Super curious if any of you use cycling as your primary mode of transportation

Check out r/bikecommuting!

I don’t drive. I bike and bus mostly (Dublin, Ireland) Started out as commuting 14km each way, was quicker than bus and wanted to get lose some weight. Didn’t expect it to have huge mental health boosts for me. I still suffer from anxiety the odd time but I used to get it bad on busy public transport. The fresh air did me a world of good. Now I cycle everywhere. Even got an electric bike as well that I carry my dog in a backpack.

I was car-free in Austin for about ten years. My work commute was 6 miles each way, but I could take a hike-and-bike trail for most of it, and the rest had pretty decent bike lanes. There are parts of San Antonio with decent cycling infrastructure, and many roads that would be fine to ride on. But like anywhere else, there are also roads you'd be crazy to ride.

Your biggest obstacle IMO is the summer heat.

I’m 52 never owned a car, but I have 7 bikes in the range from 100$ to 1000$. My every day bike is a 125$ single speed. I love the simplicity of it, it’s light and have a direct drive chain. Easy to fix and maintain. I have a few hills (Danish hills though, highest point in Denmark is 170 meters!) so I drive 42-16 gear ratio. If I’m out riding solo like 60-70 km I chose my 20 speed carbon road bike or my vintage 16 speed vintage steel road bike if I ride with my cycling body who isn’t that fit. If you choose to bike cycle get a good bike from the beginning and your chance of continuing will be much greater. All my bikes are bought used, that’s were you get the most value for your money. I wish you happy tail wind!

no car, several bikes. If you're anxious learn how to bike with traffic (visible, predictable, kind of like a slow motorcyclist. Be aware, helmet mirror helps. Read vehicular cycling, cyclingsavvy, LAB)

What's interesting is per hour cycling is twice as safe (from fatalities) than driving, and my commutes have been faster by bike than car. But people think cycling is dangerous. (Safety is from lower speeds, cars can avoid you and vice versa) I'm an anxious person, maybe overly careful biking at first but decades later, >200k miles, zero car collisions, feels as safe as walking. I learned before bike lanes. Greenways are nice but you can bike anywhere.

I cycle to work 5 days per week and I'm building my next bike to be capable of doing much more. I keep track of how much I'm driving and so far this year I've operated my car 55 days. My goal is to bring it down to 25% of the year.

My motivation is seeing all the sad faces stuck in traffic knowing I'm not one of them. Although I do hope they consider a bike as well. Cycling is like a cheat code in some aspects.

Yes. I ride my bike to work 5 days a week (14km in the morning, 20km in the afternoon), and I don't own a car. If the weather is bad or if I'm going somewhere that isn't convenient to park a bike / don't have the ability to change when I get there, I'll take the Metro. Shanghai is a super easy city to live in without a car, and I don't miss having one at all.

You should read up on the netherlands!

I think 60% of ALL trips are done on bike

Sure for anything under 30 kilometers. I do not have a car. I am Dutch living in Amsterdam. Gas is expensive, I like to stay fit. Anything above that, public transport. I am not super sportive or fast by the way. Just a normal city bike with a speed at 10/15 km/hour.

I bike commute almost exclusively but I also have a camper van and actually just got done with a cross-country tour where I stopped in San Antonio and did a bit of biking. There is a fairly extensive multi-use trail network built in the flood basins but it largely takes you from suburb to suburb. You can absolutely get into pleasure biking in San Antonio but tbh I don’t think I’d really recommend commute cycling there, even as a fairly experienced cyclist who has a pretty high tolerance for shitty drivers on dangerous roads.

The routes you’d be taking for commuting in San Antonio are almost exclusively unprotected lanes on 45mph roads, that are regularly bisected by the city’s ridiculous highway network. When I had to take them (usually to get to the trails) I would usually just ride on the sidewalk… which isn’t something I ever really do.

I’m generally pretty hopeful about urbanism progress but honestly San Antonio might be a lost cause. No transit projects outside a handful of busses, the highway widenings being implemented are disgusting and the frontage roads are straight up dangerous. If you want to stay in Texas and bike commute I would look at Houston, which has a ton of potential as a micromobility city. Similar trails to SA along the river but also a small and growing connected bike network throughout the city. In fact Houston has some of the best implemented protected bike lanes I’ve seen in the US, which can only get better (especially if they continue to diet all the 6 lane bi-directional roads that run throughout the city)

But these are just my opinions as someone who likes to bounce from city to city and bike around. Someone who’s living it day to day might feel differently

Bike to work daily.  A bike with a rack, panniers, and fenders make it much more practical.  I often stop and run errands on my way home as I would normally in a car, but I am much happier and feel more connected to my surroundings on the bike.  The exercise and money savings are great too.  Some weeks my car doesn’t leave my driveway.

