Commuting to work by bike

Nathan Castillo8 said:Right now, I’m trying to figure out how to dodge as many traffic lights as possible, plus those annoying speed bumps that force you to slam on the brakes.

I really need to check out the route along the embankment from the outskirts over to the West Side. If I go from Vegas to the edge of town, there are only about 3 or 4 lights. If I loop around the local bypass and hit the area near the "new" hospital by passing the golf course toward the West Side, I could definitely cut down on the stop-and-go. My only question is whether a jogging path can actually make it through there.

Brooklyn Bridge to Santa Monica, or maybe the embankment—whichever way works for you! You could take the Gateway Arch route, swing by Jefferson, hit the Central Park loop, and then head toward Minneapolis. Totaling less than two lights, and honestly, the drive is way more interesting than grinding along the main boulevards.

So right now I’m heading across the pedestrian crossing by the river, taking the path near the breweries, cutting through the little side streets past the apartments over toward the church near the park, and then looping around to the roundabout and hitting Jankowich.
I was thinking maybe one morning if I actually have some free time, I'll do a full loop around the lake, take the other exit out, and head toward the industrial area over on Kovinskie.

brightranger43 said:Yeah, right—so which side are you guys passing cars on when traffic hits?

I always go left—mostly because it’s actually legal and safer, obviously.

brightranger43 said:forget about how illegal that riding is (since what applies to cars applies to cyclists on the road), I'm just wondering how you'd even pull off merging into the streetcar lane with a heavy pack without getting stuck in the tracks...
@ruggedtiger66/">@@ruggedtiger66, hope you gave him a wave while you were passing him at the light. That's my move—just a huge grin like we're old buddies 🙂

We both waved and gave each other those fake-ass smiles 😁

brightranger43 said:yeah, true: which side do you pass cars on when traffic's backed up?

I usually just hop onto the path once I hit the congestion.

So, I finally hopped back on my bike for my first commute of the year today.
God, what a nerve-wracking mess. 🙂

Look, I swapped out my old ride for a new one, so I’m still getting used to the handling, but that wasn't even the worst part. Right as I hit the main road, some jerk tried to run me off the pavement—I wouldn't be so sure if he hadn't yelled out his window, "You absolute moron, get off the road!" Then, making my way from the Marriott toward the community center, I was riding right in the lane and almost ate a bumper because some guy slammed on his brakes for a speed bump. And don't even get me started on those concrete bollards lining the street. Absolute savages. Thank God there weren't any streetcars around, or I probably would have passed out from pure terror.

Then, once I finally reached the center, I hit another wall: how the hell am I supposed to navigate over to Martić's? You've got two lanes all turning right onto Zvonimir, but I need to go straight. Do I just cut through traffic? How does anyone actually do this without dying?

I showed up to work completely soaked. Not from rain, either—just straight-up sweat from being terrified. And mind you, I’ve got plenty of experience behind a wheel and a handlebar. I'm not exactly 😢
old.

Hannah Barnes24 said:And then once I actually make it to the mosque, I’m faced with the next headache: how on earth am I supposed to get over to Martić's? Two of the lanes are forcing you to turn right onto Zvonimir, but I really need to keep going straight. Am I just supposed to cut across traffic? How does anyone even manage that?

Just stick to the lane that doesn't veer off toward Zvonimir and stays straight, then take the very next right. When you're hitting a roundabout, honestly, just own the whole lane—there isn't any driver out there who's going to be able to overtake you in a circle like that anyway. 😉

Hannah Barnes24, while you’re still getting your bearings (or, you know, until you get your hands on 🙂), you might want to stick to the trails instead. I went through the exact same thing last year—total paranoia because I hadn't been out on a bike in years. At first, I was doing everything I could to avoid main roads, but after a few weeks, I finally started heading down the street once that initial fear subsided. Of course, you'll probably end up breaking a couple of local ordinances while riding near pedestrians, but just take it slow and try to stay on the quieter side of the road. :/

Thanks, but there's zero chance I'm riding through the gutter (at least not all the time)
The only way we’re ever getting actual bike lanes—instead of these pathetic, broken little 🙄 strips—is if we just take over the streets. I really hope I don't run into anyone more stubborn than me 😁

I wasn't even sure about it because if I stick to the right side, I honestly have no clue how to handle lane changes. Like, it makes zero sense. Relying on some guy in an SUV to actually pay attention while I’m out here frantically waving my hand? Yeah, not happening. And trying to jump from two right-turn lanes into one straight lane, while also praying the drivers pulling out from Zvonimir Street will actually stop and let me pass? Ugh... I'm still a total rookie at this.
For now, I just hopped off the bike, played by the rules like a good citizen, crossed at the crosswalk, and hopped back on over on Duklanin Avenue.

🙂 Coming from a city where the bike infrastructure actually works compared to anything we have here is a total trauma. Seriously.

Hannah Barnes24 said:I wasn't entirely sure because if I stick to the right side, I honestly don't understand how lane changes are supposed to work. It’s just not convincing to rely on some driver watching me while I'm waving my hand around. Plus, trying to switch from two right-turn lanes into a single straight lane, all while expecting people entering from Zvonimir Street to actually stop and yield to me? Please.

When you're riding a bike, you behave exactly like you're driving a car—which simply means staying to the right.
If you intend to turn left, check over your shoulder to ensure there isn't a vehicle parallel to you or trailing closely behind, then move about half a foot toward the center of the lane to claim your space. Naturally, you need to give a clear hand signal with your left arm to indicate your intention to turn.
After that, you reposition yourself against the left side of the lane, and once the path is clear, you make the turn.
Why would anyone yield to you? If you have the right of way, take the maneuver; if you don't, you wait.
On a bicycle, act as if you're operating a slow, narrow car.

