Insights from Suburban Commuters

So what's it like on a typical "day in the life" of a cycling suburban commuter?

Where do you live?
How far is your commute?
Do you use pace or other forms of public transportation to supplement your biking?
Why do you choose to live outside the city?
What types of reactions do you get from your neighbors, etc when you show up on bike?

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Permalink Reply by Adam "Cezar" Jenkins on July 24, 2012 at 7:02am

That's an interesting question. From where I stand. Not really from my standpoint. If I go as far south as Evanston is North, I'm still quite in the city.

John Wirtz said:

Does Evanston count as a suburb?

Permalink Reply by Dave Jacque on July 24, 2012 at 8:14am

Another Napervillian here. My commute's about 12.5 miles each way, which I do for the exercise and the carbon-footprint smugness factor. Google Bike Maps found me a nice route through the back streets and Greene Valley Forest Preserve to my place of employment west of Darien.

I had been commuting once or twice a week during nice weather last year, but blew my knee to pieces last December skiing. Been a bit gun-shy since then; just wasn't sure I could get up the one steep hill 'twixt here and there. But I'm ready to start up again whenever the 100-degree days go away.

My neighbors and co-workers were incredulous at first; it's an intensive car-culture out here. But I've received many offers of "let me know if you need a ride home" when the weather turns on me. I've accepted once or twice ;-)

(We have a guy who has cycled to work *every day* for the last year -- snow, rain, -10F, 100F, whatever, about 5 miles each way.)

Permalink Reply by Tim Heckman on July 24, 2012 at 9:04am

I commute 5 miles each way, from Oak Park to Bellwood.  I take Madison Street and the Prairie Path.  No noteworthy reactions from my coworkers, just more pronounced reactions to the weather.  It's a pretty simple and straightforward ride.

Permalink Reply by David Barish on July 24, 2012 at 10:00am

Where do you live? Skokie
How far is your commute? 13-17 miles each way depending on the route.
Do you use pace or other forms of public transportation to supplement your biking? Metra, occassional CTA. There are times I have to (gasp) use a motor vehcile for work purposes.
Why do you choose to live outside the city? When the decision was made over 20 years ago it was for good public schools which was the right decision. Living in the inner ring of  older suburbs is the best of both worlds -biking is easy, walking is an option,  culture is available, distances are moderate, schools are good, trees are green. Diversity is the norm.
What types of reactions do you get from your neighbors, etc when you show up on bike? Smiles.

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