I started a new job in February which happens to be located in beautiful Burnsville, Minnesota. Being that the job is so close to my home and we only have one car, I made the decision that I would begin biking to work regularly (the plan was every day but the wettest May on record as well as two work trips has limited my riding quite a bit).
I did some research on commuter bikes, with the help of both MSPD and Reuben, and settled on a 2012 Daily Cross by Specialized from Erik’s in Bloomington. A really nice commuter bike, this one came with fenders and a back rack pre-installed. I added a back bag to the rack and bought a helmet and I was set to go for the summer.
The first day I biked into work I chose to ride all the way down Galaxie to McAndrews and found myself quite tired from the trip. I wasn’t looking forward to the climb back up McAndrews at the end of the day and rode along 140th to Cedar and came back that way. I took a few days off after that due to traveling for work and came up with the route you see above. The route I ended up choosing is shorter, utilizes roads which are not busy at the time I ride (outside of rush hour), and have wide shoulders which keeps me out of the general traffic for the majority of the trip.
In my time on the bike I have only been screamed at three times. The first two were within 24 hours of each other. One friendly individual telling me to get out of the street (I was only in the street at that particular location because of sidewalk construction) and another who chose to use a racial epithet which I will not repeat here. Today I was screamed at in some unintelligible manner probably because I had the audacity to ride my bike to work instead of driving my car.
While the ride is pretty easy overall, I have to admit that adding 20 to 25 minutes to my commute each way is a bit depressing. Knowing I’m saving gas and getting exercise is a nice thought and I like ringing my bell at wayward children wandering on bike paths. I hope that by the end of the summer I’ll be a total beast on the bike and that it will take even less than 20 minutes, especially on days where the wind is blowing 20 mph in my face.
Have you ever wanted to commute by bike to work? Do you have the ability to do so but choose not to? Have you ever yelled at a biker (I have but only when they were blowing stop signs or not paying attention to their surroundings)? When you choose your bike routes do you choose roads which are less traveled? Whatever you have to say about this one go ahead and comment on as I’d love to hear your thoughts.
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May 30th, 2012 at 8:06 am
Ten years ago in rural Illinois, nothing said “DWI Conviction” like an adult riding a bicycle around town. Although those were usually obviously some child’s bike that they were borrowing, not a nice commuter bike. Fortunately, MN has Whiskey plates to provide that stigma.
May 30th, 2012 at 8:07 am
I’ve been riding to work in Burnsville during the summer months for the past 12 years. Two to four times per week. Mine is a short commute – only five miles. This time of the year is fantastic with all the available daylight.
I don’t ride directly on busy roads like McAndrews or Burnsville Parkway. Serious bikers (I’m not) will ride on these roads, but I stay on the sidewalk. To me, it seems a little stupid to put yourself in a dangerous situation. People are too busy drinking coffee, phoning, texting, etc. to be prepared to react to a slow-moving bicyclist.
While in the car, I sometimes honk at dog walkers who, for reasons I don’t understand, parade down a street when a perfectly good sidewalk is available. Apparently, I live near past MN Attorney General Mike Hatch who frequently walks his two dogs on a fairly busy street. He had to jerk one of his pooches out of the way of my car as I met him coming over a hill one morning. What a dork.
May 30th, 2012 at 8:10 am
Looks like you have found the best possible way to get there. Good for you that you are doing something that not only saves money and helps the environment but is good for your health.
May 30th, 2012 at 8:18 am
I wish I lived closer to downtown so I could bike more often. Good to see your taking advantage of living close to where you work.
Just out of curiosity, I looked at the length of commute from my house to downtown; 2 hours and 32 minutes each way. Considering the shape that I’m in, I’d say that’s pretty accurate, if not a little generous.
May 30th, 2012 at 8:44 am
I don’t bike to work because I’m not a pinko commie. Or a hippie.
But seriously, I wish I could bike to work. Unfortunately, the 28 miles from home to work are too long. After taking the bus to work for 5.5 years, it’s a bit strange to even be driving to work now.
May 30th, 2012 at 8:57 am
I am very jealous that you can easily bike to work. For me, getting to Woodbury from Apple Valley on bike is no easy task.
You should try it in the winter too.
May 30th, 2012 at 9:04 am
When I can make cycling to work happen I love it. But having kids’ events all over the metro area after work (traveling baseball) makes it more of a dream than a reality.
I know….”best intentions”…but after baseball is done in July, I plan to transition over to transit from Burnsville to downtown Mpls instead of driving and that will include some stretches on the bike. Maybe bus in and bike home. Given the 25-mile trip each way (bike route) I still don’t think I have the scheduling freedom to do round trip via bike every day.
As for your questions Bill, I don’t yell at cyclists. Being a cyclist, I don’t find it productive.
I’ve been on the occasional receiving end of comments. It’s rare…maybe once a year depending on my mileage. I think it’s because I am very careful about route selection – minimizing routes where I’m a factor to cars, pedestrians, etc. – and I abide by the law when I ride. Almost every time, it’s the stereotypical moron that just doesn’t want to see a person riding a bike (e.g. a “get off the road!” on rural Cedar Ave down in Lakeville riding on a 12-foot wide shoulder nowhere near the traffic lanes).
Last summer I had an unpleasant encounter with a City of Minneapolis employee (driving a City vehicle with a vehicle identifying number….oops). I was riding 23-25 mph in a 25 mph speed limit zone, not a factor to other vehicles around me whatsoever (on the River Road adjacent to downtown, working my way over to the Cedar Lake Trail behind Target Field). Cars that wanted to drive at or over the speed limit were easily passing me as I wasn’t in the traffic lane.
As I pulled up to a stop sign, she pulled up next to me and shouted “you’re blocking traffic!” I went with a simple “I’m doing 23 mph…if that’s not fast enough, just pass me like everyone else”. She then decided that made too much sense and angrily shouted “you’re supposed to be on the sidewalk” (which is wrong).
As much as I was enjoying sitting at the stop sign and — ironically — with her blocking traffic by sitting there yelling at me, I continued on my way. At the next stop sign, she launched into the “get off the road” bit. I said “if you want to pull over and talk about traffic laws I’m happy to do so” (side note: I usually carry one of those “cyclist rules and responsibilities” laminated cards in my jersey pocket which I would have given to her to prove that I was in the right).
She decided yelling F-U was easier. Funny thing is, she finally passed me and then I easily kept pace behind her through the series of stop signs, further proving that she was a lunatic and wrong.
And, yeah, the City staff got a nice report of the incident. She was reprimanded. Must suck trying to explain that one when the head of the department and the Mayor are also avid cyclists.
May 30th, 2012 at 9:11 am
Glad to hear it’s going somewhat well. I work about 5 miles from my house and can take the Midtown Greenway most of the way…but I haven’t tried it yet :) I’m hoping to do a test run on the weekend and then bike a few days in June sending Ryan on the bus in the morning instead of driving him.
May 30th, 2012 at 9:14 am
I’m glad it’s working out well for you, Bill. I agree that the time issue is a bit of a bummer. I could usually drive my commute in 20 minutes, but it takes me 45-50 to bike it. It’s a tradeoff.
I get yelled at a couple times a month probably, but I’m lucky enough that the majority of my daily commute is on regional trails, so I don’t battle traffic nearly as much as some other cyclists.
May 30th, 2012 at 9:21 am
Last year I got my old Trek bike refurbished and began to ride around Apple Valley for some excercise. I don’t go too far and don’t have the option of riding my bike to work, since I go from upstairs to a downstairs office at home when I am not traveling which is 2 -3 times a month. I get yelled at frequently, but usually kids yelling things like Fat-Ass to me… Hey–at least I am trying to do something instead of riding around with loud music pumping insulting old fat ladies on bicylces… I admire anyone who makes a committment to doing something everyday and keeps it up. It is a skill I wish I was better at.
May 30th, 2012 at 9:25 am
Is it pretty common for bikers to get yelled at? I just posed that question to a couple of co-workers and they said it’s not uncommon. Why are people anti-bike?
May 30th, 2012 at 9:32 am
People probably yell at bikers for 2 reasons: 1.) They’re annoyed by anything that’s not larger than a mid-size sedan on the road. In other words, they’d yell at a SmartCar too if they knew the driver could hear them. 2.) They just like to yell at people. This tends to be teens, but I seem to have at least one or two people a week yell at me on Burnsville’s city streets, whether I’m on a run or pushing a stroller (though not usually when doing both at the same time, oddly enough).
May 30th, 2012 at 9:35 am
I’d say 50% of the yells I get are just kids being kids. 25% is people I’m not really inconveniencing who are just annoyed that bikes are allowed outside of parks and driveways, and 25% is from folks who I really am slowing down by being in the road.
May 30th, 2012 at 9:39 am
I am really jealous of you (actually I am not).
I wish I lived closer to work so I could bike there (not really).
If I did live close enough I would absolutely buy a new bike and take it to work whenever I could (in reality, I would get rid of my higher mileage car and get a low mile lease on a sports car).
I never yell at bikers (except when they get in my way and I am trying to make a phone call).
Good for you , Bill (you could afford to shed some weight).
May 30th, 2012 at 10:04 am
I’d like to add a third reason to Joey’s list for why people yell at cyclists. I yell at cyclists who are flagrantly — and potentially fatally — breaking traffic laws, like the ones who blow through stop signs and into the path of my car. Or the idiot who was riding the wrong way on a one-way street in a construction zone in downtown St. Paul yesterday during the evening rush. Yes. I yelled at him, after I narrowly avoided spreading him like jelly along a concrete construction barrier.
May 30th, 2012 at 10:40 am
I have always wanted to bike to work. I think I’ve mentioned before on this site in a couple astroturf posts that we enjoy the loveliest bike paths in the country. But, from Agrestic Valley where I live to the Sustainable Urban core is about a 35 mile ride by the time you find your way over the river and the through the woods.
Ilove the idea of comuter bike however. Maybe I could park somewhere near downtown and ride to work that way.
May 30th, 2012 at 11:00 am
I attempted to ride bicycle to work once. It took me over an hour to get to work, and just over a half an hour to get home. After getting home, I looked up Topo maps and found out the high point of the trip was 250′ away from my office and the low point was similarly close to my home.
I still think 14 miles going from the city to the suburbs with less than a mile off of bike paths is pretty good.
May 30th, 2012 at 12:04 pm
The longest human-powered commute I ever had was when I was out east doing a college internship. Without a car and in a place with lousy bus service, I walked the four miles two and from my apartment to the office.
On the other hand, I do regularly ride my bikes for pleasure. One is a road bike, and the other is a mountain bike I ride in the various parks.
I’ll admit to blowing through stop signs if there’s no traffic around. But once there’s a car in sight, I’ll stop.
May 30th, 2012 at 1:17 pm
Before my office moved (last year), I would bike into the office 2 times a week, starting when the temp in the morning was above 40 degrees. Savage to Bloomington, across the old Ferry Bridge. Did this for a few years, and the exercise portion was great. Although (for me) there were a lot of logistical challenges, most of them dealing with what to bring back & forth to the office (laptop, change of clothes, etc). I never got hassled or yelled at. Although I was riding a mtn bike, and my route was on a bike path, median grass or through residential neighborhoods.
The Google mapping service has a “get directions” cyclist view. Can really help plan out routes with available bike paths
May 30th, 2012 at 1:37 pm
Don’t go too crazy: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2148804/Cycling-harm-male-reproductive-health-increasing-estrogen-levels.html
May 30th, 2012 at 3:11 pm
I have been sporadically bike/bus commuting from Apple Valley to Golden Valley for over 10 years. Yes, it takes longer, but when I ride consistently, I get to pull that belt a couple holes tighter by summer’s end. Your legs will turn into marble pillars, it is a good transformation.