How far do you have to go? And where? I was in SA for a while and it’s one of the least friendly places I’ve biked.

I’m car free and ride my bike most places (Oakland California). I highly recommend! It is great to be outside in the air and getting exercise while you go about your life. Be careful of cars- I’m sure San Antonio has a lot of them.

Google maps can’t be trusted to find you the safest route. You will have to do guess and check for which roads are the safer ones. Don’t be afraid to ride on the sidewalk if you need to use a busy road. Even though it’s technically illegal if you are mindful of pedestrians and dont go too fast you shouldn’t have problems and it’s waaaay safer in many situations. Lots of busy roads have very few pedestrians anyways.

Living car-free in Toronto for almost 30 years (since 1996). My bikes are how I get around. Commuting, shopping, errands, just for fun.

Yep. We have free public transport here, too (Montpellier, France). I almost never drive. Maybe once every week or two.

I e bike quite a lot for transportation.  It makes the suburban sprawl a bit easier to contend with

I'm almost 50 and I never learned how to drive a car. For the last 10+ years I've cycled everywhere pretty much exclusively. Commute, nights out, vacations; you name it.

I do have the advantage of living in a small city so most distances I need to cover are fairly short. On the flipside, there's barely any cycling infrastructure and traffic is pretty insane - AND YET I've been able to survive for this long with barely any issues worth mentioning, and I wouldn't change this way of life.

I would move to a smaller, calmer city, though.

I’m a bike commuter…for like 13 years. There are 5 of us in my household and my young kids ride a school bus and my wife works at home. We have two cars, but my car, which is 16 years old gets less miles on it than my bikes. At one point. I was averaging more bike miles yearly than my car had in a 5-6 year period. Now my teenager drives that car so it gets more use. We are thinking about another car because the teenager is heading to college, but I am afraid it will sit in the garage most of the time.

I live in Cuernavaca, Mexico, which is on the side of a steep mountain, and my bicycle is my primary mode of transport. I haven't owned a motor vehicle in twenty years. I ride almost every day, take a city bus about 2-3 times a month, and a taxi maybe 4-6 times a year (usually if I have to take the cat to the vet). I'm 66 years old, retired, and generally ride about 150-250 km/month. I used to ride a lot more, all through the beautiful mountains and valleys around here, but riding outside of town through the countryside has gotten too dangerous in the last couple years because of criminal gangs.

I used to cycle to school every day for years and year. 8km each way but yeah, daily.

(Netherlands)

My feet are my primary mode of transportation, but cycling is a close second. We don’t own a car.

I'd like to, would save me a lot of money when it comes to petrol but ultimately a bike isn't a suitable mode of transport to/from work for me as I also have to pick my daughter up from nursery after I finish.

I did used to cycle to work for my last job though. I'm not a fan of traffic so anything that I can do to avoid it, i usually do! Sadly my motorbike got stolen so I have to sit in traffic with the rest of the chumps.

Yes, but I can't imagine having more anxiety at the wheel of a car.

I only drive a car when my employer orders it (for which they provide a vehicle) or once every three months or so when I rent one for an outing.

I feel so much more relaxed and safe in a car. Cars have seatbelts, airbags, pieces of aluminum and steel between me and the catastrophe. Bicycles are as raw as it gets.

Riding a bike has been my primary method of transportation since 2005. I use my bike to get to work almost every day, year-round, and use it for as many errands as I can.

I’ve used a bike for transportation in Humboldt county, CA, Seattle, and Minneapolis. Those two cities are pretty bike friendly, Humboldt wasn’t particularly bike friendly.

I didn’t know a ton when I started and learned as I went. I’m very comfortable riding in traffic and in all types of weather (including sub-zero temperatures).

I’ve done it so much it’s just a part of my life. Second nature to hop on the bike for errands etc. I would say that I’ve built my life around cycling in a lot of ways, including the locations where I was willing to buy a house.

I like cycling but I am not seeing it as a good alternative for daily transportation… I sweat, get tired and hungry. Those are not things I want in my everyday life at 8 in the morning

Yes. Tho not really when raining

Yeah, only vehicle I have right now. Used to have a motorcycle which I'd commute on as well but for like a year now I've only had a bicycle.

I'd recommend buying the cheapest bike you can find in working condition and just trying it out. I don't know how good or bad cycling in San Antonio is, there're lots of cities where I wouldn't want to do it so you'll need to try it out for yourself

Yes. We are a 1 car family, so I ride a lot.

I don't own a car. I own 5 bikes and it is my primary way of getting around. My kids cycle with me or get the bus to school. My wife cycles to work every day. I go into work a couple of times a week, and it's always by bike. There are good car-club schemes in my city for the times we want to go further afield or carry big stuff. We carefully chose our home to be on a good bus route and close to the cycle-path for my wife's commute (she is a nervous cyclist).

Our friend lent us their car while they were away for 3 weeks. We concluded that it was occasionally more convenient than not having one, but more expensive than picking up a car-club one or taking an Uber for the times we needed it, but usually less convenient than cycling/public transport due to traffic and parking at either end.

Wait, are you saying you do or don't drive due to anxiety? I'm guessing the former.

Driving is actually a well-known trigger for anxiety. For me it makes my anxiety noticeably worse the moment I get behind the wheel. Biking is so much better because I can just choose to bail at any moment I want if I feel unsafe. I have pretty much full control over what I do. Biking on the roads is not something you just start doing with no fear. You have to build up to it progressively, so you get more comfortable.

I only cycle and use public transportation. Was in motorcycle wreck some years ago and list my license, which is fine because I have anxiety for cars and not bikes oddly enough. I suggest trying it in the least. We have bike lanes and I actually work on my bike, so, riding all day. I dont usually use bike lanes because people are idiots and it seems more safe riding in traffic. Just make sure you wear a helmet and you'll enjoy yourself. Bikes are the world's best invention, IMO.

I cycle almost everywhere unless I have a important appointment. I only drive about once every 2 weeks. You really only need 2 bikes if your serious about cycling. One daily and one back up. I have a BMX bike also but just for messing around.

Yup. I own an old shitty van I use approximately 4x per year: pick up Christmas tree, chip up Christmas tree, an annual ikea run, and a trip to a friend’s cabin. Other than that I’m an all year round biker

I’m a certified cycling, instructor and what I would tell you is that you can do it safely, but it is not intuitively obvious. Seek out either a certified cycling, instructor or someone who is knowledgeable and has been commuting for some period of time and knows how to ride safely on city streets. That means taking the lane when necessary, avoiding the area where parked car doors open being obvious and well lit at night and on and on.

35, inner city Melbourne, Australia. Previously worked from home, now studying full time and not working, always had a car, sold recently as it was never used.

For the past 15 years I would cycle 90% of the time, the remaining 10% being large shopping trips, going out of town, or laziness.

I'm probably a fairly unique case, in that, I live in a relatively bike friendly city, close to multiple forms of public transport, no kids, and have a reasonably flexible schedule. Can't see myself getting another car unless I have kids.

Tomorrow just so happens to be the 10th year anniversary of the first time I biked to work. Do it as often as I can still, but now with a kid I've got to do dropoffs and pickups and the timing is off with my 17mi route to work, but I still aim for about twice a week.

I mainly ride my bicycle even tho I own a car. When travelling I don't get rental cars, just take a bike along. Cars are pretty impractical for most of my daily life.

I ride to + from work every day and for everything else except road trips and big grocery shops (every couple of weeks). I made a conscious decision to enable minimum car life because I fuckin love that my life isn't ruled by traffic & parking my car, but I'm grateful it's an option I have.

Only mode if you don't count walking, Ubers, buses, trains and planes. It's the only way to live IMO.

I do! And have been my whole adult life

Yes, I've only put gas in my truck twice this year. An e-bike might make a great way for you to transition into daily cycling (as long as you pedal and don't rely on a throttle).

For 10ish years, averaging between 15 and 50 miles daily in Pittsburgh pa, rain or shine, for work or leisure.

Yup. Definitely recommend it. If you are a bit freaked out by the dangers of it, the first thing I would recommend is a full face bicycle helmet. You will probably feel like a dork, but trust me: the vast majority of head fractures that people get are from landing on their face. It's the first thing that hits the concrete much of the time, and at the very least you will save yourself a ton of money from dental bills if you fall hard and on your face. I often ride like a maniac, and if it wasn't for the full face helmet that I wore when I was commuting 30 miles a day, I definitely would have lost teeth and broken my jaw, and one of my cheekbones on one of my worst accidents. Before you freak out: it wasn't because I was hit by a car. All of the accidents that I have had that causedcaused me damage were of my own negligence. I ride pretty aggressively.

