Central Florida Bike Bus

During the Fall 2010 semester, we experimented with ride frequency and started at 7:00am. We tried anywhere from 2-4 rides a week to see what was the most sustainable for riders. Because of the length of our commute, 15 miles each way, 2-3 days a week worked out best for most people. This semester we’ve ridden primarily on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and we changed our start time to 7:30am to better accommodate our riders’ schedules.

University Blvd. and Traffic Dynamics

University Blvd. is a very easy and safe road to drive your bike. It’s six lanes wide, which gives us the ability to control the right lane and gives motorists two full lanes to pass. Because we are controlling the lane, motorists see us from far away and change lanes early. This leads to little or no traffic congestion behind us and when we do get traffic buildup, typically due to traffic lights and road volume, we try our best to accommodate the motorists.

Share the Road on University Blvd

After riding on University Blvd. for so long, we’ve become quite familiar with the traffic dynamics that take place on the road. We typically get the road to ourselves for 60-90 seconds at a time, followed by a short period of motorists, usually 30-60 seconds. There tends to be very little traffic congestion heading eastbound until Dean Rd. and again at Rouse Rd. Once we reach both of these roads, we pull off into the gas station to let the platoon of motorists pass. This gives us the road to ourselves for the next minute or two. Learning these buildup points has made our commute much more enjoyable and the motorists appreciate it.

In October 2010, we contacted Orange County Traffic Engineering to try to get “Bikes May Use Full Lanes” signs put up along University Blvd. After much discussion, they did not feel comfortable putting those signs up and instead put “Share the Road” signs up. There are now “Share the Road” signs up all the way from Dean Rd. to Alafaya Blvd. We are still working on getting them to put up “Bikes May Use Full Lane” signs up.

Communications and Promotions

We’ve been using several methods of promoting the Bike Bus and communicating our ride schedule. Our Facebook Page, which currently has 133 followers, has been the easiest way to get timely updates about our schedules to our passengers. For those that do not use Facbeook, they can follow our update on Twitter.

Bike Bus Tracker

One of our biggest projects in starting the Bike Bus was developing the Bike Bus Tracker website where people can go to see our location in real time. I wrote an iPhone app that I run whenever the Bike Bus is operating. It sends our coordinates to the website so passengers can see where we are and when they can expect to meet us.

The UCF SpokesCouncil aim is to educate and promote the use of bicycles around the UCF area. They have been a great resource of new riders and a conduit to help promote safe cycling at UCF. Working with them, we hope to bring Cycling Savvy to the UCF community to inform students, faculty and staff about safe cycling and empower them to drive their bikes safely on the road.

We’ve had the great fortune to have two significant articles published about the Bike Bus. In Fall, 2010 we had the opportunity to write an article for the Florida Bicycling Association’s quarterly newsletter, the Messenger. They put us on the cover page of the Fall 2010 edition! Subsequently, we were contacted by the Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center, who wrote a case study about the Bike Bus.

Weather

In these past 8 months, we’ve dealt with nearly every type of weather except for snow, though we have come close. Our coldest ride was at the beginning of January 2011 and it was in the low 20s with the wind chill. At this temperature, bike gloves and wool socks don’t really help to keep you warm. We fortunately had the foresight to pick up some hand warmers, but we were still uncomfortably cold.

As far as rain storms go, they are pretty much a fact of life in Florida. We will ride through most weather. Rain is easy to deal with and I bring garbage bags in case I need to shield anything from the rain. The weather that calls for ride cancellations are thunderstorms. When you’re in a car, you have a Faraday cage protecting you. On a bike, you are exposed and since Florida leads the nation in lightning injuries, we do not hesitate to cancel rides in thunderstorms.

Fortunately, in the case of inclement weather, we have several alternatives, including the Lynx Bus, reThink’s Emergency Ride Home Program, or UCF Zimride for UCF students and staff. This gives us many great options for the sudden and unpredictable Florida storms.

Statistics

I want to take some of our travel data and convert it into dollars and cents to really give you an idea of how much money and gas we have saved from biking instead of driving. This information only quantifies some of the savings, but doesn’t take into account the health or environmental benefits of taking our cars off the road.

We have been riding now for approximate 8 months and on average we ride 2.5 days a week. Our commute from the Fashion Square Mall is 15 miles, or 30 miles round-trip. This is approximately 75 miles per person per week (our human-miles). We have averaged 3 riders per trip and according to AAA estimates, it costs on average $.59 per mile to drive a vehicle. This estimate includes “fuel, routine maintenance, tires, insurance, license and registration, loan finance charges and depreciation costs”.

http://commuteorlando.com/wordpress/2011/04/17/bike-bus-update/

Today was a great day of cycling. I rode over 33 miles to and from work without incident — unless we count mother nature

Morning Ride
The morning ride was a thing of beauty. The air was brisk but comfortable enough to ride in shorts. We had 5 cyclists and I drove the bus when we got to University. I usually stay in the back (so I can draft and not have to lead) but Jason rode in the back so he could capture unobstructed video behind his bike. I was amazed that I managed to average 14 mph while riding in front.

Jason took this photo on University Blvd between Goldenrod and Hall. Notice how few cars there are on the road. It is not because it’s not busy during this time of the day; it is because the platoon of cars passes us after the intersection, then we get the road to ourselves for at least a minute or two before the next platoon is released. Traffic usually builds up at Dean and at Rouse, and even we have to wait through a cycle or two at those red lights. Traffic was particularly thick near Rouse today for some reason, so we pulled off at the gas station to let the platoon pass and then get the road to ourselves again until we got to UCF. This costs us 30 seconds at most, but it’s a more pleasant experience for us and the motorists alike.

