My bicycle commute

Posted on March 6, 2008 by .
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I decided to bike the whole 25 mile distance from San Jose to work in Menlo Park, going up Park Street to Naglee / Forest, a quick jog up Winchester (just two blocks away from the famous Winchester Mystery House) and then I followed Stevens Creek Boulevard the entire distance to Foothill Expressway in Cupertino. With all the lights on Stevens Creek it took me a full hour to go just 10 miles. After I hit Foothill I could cruise at 24 mph into Palo Alto. BionX Boy caught up to me in Menlo Park and we cycled together the rest of the way to work.

I saw several other bike commuters, of course, including this guy with his very practical basket equipped bike. He turned left from Stevens Creek onto De Anza, where Apple is headquartered at.

Cupertino bicycle commuter

Once I hit the Bike Boulevard, I encounter bike commuters of every variety — from cyclists in full road kit on lightweight racing bikes to students on mountain bikes and ordinary people just heading to work on very practical city bikes. As you can see, the weather this week has been gorgeous in the Bay Area.

Bicycle Commuters in Palo Alto

Here’s BionX Boy on Willow Road as we approach the 76 gas station, where Regular Unleaded was priced this morning at $3.78 per gallon. For some reason, traffic on Willow Road was backed up in both directions between Middlefield and Bayshore. Highway 101 was clogged too, especially southbound.

BionX Boy and $3.78/gallon

My ride this morning perhaps was not quite as green as the Sierra Club would like it (since I stopped at a Valero station to fill up on a drink and a snack), but I arrived at work feeling wonderful, refreshed, and more than a little sweaty. And like most of my commutes, this ride was incident free: no harassment of any kind, no near collisions, and no rudeness at all.

Update: DJ’s commentary on the Sierra Club green bike quiz roolz: “At first blush, I’d say hardcore environmentalists like the Sierra Club can suck the fun out of anything, even bicycling, with a depressing injection of eco-guilt.“



See also:

  1. San Jose to Palo Alto bicycle commute
  2. Misplaced actuator
  3. San Jose bicycle commute summit
  4. Bike route San Jose to Palo Alto


  • SiouxGeonz

    We should bring our own bottles inside to fill up with the beverages at the convenience stores. Probably better than the packaging necessary to get stuff at home.

  • SiouxGeonz

    We should bring our own bottles inside to fill up with the beverages at the convenience stores. Probably better than the packaging necessary to get stuff at home.

  • Yokota Fritz

    SOP for me is to carry my own water with me in a refillable water bottle for longer trips, but I was running late this morning and forgot to grab the bottle. I did bring a slice of banana bread but forgot I had it in my bag.

  • Yokota Fritz

    SOP for me is to carry my own water with me in a refillable water bottle for longer trips, but I was running late this morning and forgot to grab the bottle. I did bring a slice of banana bread but forgot I had it in my bag.

  • Jimbo

    The sierra club office here in boise does not have a bike rack. Every time I walk by I get a little chuckle.

  • Jimbo

    The sierra club office here in boise does not have a bike rack. Every time I walk by I get a little chuckle.

  • Lachoneus

    That's a great 25 mile commute, but how do you keep your head on straight!? One hour to cover a measly 10 miles? I'm planning on commuting up the Guadalupe Hwy to Moffett Airfield from Almaden Lake. It should be about 22 miles. Any advice?

  • Lachoneus

    That's a great 25 mile commute, but how do you keep your head on straight!? One hour to cover a measly 10 miles? I'm planning on commuting up the Guadalupe Hwy to Moffett Airfield from Almaden Lake. It should be about 22 miles. Any advice?

  • Yokota Fritz

    Lachoneous, if you're looking for route suggestions I'm not familiar with the quadrant of San Jose east of Meridian and south of I-280. Join the SVBC mailing list and ask for route suggestions, or search the mailing list archives.

    Also, do you have a Santa Clara County bike map? I think bicycles are prohibited from Hwy 87. What about taking light rail part of the way — is that an option for you? Or do you prefer to ride the entire distance?

  • Yokota Fritz

    Lachoneous, if you're looking for route suggestions I'm not familiar with the quadrant of San Jose east of Meridian and south of I-280. Join the SVBC mailing list and ask for route suggestions, or search the mailing list archives. Also, do you have a Santa Clara County bike map? I think bicycles are prohibited from Hwy 87. What about taking light rail part of the way — is that an option for you? Or do you prefer to ride the entire distance?