Fabian23

After 10yrs in the Netherlands I have fully immersed myself in Cloggie ways and cycle everywhere, even the 10km to work including taking the littl'uns to daycare in a collapsible specialised towing cart. This saves me a huge amount on fuel costs and takes about the same time as driving considering the morning congestion.

With the possibility of to moving on to the US, would such a thing be possible? Would I rapidly become road kill?

elfman

That would really depend on the area you're moving to and what kind of commute you're likely to have. Up until a year ago I lived within five miles of my office and my commute was an easy meander through suburban streets so cycling to work would have been possible, but I don't remember seeing anyone on bikes at all during the working day.

Fabian23

Will most likely try to be living within public transport range of work (Alexandria VA).

I get the impression that cycling is more of a recreational activity to do off the road system than a commuting solution.

elfman

I would agree with your impression - there are around 120 people in my office and in the almost eight years I've been in this office I don't think I've heard of anyone cycling to work. Apart from locking it to a lamp post in the car park I'm struggling to think of where I could even put a bike once I'd got to the office.

katybluewater

I live in Virginia, and ther is a cycle path that goes from Herndon into DC - it is always busy with cycle commuters. I am not sure if it goes into Alexandria -if it does then you would be fine. There are loads of cyclists in this area.

robin1234

This is true. Lack of cycle sheds, good quality bike racks in adequate quantities, and facilities at work such as showers does not encourage cycling to work. Paradoxically, though, I'd say that many roads here in North America are safer for cycling than many European roads. For instance, we have wide, well-surfaced hard shoulders on rural highways, and on many road systems there are dedicated turn lanes and traffic lights at all intersections.

King Gimp

Not instant - I've cycled a little here. (Connecticut)

People just don't cycle on main roads here like they do elsewhere, plus most folks appear to be drunk/stoned/blind/on the phone or combination of all.

I wouldn't want to make a regular thing of it though, especially after dark.

Fabian23

I currently live in Holland, the drivers AND the cyclists are as above, oh and one has to avoid trams and getting wheels stuck in the tracks too.

SultanOfSwing

If you're close to a reasonable sized city, cycling should be easy to do regularly. Where I live it tends to be more recreational just because of the way the roads are, but inside my town itself we have a decent bike path and the residential streets are quiet enough to bike around. My son cycles to school, for example.

I've only done one ride from outside my town; when I bought a new bike I rode it home instead of trying to wrestle it into my car. It was only mabe 6 or 7 miles and there were a few busy roads but I managed it by keeping to the bike path when available.

Cycling should only equal certain death if you ride your bike off a cliff. Stay away from those and you'll be OK

nun

It really depends on where you live in the US. Alexandria has some nice quiet streets and is quite built up so cycling is probably quite common, but not as common as NL. Bike paths are starting to appear in the US, but you'll probably be in with other traffic quite often.

Check out the forums on

http://bikeforums.org

they are US based and have sections for commuting and vehicular riding, ie riding your bike to conform to road rules just like any other vehicle.

I live in Boston and do most of my shopping on my bike and ride my bike everywhere at the weekend....so it's definitely possible.

Fabian23

It's is good to know.

I know I can't expect the same wonderful standard of NL where the cyclist is first under god with regards to traffic.

sir_eccles

It really does depend on where you are.

All my friends who cycled in NYC were in a collision with a vehicle at one time or another. On the other hand somewhere like Portland the place is so well integrated it is very easy to take your bike on the trams and buses. Here in Phoenix, we have actually have some cycle lanes which people think make really convenient parking lanes.

Bob

Entirely depends where you move to...even within the area...

Boston, generally pretty good, but some areas you wouldn't want to, the burbs aren't practical and winter is a no go, plus the pot holes can be monsters.

DeltaSierra70

In Georgia for some insane reason, cyclists mainly ride into oncoming traffic!!! which is okay if there's no kerb, but in places like Savannah, 99% of kerbs are quite high compared to the UK. Holland of course in another matter. Plus in GA 99.99% of drivers are on the phone and or texting so good luck down here.

md95065

Yes, and the biggest difference is that in Holland you never have to cycle up hill unless you are going to the beach ...