beachball42

This year was the first year I started to bike commute to work, I've averaged 2 days a week since starting in May. Over the past month, I've noticed a lot more bikes and commuters along my route and part of me wonders is it that I am just more aware of them since I am one or am I really seeing an increase in riders. In the past years, along my driving route I would occasionally see one or two but on days I drive it seems I'm seeing more. Last week on my ride home in the first 1/2 mile before I get to my main MUP I had three riders in front of me and one behind me. On the 1 1/2 miles of a popular MUP I saw between 10 to 15 (not all commuters) when I normally only see maybe 5 or so.

Last Thursday my daughter was volunteering and the library so after dropping her off I decided to go for a walk and walked over to the MUP that I use for part of my commute. As I walked I couldn't help but notice the number of bicyclist out and at one location near a new restaurant that just opened, I counted 16 bikes locked up at the bike racks. Yesterday I had a business meeting at a coffee shop along the MUP and we sat outside the steady flow of bike riders in a 45 minute span was surprising. All of this was making me wonder if bike riding and bike commuting is really gaining in popularity.

srestrepo

i'm starting to see a bit of an uptick as well. Say if you buy a care though, it feels like you see more of that car than you used to. i dont know if there's a name for that, but it seems that familiarity with anything increases an awareness to it.

chas58

Probably just your awareness.

I have seen a huge uptick over time. 20 years ago I was the only one bike commuting around here. It really wasn't until 2004 - when gas prices suddenly went over $2/gallon, that I started to see a change.

Of course shortly after that cell phone usage really took off, and bike commuting safety went to ****e after that...

ptempel

I only see a few new regulars on my commute in the last few years. I'm not counting the "fair weather riders" in that. Mostly the folks that ride year round. But am glad that you started commuting last year, OP. Keep the smile up and the wheels down.

noglider 

Yes, I'm sure it is increasing in many or most areas.

Jim from Boston

More Bike Commuters?FYA, in February of this year, there was a similar thread on the General Cycling Discussion Forum, “Is Cycling Growing Or Declining In Your Area (U.S.)?” .

Eds0123

One of my co-workers approached me a month or so ago and started asking me about my commute. He indicated he liked to bicycle commute too but his house was too far. I suggested maybe he could drive and park somewhere and get on his bicycle for the rest of way. He has been riding to work one or 2 times a week since. He parks his car at one of those "Park and Ride" stations and rides last 10 miles on bike trails to work. I'd like to think that I have been a positive influence at my work place.

catgita

Kedosto

At least two things here. First, there has been an increase overall in bicycle commuting over the last several years. The increase has been very slight, but measurable to those in charge of measuring. Second, there is always a "fair weather" increase this time of year. The days are long and the weather is nice so people are encouraged to get outdoors and get a little exercise. When the weather turns this fall and the days start getting shorter, you'll have your chance to decide whether your bicycle commuting was part of the overall increase, or simply a "fair weather" up-tick. Either way, enjoy the ride.


-Kedosto

Archwhorides 

On my side of Boston coming from Arlington, in many areas along my route the number of bikers is definitely generally increasing. In this nicer weather our numbers are seemingly reaching some sort of critical mass where the bikers may control the negotiations with the cars at points (multiple bikers taking over a lane at a stop light for instance). It's nice to see so many intelligent and attractive people on the road enjoying themselves, and chat with some every now and then along the way.

Darth Lefty 

PaulH

Our region is number 3 in the country and may have the fastest growing mode share.
https://wtop.com/local/2017/05/many-...prising-stats/

Gresp15C

Bike commuting is certainly gaining ground in Madison WI, perhaps not coincidentally, rush hour car traffic keeps getting worse and worse, and many of the bike routes bypass the worst of the car routes.

noglider 

I can't believe Minneapolis is so high, with its climate. Boy, people there are hardy. I love that expression I learned on Prairie Home Companion: There's no bad weather, only bad clothing. I want to visit the Twin Cities one day. The trouble is, my wife wouldn't be willing to go with me if we go in the winter.

surak

Good show by DC. As I was gliding home one day on my evening commute, my neighbor drove in and we struck up a conversation about my commute. He told me how he bought a 10-speed when he got his first job in DC some decades ago, tried going out once, and then was too terrified by crazy car traffic to ever ride there again.

They opened up a bridge trail across Lake Washington last December that vastly improved (i.e., doubled the number of) connections between Seattle and the east side 'burbs. I bought a road bike a month later and started commuting at least twice a week. Some days, there are quite a few cyclists going over the bridge. I go eastward in the morning and the bridge counter shows 400-500 crossings already for the day. I have to imagine a lot of the riders weren't able to do the commute before the trail opened, because the other crossing is significantly further south, and the only way to get across before the new trail opened was to get on a bus going over the bridge.

beachball42

I don't know where we fit in the rankings, I know that my City has over 200 miles of MUP's and I've seen some stats that say the user mix is 60/40 bicyclist to pedestrians. I use the MUP's but I also see people who prefer the roads. I am more of a "fair weather" commuter and I know that there are more people on nicer days. With the investment in the MUP's I do see more users of the trails but I certainly am more aware of just how many riders I am seeing. Plus, with some of the new restaurants along one stretch of the Monon, the number of bikes parked outside is noticeably growing.

I-Like-To-Bike

Interesting description of the people you like to see riding bikes. Do you care to expound on what are the characteristics that make some bicyclists appear to be "intelligent and attractive"?

ptempel

240 ft altitude is high? (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orangevale,_California) Well, at least it beats my town which is only 174 ft above sea level (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bloomfield,_New_Jersey). What an ugly building that Frank M Leo one is on the page. If you saw what was there back in the early 1900's, you would also ask why it was demolished. Actually here's a big picture of what it was back in 1906: https://www.firstbaptistbloomfield.org/oldcenter.htm Those were the days...

Archwhorides 

Aren't regular bike commuters intelligent and attractive by definition?

Jim from Boston

Sample bias.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim from Boston

BTW, I don’t list my location under my avatar, but it is “D’uh” [in Kenmore Square].

Jim from Boston

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maelochs

Whenever I see a series of nested quotes, I think "it's Jim from 'Duh' again." …

Korina

On my commute I pass Murray Field, elevation 5 feet.

ETA: It's hard to say whether there are more bike commuters; evidently 6:30 am is early for most. I have run across an occasional cyclist, but I'm riding between towns. We don't have a lot of trails to make it more pleasant, and the roads and drivers here are equally horrifying, but we do have the Humboldt Bay Bicycle Commuter's Association, so there are some.

Darth Lefty 

ptempel

Aaaaah, ok. As long as you're not an obligatory guest at the free iron hotel, then all is good.

I took off today and was not feeling like riding in the rain this morning. I probably should have since it dried up and was fine in the afternoon albeit a bit humid. Wednesday is supposed to be even wetter. Will see,,,

SylvainG

To OP, count me in. I started two years ago after driving to work for the previous 28 years. In my department, three more started to ride to work on occasion since then. One even bought a new bike to ride to work more often. Roads are getting more bike friendly in the last few years and it's starting to show.

Day6

Your increased awareness is probably getting you to now notice cyclists who've always been there, but I think overall there is an increase in bike commuting. Here in West Texas, bicycles seem to be thought of as children's toys or the last resort of the near homeless for transportation over the 30 years I've been commuting off and on. But lately, I'm not only seeing more commuters, but they are also more seriously outfitted: branded bikes, helmets, panniers, etc. It's been encouraging to see.