Route choice - What would you do?
BoardinBob
Posts: 697
I'm based right in the centre of Glasgow and have a multitude of routes I could take to and from work but it's the route home that I'm debating over.
Route 1 is a pretty direct route. On the way to work it's a doddle. Straight and flat in bus lanes and cycle lanes. Road conditions are pretty good. On the way home, it's more of a challenge. One way streets mean I can't follow the same route initially and I have to negotiate a jam packed snarled up section of road where I need to traverse across some heavy traffic in order to get onto the quieter route I take in the morning. Once I'm on that though there are a few sections of bus lane that look they've been shelled with a howitzer. Potholes the diameter of a wheel and 8 - 10 inches deep (they get filled up regularly but appear again with a day or two!) Journey time from the office to home is about 20-25 minutes and the route is 3.7 miles.
Route 2 is pretty much exclusively on cycle paths, quiet back streets and through a country park. No problems at all with traffic but it is a lot longer than route 1 @ 8 miles. It takes around 40 minutes.
Is it worth the extra distance to avoid the the heavy traffic and awful roads?
Route 1 is a pretty direct route. On the way to work it's a doddle. Straight and flat in bus lanes and cycle lanes. Road conditions are pretty good. On the way home, it's more of a challenge. One way streets mean I can't follow the same route initially and I have to negotiate a jam packed snarled up section of road where I need to traverse across some heavy traffic in order to get onto the quieter route I take in the morning. Once I'm on that though there are a few sections of bus lane that look they've been shelled with a howitzer. Potholes the diameter of a wheel and 8 - 10 inches deep (they get filled up regularly but appear again with a day or two!) Journey time from the office to home is about 20-25 minutes and the route is 3.7 miles.
Route 2 is pretty much exclusively on cycle paths, quiet back streets and through a country park. No problems at all with traffic but it is a lot longer than route 1 @ 8 miles. It takes around 40 minutes.
Is it worth the extra distance to avoid the the heavy traffic and awful roads?
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Comments
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Here's Route 1
http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/219764
And Route 2
http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/2197540 -
How about route one on the way to work and route two on the home?
It's similar to my situation. One way I follow the roads into town, but on the way home I use the canal tow path which is twice as long and takes an extra 20mins....but then I'm not bothered what state I get home in, i take the quick route to work so I don't look too dishevelled by the time i get to my desk...<insert witty comment here>
Also, I have calculated my FCN as 12...although I have no idea what that actually means.0 -
I do Manchester city centre which is a nightmare in rush hour, and has roads in similar condition. I too could take a more scenic route, but for me time wins out - I like to get home as quick as possible!
Any flexibility on when you ride? I'm on flexible working hours, so can come in at 8 and leave at 4, or in at 10 and out at 6. Means I can normally avoid the worst of the traffic by coming in at 10 and going home at 4
Road: 2006 Trek 1500
Off: 2009 Carrera Fury
I asked God for a bike, but I know God doesn't work that way. So I stole a bike and asked for forgiveness.0 -
hondafanatic wrote:How about route one on the way to work and route two on the home?
It's similar to my situation. One way I follow the roads into town, but on the way home I use the canal tow path which is twice as long and takes an extra 20mins....but then I'm not bothered what state I get home in, i take the quick route to work so I don't look too dishevelled by the time i get to my desk...
Sorry, should have said that's what I've done over the last couple of days. I was doing route 1 there and back but I thought I'd try Route 2 on Friday night. It's
Downhill to the river and turn right
cycle path all along the river,
across the river on a footbridge,
cycle path
Quiet side street
Main road but fairly quiet.
Quiet side street
Main road with cycle path
Very quiet main road
Country park
Quiet side streets then home
Route 2 is
Downhill to the river and turn left
Busy expressway where I need to get over into the right hand lane
Down onto the riverside cycle path which is frequented by drunks and junkies
Back up onto the main road in a bus lane
Very busy intersection
Horrendous stretch of road with the massive potholes
Very busy intersection
Quiet stretch of bus lane
Very busy road with peds stepping out, car doors opening, buses pulling in, cars pulling out
Through a (dodgy) park
Narrow street with cars lining either side
Home0 -
SPOODZILLA wrote:I do Manchester city centre which is a nightmare in rush hour, and has roads in similar condition. I too could take a more scenic route, but for me time wins out - I like to get home as quick as possible!
Any flexibility on when you ride? I'm on flexible working hours, so can come in at 8 and leave at 4, or in at 10 and out at 6. Means I can normally avoid the worst of the traffic by coming in at 10 and going home at 4
Yeah I'm flexible.
I get in the office around 7:30-ish, quick shower, breakfast and I'm at my desk for 8am which means I can leave around 4pm, get changed and be on the road for 4:15pm but it's starting to get hectic at that time.0 -
Do you really need to ask such a question?? You have the option to keep your lungs fresher....... probably bomb along at a faster rate... your blood pressure will be kept at a sensible level.......and you are worried about a few extra miles..........??
40 mins is a great commute time!!
A couple of days and you will be wondering why it was ever an issue!!
Go for the nicer ride.0