As for safety, be confident and follow the rules of the road. I will ease through vacant stop signs, but always wait at red lights. Watch out for sidewalks (I refuse to call them bike paths) as very few stop their cars at the base of the stop sign. I have found that it is much safer to bike the closer you are to downtown. I attribute it to improved driver awareness and attitude toward cyclists. The former I get, the latter pisses me off. I pay registration on four cars, a motorcycle and two trailers. I do have a right to be on that road.
I ride a 1977 Raleigh Grand Sport that I have modified with fenders, racks and something you may be looking to add in September; lighting. That is if you get hooked.
Enjoy.
May 30th, 2012 at 7:53 pm
Bill, an alternative may be the “motorized foot scooter”. Have been experimenting with one for the past two years with several modifications for the rider…… In fact we now have a total of three. Currently the range of this particular unit is eight miles between charges. Judging from your map this may be an option for you. For all practical purposes they are considered a bike. No licensing is required. Don’t get me wrong, I do believe in exercise but who wants to arrive at work in a sweat??:)
May 30th, 2012 at 11:25 pm
When I used to work about two miles from home, I used to walk or bike to work quite often. And felt good about myself when I did! I could not always do this because sometimes it was required that I drive somewhere during the day.
If I could bike to work now, I would, but I work too far from home to do that and have too many things come up during the day that I need a vehicle for.
I respect the bikers that I see because I know they are riding their bikes for good reasons – health, saving on gas, saving money, going green, whatever – but I see so many bikers on my way home from work in the car lanes. That bothers me a lot. Stay on the sides where you are safe and are not causing cars to slow and change lanes to get around you!
Don’t bike in the middle of the car lanes like you think you are a car. You’re not.
May 30th, 2012 at 11:31 pm
Bill, this is one of the few things I admire about you :P so don’t let those drivers bother you – they’re just jealous.
My commute’s recently been shortened as well, and I too have started getting to work by my own power. There’s only one route from my bedroom to my office though, so maybe that’s not all that relevant to this topic. Let me know when you do a piece on “How infrequently do you shave?” – I might have more to contribute there.
I did however just pick up a bike trailer for my little kiddo, so that should provide some incentive to get our bikes out more. If you see a giggly little bambino being towed around like he’s on a roman chariot be sure to wave.
May 30th, 2012 at 11:52 pm
Mrs Marcos’ stepdad bikes to work, about 25 miles round trip, YEAR-effin-ROUND! He doesn’t own a car even though he could probably populate his entire driveway if he traded in one of his many bikes. He’s a bikin’ fool with his studded tires and all. He’s got stories about drivers who have some serious sharing issues, especially on those winter mornings when he’s out before the plows. He’s been nudged a few times and even landed in the hospital.
May 31st, 2012 at 4:45 pm
Now that you’ve published your route your might get yelled at more frequently. :D
September 20th, 2012 at 8:35 am
From my tweet this morning: https://twitter.com/garciasn/status/248772278848983040
September 23rd, 2012 at 10:57 am
I live close to one of the transit stations, so I encounter a number of bikers at the ungodly hour I leave for work. I have had a few close calls backing out of my driveway. I only yelled at one of them–a guy who had NO reflective gear on whatsoever. He didn’t even have a light on his bike! (He yelled at me for almost hitting him, I yelled right back that had he been wearing reflective gear, maybe I just might have seen him!). Most of the ones I encounter at that time of day have a light on their bike, or wear something with reflective tape (jacket, vest, hat…)
Now that I look at your route…I hope it wasn’t you I yelled at! (I am guessing you are someone who rides safely and dresses to be seen in the dark of night, though!)
Funny part is, up until I snagged a desk job 7 years ago, I used to ride a bike AT work ;) and other than the stationary ones at the gym, I haven’t ridden one since.
Ride like the wind, Bill…
September 23rd, 2012 at 11:04 am
Nah wasn’t me :-)
May 17th, 2013 at 11:57 am
Bumping this bike thread, because isn’t today bike to work day? After filling up my car a few days ago for way too much cash I plan to make it sip the gas as long as possible by continuing to bike as much as I can.
Who’s with me?
May 17th, 2013 at 5:35 pm
Started biking to work on Tuesday using the $10 bike my wife got from Target on clearance this January. Turns out my office is only 2.x miles away from my front door by bike. Bike paths all the way, takes about 20 minutes considering the 3 controlled intersections I need to cross. It’s criminal that I hadn’t started sooner considering how close I live. To get exercise I have to ride for recreation as my 4 miles a day otherwise won’t be enough.
No fenders, so I have yet to ride it in the rain. If I ride it on decent days for another week, I’ll invest in some rain gear.
May 17th, 2013 at 9:14 pm
Mikeh- fenders are a cheap add on. Although, if you are going to bike a lot, It would be worth while to put some money down on a higher quality bike. Even if it is used from Craig’s list. Both my wife and I ride a lot more now that we have nicer bikes because the ride is so much smoother and efficient when compared to the big box store bikes we had.
May 17th, 2013 at 9:15 pm
Mikeh- fenders are a cheap add on. (20 or 30 bucks IIRC) Although, if you are going to bike a lot, It would be worth while to put some money down on a higher quality bike. Even if it is used from Craig’s list. Both my wife and I ride a lot more now that we have nicer bikes because the ride is so much smoother and efficient when compared to the big box store bikes we had.
May 17th, 2013 at 9:16 pm
Hmmm. That got glitchy…
May 18th, 2013 at 1:23 pm
I’m on vacation but I rode 37 miles.
May 19th, 2013 at 9:10 am
This particular inexpensive Schwinn branded (but not your grandfathers schwinn company, basically just a name slapped on a bike now) has zero support for fenders. This due to it’s “mountain” bike full suspension design.
I generally don’t have time for casual biking. At least not until I have a device to let my 2 year old (today) grand kid ride along. So for now it will be commuter bike riding. If I can be consistent through this summer, i’ll get a proper commuter bike next year. And yes, Craigslist or garage sales are the best place to get a “good” bike for a “reasonable” price. If you are able to do basic repairs yourself you might even get a “great” bike at a “cheap” price.
I did get reminded just yesterday that just because the direct route to my office is only 2 miles doesn’t mean I need to take the direct route. As such , I may just allow for a little more time to get to work and take a more scenic indirect route. At least to add a couple more miles to the one way trip I think.
May 19th, 2013 at 1:00 pm
We love to use the roads less traveled! It’s not about the destination for us, but the journey. As far as taking your grandchild along, we utilized one of those trailers until they were ready for a bike of their own, then those piggyback bikes that hooks onto yours. Both worked very well and I figure the added weight was comparable to weight training…
We biked to a restaurant last night and were pleasantly surprised to see that at least 16 other people had the same idea. I like it! I even discovered that I can safely transport 2-dozen eggs in my basket without a crack. Success.
May 19th, 2013 at 9:05 pm
Mikeh, don’t forget estate sales.
May 20th, 2013 at 8:01 am
I have a question for you bikers more seasoned than me. I know we are supposed to use the road. I bike with my elementary-aged kid a lot and there’s many times when the road just is not wide enough for me to have her safely ride, so she rides on the sidewalk and I ride on the road.
Yet I think riding on the sidewalk isn’t allowed. Is this correct? Thoughts? What do those of you with kids do? I’m all for obeying the law, but refuse to let my kid become roadkill.
May 20th, 2013 at 8:34 am
Riding on the sidewalk is generally allowed. Different cities have different rules. MNDOT has a page on the rules for bikes at it applies to Minnesota.
http://www.dot.state.mn.us/bike/roadrules.html
Minnesota law requires bikers to notify pedestrians with an audible signal before overtaking the pedestrian. i.e. you can’t just blow buy them without some warning. That is one of the reasons you still can find bells sold for bikes just about anywhere. Many places pedestrians are considered to have the right of way on any path or sidewalk.
Personally if there is a bike path I use it. I don’t know that you are much safer, especially if the path is alongside a roadway. The people that would hit you if you were riding on the shoulder are the same people that would hit you way over on the bike path. Folks with medical emergencies or impaired or fall asleep. One of the reasons I don’t wear headphones on my bike is so I can hear a vehicle if it starts heading towards me.
May 20th, 2013 at 8:56 am
Thanks for the link – we’ll read it together when she comes home.
And yes, she does have a bell which she uses if we ever overtake someone from behind. If we are biking toward them, she knows to veer off onto the grass to give them the right of way. I should get a bell of some sort..
May 20th, 2013 at 9:18 am
Just did a check of cities (Burnsville, Lakeville, Rosemount, Farmington, Eagan) around and the only one that seems to codify anything regarding bicycle rules is Lakeville with their 7-8-3: Rules of the Road, Bicycles.
Interestingly there is something about bike lanes. I’m not aware of any roadways in Lakeville that have a designated “bike lane”. Lots of bike paths but haven’t seen a bike lane.
Also in Lakeville, apparently if there is a “designated” bike path next to the roadway, bicyclist “shall use the path and shall not use the roadway” (7-8-3.D). I’m not sure if I’ve seen any signs “designating” a path as a bike path.
May 20th, 2013 at 9:23 am
Rosemount has a few dedicated bike lanes. Check this link out for Lakeville’s biking paths: http://www.ci.lakeville.mn.us/departments/departmentspdf/ParksTrailsMap.pdf
May 21st, 2013 at 9:46 am
Thanks everyone!
May 22nd, 2013 at 9:16 am
I’ve got another bike-related question. Where in the south metro do you recommend taking mine in? On my rainy ride yesterday it was ‘slipping’ while in gear. Hard to explain, but definitely not normal. I’d prefer to use a local place rather than a chain -pun intended-!
May 22nd, 2013 at 9:31 am
Here you go ks: http://valleybikeandski.com/
How many miles do you have on that chain, ks? Sounds like maybe your chain has stretched if it’s jumping forward like that. Just to forewarn, it’s generally recommended you also replace your cassette (I’m assuming you are talking about a geared bike, not a fixie/singlespeed) when you replace your chain. Your call on that depending on how many miles you put on the bike/how serious you are about it.
May 22nd, 2013 at 10:01 am
It’s an old bike (1992) and probably the same chain…so I’m sure that’s the issue. I love it to death though and will keep doing what I need to do to keep this extension of me in good shape. Thanks so much for the help MSPD.
May 22nd, 2013 at 1:09 pm
One of my bikes is about that vintage.
My guess is that you’ll want to replace both the chain and the cassette (the cluster of sprockets on the back). As you ride on a stretched chain, it begins to wear the teeth on the sprockets. If you replace the chain soon enough (before it stretches too far and wears the sprockets down too much) you can sometimes get away with just replacing the chain. The guys at any reputable bike shop will know how to measure how far the chain has stretched. But basically, if you’ve stretched the chain 1/8″ or more on a 12-link measurement, you need a new cassette.
Hopefully they offer new cassettes that are compatible with your older bike without costing an arm and a leg. Good luck!
May 22nd, 2013 at 1:11 pm
I used to rebuild my bikes from scratch and Valley Bike and Ski was a goto location. That and the hardware store. VBS was more expensive than the hardware store. I’d either walk or my dad would drive. I’d bring in some utterly failed part full of grease and the techs would take a look, clean it up, hand me replacement parts, and my dad would write a check….. life was good.
I got my first real bike when I was 6 or 7. Single speed, pedal brake and back then had a big sissy bar and ape hanger handlebars and it was orange. I rode that bike well past my 18th birthday, keeping the frame, but rebuilding just about everything else multiple times. It’s last iteration a BMX trick bike, still orange. I think it is one of the things my dad wants out of his garage that he is cleaning this summer.
My kids were not big bike riders. I think mostly because of the prevalence of video games, cable tv, and living in multi-family housing most of their lives. We got them bikes, but the road didn’t call them like it did my brother and I. We didn’t have anything better to do.
May 23rd, 2013 at 6:53 am
Random Bikes in Eagan (Over by Cliff and 35E by the Burger King) has been very good to deal with.
May 23rd, 2013 at 9:24 am
I always forget they’re there..so hidden. Thanks Sui.