86 Mile roundtrip bike commute "sorta"

Submitted by Commuter on Wed, 06/25/2008 - 7:55am.
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I was asked to post this to let people know that it is possible to commute long distances by bike, so this http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=2020081 is my bike commute. It consists of getting up at 4:30am and riding 5 miles to the Windward park-n-ride bus lot and taking the bus down GA400 to the North Springs train station. From there I take the train south to the East Point Marta station and then ride the final 4 or so miles to my office.

Yes, most of it is on the bus/train, but I do get 35-40 minutes of riding time in twice a day. On the way home it is easier to increase riding miles because I can ride to the Doraville station and ride 18 miles home from there or go to the North Springs station and take the bus to Mansell Rd and go 10 miles via the Bigcreek Greenway to home. The basic way takes about 2 hours to complete.

Me too

Submitted by visitor on Thu, 07/17/2008 - 8:28pm.

I bike 5 miles to the Mansell Park n Ride...ride the bus to North Springs...
ride the train to Midtown and bike only a few blocks to work. It works
and I get my exercise / riding in for the day. Leave the house at 7:45 am
and I'm at work by 9 or 9:15 am. It's also a $0.00 commute because
work pays for the monthly Marta card. It can be done, we just
have to be creative and willing to do it.

Importance of combined commutes

Submitted by marc on Wed, 06/25/2008 - 8:50am.

Over half the people I talked to at ABC tables recently, when asked whether they had considered commuting by bike, said that they lived "too far" from work. Commuter's post really calls that claim into question.

When you start thinking along the lines of a mixed bike / public transit commute a whole new world of options opens up. This applies to other types of trips as well. You avoid contributing to the automobile congestion nightmare and get some riding time in, to boot. Sweet!

Combined comutes

Submitted by visitor on Mon, 07/14/2008 - 12:09pm.

You are so right, Marc. Combined commutes open new vistas. A friend from church asked me if I knew a good route for her to ride from SW Atlanta to the Cathedral. We decided that the direct, car-friendly streets were not practical. When I mentioned combining the ride with MARTA, she immediately realized that she could get to the West End station and find a way from a relatively close in-town stop. I think we have one more car off the road.
Arlen