The other thing you will find, if you are really putting in some serious miles when commuting, is that you will lose weight. I'm talking if you are riding more than 20 miles a day. If you have a long commute on a bike, I would recommend popping in one earbud (so you can still hear traffic through the other ear), and using it as an opportunity to listen to great podcasts. That was the thing that turned my huge commute into a pleasure. Don't worry about buying all of the rest of the bike riding gear. You don't need spandex. You don't need expensive toe clips, etc. Use any bike that you feel comfortable riding. When I was commuting 30 miles a day, I was doing it on a mountain bike, and I am a rather tall person, so my bike is typically the largest bike that stores typically carry , and I don't have excessive amounts of money, so my bike was pretty heavy (especially because I would typically load it down with at least 15 pounds worth of stuff for my commute to school.) my advice to you would be to commit to it. Don't let yourself have any other option. Insist on writing your bike. At first, it seems pretty intimidating, but you will quickly adapt and it will be become normal and unremarkable. I would always go to Costco and buy a case of baby wipes, and bring a change of clothing for when I got to school, because I was typically drenched in sweat when I arrived. I would go into the bathroom, go into a stall and lock it, strip down, give myself a baby wipe bath, and put on fresh clothes.

If you have any challenges with anxiety or depression, you will find that the exercise every day will do wonders for your frame of mind.

Also, I tend to eat a lot, and do the bulk of my food shopping at Costco. if you are serious about it, you would be surprised at how many cases of heavy things you can attach to a bicycle if you are committed. Make sure to get a bike rack on the back, with some paniers, and have a lot of bungee cords at the ready. Also: if you are having a significant commute, I would definitely recommend making sure to have a bike repair kit with you, and learn how to repair your own tires. In the time that I was commuting to school, which was around 16 months, I had something like 25 flats that I had to repair. Getting familiar with some basic maintenance, such as knowing how to change a bike chain is also incredibly helpful. I completely, wholeheartedly recommend living the bicycle lifestyle. It's awesome. These days, I have to use a car on a daily basis for work, and I am missing my bicycle so much.

I’ve never driven a car in my life so I cycle to work 5 days a week. I live in Utrecht though and my job is like a 10 min bike ride from my house so I feel like I’m kinda living life on a cheat mode.

I am 37, living 10 km outside the city (and ~18km away from work) and never had a car. I have 5 bikes and just cycle everywhere I need to.

I still have my moped, but I'm thinking of selling it since I haven't touched it in 2 months. I bike everywhere now.

I guess you're asking Americans, but nonetheless my answer: I do everything in a 20 minute radius by bike, the rest with public transport. If really necessary, I use carsharing. I live in a large German city for reference.

61F. I don’t own a car. Other people in my family do. I own 2 e-bikes. And several other bikes also.

The e-bikes- One is a fat tire and has a throttle and a cargo trailer attachment.
The other is a Trek Allant with an extended battery and I use that one when I have to bike over 30 miles.

I use the fat tire for shopping and errands and for getting around the farm faster when I’m doing my chores at home.

E-bikes are not effortless so the benefit is I get some exercise. I live in a very hilly area so without the electric boost hauling groceries uphill on my regular bike would not be possible at my age. Going electric made it possible to ditch the car.

There are times- maybe once a week- that I need to haul huge loads and I borrow my husband’s pickup truck etc.

I wfh now but have commuted by bike in the past.

Bike commute is MUCH more fun than driving a car to work. It really put my head in a great place every morning.

Where I live we do get snow so during the snowy weather I would take a bus to work. Where you live an e-bike could be used year round.

It would probably help with any depression or anxiety too. I find that being outside in the sunshine and doing a little exercise helps my state of mind greatly.

I wish but even tho I'm pretty fit i have problem with excessive sweating while doing some activity, so i cant use it as main transportation. but when i was younger and didnt give a fuck about it i used to cycle everyday to school 5km in one direction, i was home faster than kids that was living in my area that was waiting for school bus

i do but what is your situation

?

how many miles

how nice do you have to look at work

how many hills

are there alt routes or times

have you got a bike

what kind

many quesitons

Yup. I don't drive,I bus or bike. Too much anxiety to drive.

I bike, bus and walk for everything. I can't drive for sight reasons. I live in Pittsburgh PA, which is quite hilly. Our bike infrastructure is improving, and we have a nice trail network. I personally like cycling a lot.

I commute to work (short only 2.5 miles) primarily by bike. I own a car and use it when I need to. But it sits for weeks on end, sometimes a month. I also use my bike for quick close errands.

For reference I have a professional type job where I need to be dressed up most days, I leave a suit, dress shoes, and a toiletries kit at the office and change things out when I want/need. New shirts come with me in panniers (and I try to keep one in the office in case I forget or I something unexpected happens.)

Today is the hottest day of the year so far (it’s a beautiful day). So I wore a t-shirt and some casual khakis. I don’t need to be dressed up until mid-day so I’ll change around lunch time. I just use a bathroom.

I’m not good at sitting still for long periods. I need exercise and a little time outside to help me relax and focus at the office. Cycling even just this short distance does that to me. Love it!

I do

I live in Germany in a small town. I don't have a driver's license and if I need to go somewhere far away I do use public transport.

I have a normal trekking bike which is very heavy because I am very heavy but I get around fine. I have a basket in the back and a good backpack so shopping is no problem either.

I do, for the most part. That's about to change though as I'm hopping jobs to someplace that is too far off to bike every day.

Car-free for decades here. I’m also fat and lazy and love biking everywhere. I’m grateful I don’t have to deal with the routine financial burdens of car ownership.

I do! I live in Pune, India. I work at an office 3kms away from my place. I have been commuting daily for the past 20 months. Unlike most parts of India, the weather permits all year round except the monsoon. Though, this summer the degree has skyrocketed to 40 plus degrees. But I still do and I love it Apart from my commute to office, I do cycle within 4-5 km daily

Just from a quick search, the VIA bus system there has buses with bike racks. I would use the bike as a "first mile"/"last mile" option and use the buses for the bulk of trips.

Mostly I only drive on the weekends. I mix biking and public transportation to get to work. I spent a few hours in Google maps mapping the safest routes.

If and when you get a chance, treat you anxiety. I spent a full year unable to leave my house due to anxiety decades ago. That's 100% in the past thanks to treatment. There are even more options now. Consult a professional.

Living in the Netherland, in general you start commuting when going to school some times even earlier, preschool with a parent. oma bikes, are in a way special urban bikes, and you see them everywhere here.

No, I live in Houston

I bike in northwest Pennsylvania all year. Crazy snow? I’m riding.

I cycle more than I drive 8 months of the year. I try to have two or more stops before I drive. 

Little old lady here riding back and forth to work most days year round. 8 mi each way. Riding helps relieve my anxiety in general.

First, I applaud your initiative. I'm about to turn 60 myself and it's my primary form of transport, has been for coming on 40 years.

That said & being fully honest.. I'm not sure biking would help w/ your anxiety. I feel much less safe on a bike then in my car. I've lived in several regions of the US(currently in Houston) and none of them have been built in a way that is welcoming to cycling. Add to that driver hostility to cyclists has IMHO only increased over the years. If someone doesn't scream at me, wail on their horn when they're right next to me, or behave in some threatening and/or reckless way AT LEAST once a week it's been a good week.

While road tripping through Texas I noticed that the interstate had safe-appearing bicycle-friendly frontage roads (there’s a name for them I can’t recall).

I’m not sure about in the urban areas but Houston and Dallas were very bike unfriendly

I practically live on my bike. (London, UK) I should be paying rent to my bike I’m on it so much. I don’t even think twice about going somewhere not by bike. I get more miles on my bike per year than most do in their cars in the city. I’ve saved close to £6000 on not taking the train and furthermore on not needing to use the gym or anything else.

I’m never in a bad mood for long in such a congested city and in comparison to some of my mates it’s clear how much my mental health remains in good shape.

So yes it is possible. Distances feel shorter every time I ride and even on the worst days of the year in terms of weather it’s still a great joy to commute by bike.

It is rough in Texas. I live in Dallas, it is not bike friendly at all. Very hot in the day. VERY HOT. You will need to shower when you arrive in your destination.

I try to but it is hard.

I use it commute to work but i live london so i go from town centre to town centre.

For me it is mainly bike. Then some form of rail for almost anything, follow up bus if needed. Finally i could rent a car. But the last time i rented was lockdown 1 2020. empty roads for 500+ miles in one day.

even then some scrotes were out and tried to have me bash for cash them.

Not anymore.. used to in the mid 70s when I was a young man and still lived in The Bronx, Used a Raleigh 3 speed until I loaned it to my brother, who had it stolen from his college dorm room.... Now I just ride weekends around 25 miles just for exercise and fun.

For almost my whole life. I try and be in a car less than 20 times a year and succeed. I'm not happy if I'm not outside and thankfully the weather here is always amazing. Bicycles are tools, not fitness equipment to lots of people.

I commute and ride errands with my workhorse commuter bike. Whatever I can ride to take a car off the road. It’s my primary mode for most trips and this year most miles too.

I do, ~8 months out of the year in Minneapolis. Not every trip can be a bike trip but most of them are. I want to keep things relatively safe, so I only bike when the route is (almost entirely) on separated paths/protected bike lanes/residential roads.

I'm a transportation oriented cyclist from Sacramento (though I can't say that cycling is my primary transportation). I recently visited San Antonio (in a car, bike was left at home). I agree that the roads did not look bike friendly. Most of the roads I saw were as full of motorist lanes as could possibly be packed between the curbs with minimal sidewalks (of course I only really saw a small area of town - was there to visit family and watch clouds block the total eclipse). If I had to get around by bike in the areas I visited, I'd be riding at about 7mph on sidewalks most of the time - it would get the task done, but I don't think I'd enjoy it much. I was somewhat surprised at the number of cyclists I saw on the shoulders of highways in Texas (generally I was impressed with the highway infrastructure - well maintained roadways with nice wide paved shoulders).

I did for a couple years while I was in school and working full time. It’s scary at first but it just becomes routine. Find a good route you like and try to appreciate the little landmarks you see. I’d always get excited about certain trees or parks I was riding by. And having small benchmarks in your ride makes it mentally easier. Oh I passed the school half way there. Oh there’s the shop with my favorite cookies five more minutes. Just stick to it after a month you’ll be happy you did. Always keep a little pump on you and get good at changing tubes.

I used to before I got a car. I used to be wispy and unathletic, it whipped me into shape

10% car, 20% train, 70% bike

Honestly I've found that in a city cycling is the best way to get around. You're not dealing with car traffic or waiting for a bus, and as you improve you'll keep up with or pass car traffic in the city.

The only really leave the city it's to bike the 95 miles to my hometown, or I just take the train there.

The only time I kind of wish I still had a car is moving day, but its way, way more cost effective and easy to just rent a u-haul van once every few years

Ride almost everyday for commuting and pleasure. Road, CX and MTB. The vehicles only come out for groceries, road/ out of town trips and off-roading adventures.

Funny thing is most people think I don't own or know about vehicles because of my bike collection.

Not my primary as I have a long commute and company car. However I opt for the bike for most things outside of work and only use my personal car for highway mileage

cycling is my main mode of transport but I live in the UK which is much less car dependent than SATX and most of the US

from my experience of being in San Antonio both having access to a car and not I wouldn't want to cycle at all there let alone as a primary form of transport. Could be better in some parts of downtown I'm not sure

if you're set on cycling it might be worth looking into an E-Bike if you're going to be doing longer commutes

I plan on NOT getting a car just so that i won't be tempted if it rains. I don't commute very far, but when i do, i use public transport

I own a car too, but I wouldn't call the car my 'primary' transport. The bicycle gets a lot of use too, for 'utility' purposes, getting into town for shopping/social and often (not in the worst weather) for commuting.

For me, journeys into town, about 5 miles, with good traffic-free paths, it just makes far more sense to use the bicycle. No traffic jams, no trouble parking, no crazy parking-fees, plus you can park the bicycle right outside the shop you want to visit. Even my 8.5 mile commute (each way) is very do-able (about 40 minutes) by bike - and I can fallback to taking the train for 2/3rds of the route if the weather turns bad.

Cycling is definitely good for fitness and mental health... and it's possible that regular aerobic exercise keeps you looking young too.

Everywhere I go, it's on my road bike, one with pedals and legs to propel  it instead of any motor/s.. Nothing wrong with E bikes but it's really a MOTOR bike as it's a bike and it's got a motor! Many people seem to forget this. Sorry if I offended anyone as it wasn't my intention. Just wanted to make an observation, and see if anyone agrees?