Lunch Ride
My main office is in Research Park, about 2 miles from UCF, but I was on campus for meetings in the morning. After lunch, I rode the 2 miles to my office. It was certainly warmer and windy by then but it’s a short enough ride to still be pleasant.

Afternoon Ride

When I left my office, it was overcast and the air felt like rain was coming. I rode the 2 miles to campus, successfully negotiating my way out of the bike line at the intersection with a new strategy. We debated for a while what to do about the impending rain (we could hear thunder and see lightning in the distance), but finally decided to head out to meet our 4th cyclist at Rouse. As we approached the Wendy’s, we could see the wall of rain approaching so we decided to take the trail as it looked like the rain was heading in a different direction. We waited at the intersection to cross onto Rouse and saw the rain inching ever closer and finally drenching us. By the time we got to Blanchard Park, it had slowed but it didn’t fully let up until after we were past the park. It actually made for a very pleasant ride as the trail was empty.

Once we got to Hanging Moss, a 2-lane road, we employed the control and release technique to keep ourselves safe and still let motorists pass when it was safe to do so. It worked beautifully and I felt like a super hero every time I out my hand out to keep motorists from passing us onto oncoming traffic and then wave them through when it was clear. It’s really empowering to ride on a road like this using this technique properly. Even on a road that’s barely wide enough to share, I do not mind slinking away to the right to let a motorist past because they’ve now slowed to my speed while waiting for me to wave them through so the passing clearance needed is greatly reduced. We then turned left onto Semoran and controlled the right lane until we turned right onto Baldwin Park. We had the road to ourselves the entire time.

Leading the Dance
Driving your bike on the road truly is like leading a dance (this is a great article on the Cycling Savvy site with video demonstrating how easy it is to ride in traffic and negotiate your right of way with motorists). It is all about timing and communication. When I ride assertively, make my intensions known with clear communication, take advantage of gaps in traffic, and have confidence in those choices, my ride is exponentially more enjoyable. My stress and anxiety levels today were nonexistent. It wasn’t too long ago when the thought of riding on University Blvd terrified me, let alone riding on the outside of the lane (where I am more exposed to traffic) or on the front of the bus. But today I felt at ease and on top of the world. Even when I realized I forgot my hair products, I didn’t let it phase me. I made do with what I had. I simply felt in control of everything that transpired today and that’s a wonderful feeling.

Tags: bike bus

This entry was posted on April 19, 2011 at 9:19 pm and is filed under General. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.

http://commuteorlando.com/wordpress/2011/04/19/a-lovely-commute/

It’s been almost 4 months since my car broke down and we chose to live without it. We finally fixed it, so we could sell it, but we are keeping it for now to use for emergencies only. The routine of living without a car is already established, so it is a lot easier to continue it even with the temptation of a working car nearby. Our primary modes of getting to work without a car are riding my bike or taking public transportation (Lynx bus). We occasionally carpool with a co-worker, but we try to keep that to a minimum and be as self reliant as possible. So I thought I would compare the two buses looking at various factors: time, flexibility, cost, multitasking, exercise, weather, cargo, route, and effort. Is there an important factor I left out that I should consider?

This is an update to an article from my personal blog back in July, and I find that my perspective has changed as I’ve settled into a routine and with the introduction of the UCF Bike Bus a month ago. In my original post, there was no clear winner with each method having their share of advantages and disadvantages. It was almost a draw most days, but other circumstances usually made one more attractive on any given day. If I lived closer to work, and I was not training for a marathon, the bike bus would win every time.

Time (+.5 bike)

Both take roughly the same amount of time, about 1.5 hours, to arrive to work from when I leave my apartment. This is the total time including walking to/from bus stop, waiting for the bus to arrive, or waiting at lights/intersections when biking. I have to allow time to shower when I get to work if I bike, but I don’t necessarily see that as added travel time since I have to shower before I leave when I take the bus. The bike bus edges out the Lynx bus a little bit because it’s predictable. As long as I leave on time, I know exactly when I’ll arrive at work. Now that we have others depending on us, it’s easier to keep to a schedule. The Lynx bus is constantly delayed, especially in the afternoons, so I have to plan ahead and build in plenty of buffer time if I have to be at work or home by a certain time for a meeting or event.

Flexibility (+1 bike)

When riding the bus, I am restricted to a fixed time schedule and speed — the bus only comes every 30 minutes and stops frequently. Biking to work is more flexible and I can potential make up time by biking faster if I’m running late. If I am running late for the Lynx bus and I miss it, even by a few minutes, I automatically add 30 minutes to my commute.

Cost (+1 bike)

It costs $2 per trip, one way, to ride the Lynx bus or $50 a month if I buy a bus pass. The bike bus is free, although there is the occasional maintenance cost like replacing tubes, etc.  The pass is only cost-effective because we are not biking as often as we’d like due to the distance and training for the other sports. The pass is also more convenient than having exact change every time I need to take the bus.

Multitasking (+1 bus)

I can do other things while I ride the Lynx bus, such as read a book/email/news, play games on my iPhone, knit (when I learn), or listen to music/news. Other than exercising while I commute, I can’t multitask while I bike (except maybe listening to music/news/book, but riding while wearing headphones is illegal). Biking does give me time to think, and I suppose I could use my phone or other recording device to record notes. But the best part is enjoying the sunrise on my way to work.

Exercise (+1 bike)

If I take the bus, I walk a total of 2.5 miles (less than 1 hour) to/from bus stop. When I bike, it is 30 miles roundtrip or 2-2.5 hours of exercise a day. