and 5:30am, depending on when I need to start my day. The ride is just under half an hour for 12 miles one way. At this time of day, I rarely have to watch for much traffic.

Nights, I leave the workplace between 2:30pm and 4pm – sometimes as late as 9pm. During this portion of the commute, I have about four miles of tricky riding where I have to dodge in and out of traffic – even with bike lanes.

Back in the early 80′s in Iowa, I worked 7pm to 3am, and rode in all kinds of weather.

]]> By: Aqua Dublavee http://www.commutebybike.com/2010/01/27/off-hour-commuting-for-you-and-me/comment-page-1/#comment-152889 Aqua Dublavee Fri, 29 Jan 2010 05:07:54 +0000 http://commutebybike.com/?p=4177#comment-152889 Night rides are what really got me into wanting to take longer, and longer bike rides. I used to go for late night rides with my friend around the Penn State main campus (we live in State College, PA) in the summer, and it was the best time to ride. Here in State College, the summer is when all the students are gone and the locals get their town back. The roads are usually empty by 11 p.m., and even during the day traffic is very slim. Once the semester starts and the students come back is when it's sort of scary to commute around on the roads at any time of the day. Night rides are what really got me into wanting to take longer, and longer bike rides. I used to go for late night rides with my friend around the Penn State main campus (we live in State College, PA) in the summer, and it was the best time to ride. Here in State College, the summer is when all the students are gone and the locals get their town back. The roads are usually empty by 11 p.m., and even during the day traffic is very slim. Once the semester starts and the students come back is when it’s sort of scary to commute around on the roads at any time of the day.

]]> By: john in pdx http://www.commutebybike.com/2010/01/27/off-hour-commuting-for-you-and-me/comment-page-1/#comment-152810 john in pdx Thu, 28 Jan 2010 20:41:56 +0000 http://commutebybike.com/?p=4177#comment-152810 I work from 3:30 am. I feel that the cars that are out there, even though few in number, almost certainly don't expect to see a biker. For that reason, I view every one of them as a threat. I take a bike only bike route for half of the way, even though it isn't the shortest route. The paper is being delivered when I ride, so the portion of my ride that is in the neighborhood is the most dangerous part. It seems that every time I see the paper carrier, they are looking down at some thing in the car, while moving. Very foolish. Aside from the danger, I enjoy the ride very much. I work from 3:30 am. I feel that the cars that are out there, even though few in number, almost certainly don’t expect to see a biker. For that reason, I view every one of them as a threat.

I take a bike only bike route for half of the way, even though it isn’t the shortest route.

The paper is being delivered when I ride, so the portion of my ride that is in the neighborhood is the most dangerous part. It seems that every time I see the paper carrier, they are looking down at some thing in the car, while moving. Very foolish.

Aside from the danger, I enjoy the ride very much.

]]> By: Sean http://www.commutebybike.com/2010/01/27/off-hour-commuting-for-you-and-me/comment-page-1/#comment-152734 Sean Thu, 28 Jan 2010 14:20:40 +0000 http://commutebybike.com/?p=4177#comment-152734 I work 3rd shift midnight to 8 a.m. Thursday through Tuesday so my commute is always opposite everyone else. Add to that that most of it is on rural country roads with no lighting or lane markings. I get to see deer and raccoon possum, skunk and of course the usual dogs that like to chase me. It is easily the best part of my work day I work 3rd shift
midnight to 8 a.m.
Thursday through Tuesday
so my commute is always
opposite everyone else.
Add to that that most of it
is on rural country roads
with no lighting or lane markings.
I get to see deer and raccoon
possum, skunk and of course
the usual dogs that like
to chase me.

It is easily the best part
of my work day

]]> By: Mike http://www.commutebybike.com/2010/01/27/off-hour-commuting-for-you-and-me/comment-page-1/#comment-152718 Mike Thu, 28 Jan 2010 12:17:37 +0000 http://commutebybike.com/?p=4177#comment-152718 Back in the Early 90's I worked for a very well known coffee shop in the Dupont Circle area. I would have to either open or close shop, so I bicyled in way before dawn or bicycle home after midnight. waking up 3:30 was difficult but my ride in was always enjoyable and almost surreal. No cars, i had the roads to myself. The rides home were different (still enjoyable) because the Dupont area had a very active night life and people were all over enjoying life. Once I got out of the city, I had the roads and trails to myself. My favorite part of the commute were the bridges between DC and VA. I take the sights of DC for granted when I am in a car, but the bike made me slow down and let me appreciate everything about this beautiful city. Mike Back in the Early 90′s I worked for a very well known coffee shop in the Dupont Circle area. I would have to either open or close shop, so I bicyled in way before dawn or bicycle home after midnight. waking up 3:30 was difficult but my ride in was always enjoyable and almost surreal. No cars, i had the roads to myself. The rides home were different (still enjoyable) because the Dupont area had a very active night life and people were all over enjoying life. Once I got out of the city, I had the roads and trails to myself. My favorite part of the commute were the bridges between DC and VA. I take the sights of DC for granted when I am in a car, but the bike made me slow down and let me appreciate everything about this beautiful city.

Mike

]]> By: Paul from VA http://www.commutebybike.com/2010/01/27/off-hour-commuting-for-you-and-me/comment-page-1/#comment-152707 Paul from VA Thu, 28 Jan 2010 11:18:30 +0000 http://commutebybike.com/?p=4177#comment-152707 On my daily commute I leave as early as 5:30 am and head home usually no later than 7:30 pm. I actually do enjoy riding in the dark. Cutting through parks and riding through the neighborhoods, I often find myself the only one on the road (especially in the Winter). The darkness seems to slow down everything around me and as a result make me feel like I'm going faster. In reality, I'm probably going slower than normal - enjoying the quiet and in no hurry for the ride to end. On my daily commute I leave as early as 5:30 am and head home usually no later than 7:30 pm. I actually do enjoy riding in the dark. Cutting through parks and riding through the neighborhoods, I often find myself the only one on the road (especially in the Winter). The darkness seems to slow down everything around me and as a result make me feel like I’m going faster. In reality, I’m probably going slower than normal – enjoying the quiet and in no hurry for the ride to end.

]]> By: 2whls3spds http://www.commutebybike.com/2010/01/27/off-hour-commuting-for-you-and-me/comment-page-1/#comment-152704 2whls3spds Thu, 28 Jan 2010 10:57:05 +0000 http://commutebybike.com/?p=4177#comment-152704 I have commuted at all hours of the day and night depending on the job. I worked rotating shifts at a hospital for several years. Then was the closing bartender for a few more. I agree riding late at night when the rest of the world is sleeping is great. Nothing like having an entire eight lane roadway to yourself. Night rides were also when I would see the most wildlife. Inside the city proper I have seen red and gray fox, skunks (the entire clan) deer, racoons and the like. You seldom see them during daylight hours. Aaron I have commuted at all hours of the day and night depending on the job. I worked rotating shifts at a hospital for several years. Then was the closing bartender for a few more. I agree riding late at night when the rest of the world is sleeping is great. Nothing like having an entire eight lane roadway to yourself. Night rides were also when I would see the most wildlife. Inside the city proper I have seen red and gray fox, skunks (the entire clan) deer, racoons and the like. You seldom see them during daylight hours.

Aaron

]]> By: ha1ku http://www.commutebybike.com/2010/01/27/off-hour-commuting-for-you-and-me/comment-page-1/#comment-152638 ha1ku Thu, 28 Jan 2010 05:17:49 +0000 http://commutebybike.com/?p=4177#comment-152638 I loooove night riding. Here in Georgia, the Summers are so hot I like to run my errands at night. Sometimes I would wait until 11pm or later to do my grocery shopping. If I could work my office hours this way during the hot season, I would. As all of the previous commenters have probably already stated, I also enjoy the quiet solitude of a nighttime bike ride. I get to hear animals, crickets, the wind -- pretty much everything that is normally drowned out by the din of traffic during daylight hours. I loooove night riding. Here in Georgia, the Summers are so hot I like to run my errands at night. Sometimes I would wait until 11pm or later to do my grocery shopping. If I could work my office hours this way during the hot season, I would.

As all of the previous commenters have probably already stated, I also enjoy the quiet solitude of a nighttime bike ride. I get to hear animals, crickets, the wind — pretty much everything that is normally drowned out by the din of traffic during daylight hours.

]]> By: Britt in Spokane http://www.commutebybike.com/2010/01/27/off-hour-commuting-for-you-and-me/comment-page-1/#comment-152637 Britt in Spokane Thu, 28 Jan 2010 05:17:12 +0000 http://commutebybike.com/?p=4177#comment-152637 I ride fairly conventional hours these days (leave home about 7 am, leave work around 6 pm), but when I was in graduate school, I kept typical hours for a lab rat: in before noon, home after midnight. I loved those middle of the night rides! I would have my Walkman blasting my favorite cassette tape (remember those?), and ride down the middle of the road singing along. I could ride down the middle of the street and not worry about the cars. In a way I still feel safer at night because I've got blinking lights and am covered head to toe in reflective clothing. The cars have to look at me to figure out what the heck is coming down the road towards them! I'm also more aware of the cars coming up behind me because of their headlights and noisy studded snow tires. That said, I do still worry about drunk drivers late at night. I ride fairly conventional hours these days (leave home about 7 am, leave work around 6 pm), but when I was in graduate school, I kept typical hours for a lab rat: in before noon, home after midnight. I loved those middle of the night rides! I would have my Walkman blasting my favorite cassette tape (remember those?), and ride down the middle of the road singing along. I could ride down the middle of the street and not worry about the cars. In a way I still feel safer at night because I’ve got blinking lights and am covered head to toe in reflective clothing. The cars have to look at me to figure out what the heck is coming down the road towards them! I’m also more aware of the cars coming up behind me because of their headlights and noisy studded snow tires. That said, I do still worry about drunk drivers late at night.

]]> By: BluesCat http://www.commutebybike.com/2010/01/27/off-hour-commuting-for-you-and-me/comment-page-1/#comment-152614 BluesCat Thu, 28 Jan 2010 02:50:45 +0000 http://commutebybike.com/?p=4177#comment-152614 I'm usually out the door a little after 5:00 AM. There is so little motor traffic in Phoenix at that time that sometimes I will take the big, four-lane thoroughfares and just ride wherever I want. At 4:30 PM, when I leave the office, it is a totally different story. I have a different route home, using quieter neighborhood streets and the parking lots of shopping malls. The latest I have been out on the road was a "mental health run" at 1:30 AM. Didn't even see any COPS out on the road at that time of the morning! I’m usually out the door a little after 5:00 AM. There is so little motor traffic in Phoenix at that time that sometimes I will take the big, four-lane thoroughfares and just ride wherever I want.

At 4:30 PM, when I leave the office, it is a totally different story. I have a different route home, using quieter neighborhood streets and the parking lots of shopping malls.

The latest I have been out on the road was a “mental health run” at 1:30 AM. Didn’t even see any COPS out on the road at that time of the morning!

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