time factors

Besides the time you are actually on the bicycle, you should factor in preparation time and changing time as part of the commute.

It takes me about five to ten extra minutes in the morning to get ready for the commute. This includes packing my work clothes into the panniers, refilling my water bottle, unlocking the bike, adjusting my helmet, etc.

On the other end, I usually take about 10-15 minutes to lock up my bike, shower, get changed, comb my hair, etc. Some people will take longer, while others won't bother with the shower, so these times may be different for you.

Comparing a bike commute with a "normal" commute

It amazes me that people who fit the profile of a potential bike commuter don't even try. Part of the reason is fear of the unknown, but many people assume riding five miles on a bike will take longer than five miles on a bus, train or car.

While motor vehicles of course go faster than a bike, the speed advantage is often negated by rush hour traffic jams, searches for parking spaces, or sub-commutes to the nearest train or subway station. And that's not even factoring in additional costs such as parking, bus or train fare, gasoline, etc.

Case in point: my bike commute takes about 55 minutes each way - 35 minutes of riding the 6.5 mile route, plus another 20 or so of prep and changing time. That's not much longer than doing it the "normal" way - that is, driving 10 minutes to a parking lot in near a busy square, waiting 5-10 minutes for a bus, and then spending 20-30 minutes on the bus into town, depending on the traffic.

Of course, I could reduce the commute to 20-30 minutes total by taking my car the whole way in, but that would require me purchasing a space in a parking garage - $1,500/year in the building I work in, or $500/year in a lot a 20-minute walk away.