I’m only calling out that advantage because I drive that exact route every single day, and honestly, it’s wild how many cars just don't stop. Sometimes people actually make eye contact with me and then veer toward the streetcar tracks instead of yielding, but they don't stop. And neither do I. It’s a lot easier to play those games when you're behind the wheel of a car. On a bike, it's a whole different beast. Back when I was riding an MTB, I could dodge things way easier since I was more agile, but on this new rig? I'm struggling just to keep up.

Anyway, gotta just stay brave. Thanks for the input, everyone. I think I might just tape a giant "L" sign to my back so people give me some space. 😁
The only real issue is how vague the laws are when it comes to cyclists. Anyone can just hop onto the road right alongside the cars, and half of them don't even bother learning basic traffic rules or what the signs actually mean.

To be honest, I always make a point of staying dead center in my lane when I’m approaching an intersection. In my opinion, it’s the safest way to handle things—it basically prevents other drivers from trying to squeeze past you right in the middle of the junction. If you're planning a left turn, you just pull up squarely into the left-turn lane and settle in there. That’s really all there is to it.

If you don't mind me asking, where exactly did you hear that?

The whole stretch? Or just by the mosque?

So, basically, through downtown, past the river embankment and those stairs—hauling stuff to the bridge, then hitting the bike lane going the wrong way😁, passing the university library, a bit more riding against traffic, the pedestrian walkway, the main strip, near that Chinese spot, heading onto Držić's, cutting right into Mislav's, the mosque, Dukljaninova, and finally Martić's.

Last year, I pretty much drove the whole thing in my Jeep, and honestly, it wasn't even half as chaotic, even with the outdoor seating, pedestrians, and cars pulling out onto the street.

Hmm. If I were in your shoes, I’d steer clear of the main transit hub altogether. Instead of heading toward the university, I’d cut right along Slavonian, swing left into Circles, then take an immediate right and follow Držić's via the side road. It’s actually much smoother if you stick to the eastern side of Držić's to bypass the bus terminal—just cross over at the intersection with Vukovar's. Once you hit Branimir's, you can cruise down Šubić's quite easily; even during the morning rush, traffic is pretty light there, and since it has two lanes, you can breeze right past everyone (most drivers tend to head toward Bauer's anyway). The shoulder on the other route is just too narrow, and you'll be constantly dodging pedestrians. When you reach Martić's, you'll be right where you need to be to decide whether to turn right or left, and if you head toward the very start of Martić's, you could always opt for Bauer's instead. 🙂

The road over Krešimir is a bit bumpy, but it’s fine...

or instead of heading right toward the Slavonian district, just swing right onto Vukovar's—which actually has a dedicated bike path.

Jose White18 said:The road over by Krešimir is a bit bumpy, but it’s manageable...

Why's that? Personally, I don't find it too bad at all. 🤷

I mean, sure, the ride back is a little rough because of those streetcar tracks... 🤔

neongardener21 said:...or rather than heading right onto Slavonian, you could cut right onto Vukovar's (which actually has a bike path).

The thing is, those paths are pretty hit-or-miss, especially if you're sticking to the southern side of town. 🙄

jadetiger962 said:The sidewalk is pretty hit-or-miss, especially if you're sticking to the south side. 🙄

The north side isn't quite as bad, I suppose. There are a few bumps near the gas station, but nothing too major...
The sidewalk is wider there, which helps...
From there, you can cut through the engineering quad toward Branimirac, then head over to Držićev and onto Šubićev...

Hannah Barnes24 said:The whole route? Or just by the mosque?

So, you take the new downtown area along the riverbank, hit the stairs—carry it over the bridge, then follow the bike path in the opposite direction😁. Then it's the university library, a little more bike path against the flow, the pedestrian tunnel, the main stretch, past the Chinatown area toward Main Street, turning right onto Broadway, hitting the mosque, then moving through the residential blocks near the old district
.
Last year, I pretty much rode this entire loop on my Trek, and honestly, it wasn't even half as intense, even considering the patios, pedestrians, and cars pulling out onto the road.

Let me see... after Liberty Bridge, you head east along the embankment. Near Youth Bridge, you drop down to the road running alongside the river heading toward the suburbs and eventually toward the power plant. Just before the plant, near that small greenhouse, you turn left onto Grand Avenue and head roughly north. You'll pass a church on your right, and after that, the mosque will be on your left, though it's a bit further out. If you keep going, you'll pop out on Industrial Way near the intersection with the highway, close to the Ford dealership. From there, follow the bike path along Commerce Street until you reach Martice Street. It’s a longer trek, but it’s actually quite a nice ride. Maybe try it on a weekend so you don't get too distracted by the scenery in the suburbs or the river views. Oh, and watch out for the mosquitoes.

Yesterday, I finally pulled the trigger on my Trek Kaitai http://www.trekbikes.com/us/en/bikes...archive/kaitai to make my commute to the office 7.5 miles. After enduring the inevitable hiatus caused by the autumn and winter seasons, I found myself back in the saddle for the first time—just a casual ride, mind you—which saw me clocking in at about 50 minutes 😁. Later that evening, cruising along the empty streets near home, it took me another 40 minutes. If I maintain this daily routine, can I realistically expect my stamina to improve enough to slash those times down to a mere thirty minutes? It would certainly be preferable to the hour-long slog I currently endure on the light rail
.