When I lived in Marina del Rey in the Los Angeles area of Southern California, I worked in Burbank. What was a 45 minute drive in the car in frustrating traffic took only 30 minutes on the bike, much of it uphill for the ride to but, conversely, downhill on the way home ... plus there was a small gym at work, so I could shower before going in to work. Great exercise and I got to see parts of the cities that I just couldn't safely see while driving ... and part of the trip was through Griffith Park, which was so, so peaceful ...

'Course if I still lived there and with air quality conditions what they are today, I wouldn't even think about commuting by bike ...

I used to drive about 3 hrs per shift too, and then work 10 1/2 hours on a rotating shift schedule. By the time I got to days off I was bagged and lost my first day off to sleep. But since I've blown my knee out twice and had it repaired, I am now preparing to go back to school (worker's compensation can be a wonderful thing). My commute now is much the same as orange crate: bed to tea pot to computer (doing online courses until school starts and posting on here of course).

I ride an express bus to work. I live about fifteen miles from work, and if I were to drive all the way in, it would take me forty minutes, plus time to park, and then hoof it into the building. By riding the bus, I drive 2 miles and park for free.

Parking in the city runs anywhere from $80.00 for a covered garage next to my office, to $25.00 for a dirt lot eight blocks away (almost a mile). Throw gas in the equation, and it would cost me around $250 - $300 a month just to get to work.

I pay $20 for a thirty day bus pass, and read the paper while others get out of the way of the 55,000lb vehicle. The bus takes the expressway, so the travel time is less than if I were to drive on the regular roads. The bus stop is one short block (500 feet) from my office.

I ride a total of 12 Km per day to work back for lunch back to work and then home again, but i have travelled as far as 60 Km for the fun of it and that was 600 metres down to the beach and oooh back upgain that took some time, I even ride in the pouring rain with a plastic jacket and trousers over my clothes people think I'm nuts but I'm still alive and really have no choice but that just makes it easier for people to accept that I'll even ride in the pouring rain, just a pity many motorists don't seem to think a cyclist has any rights of way....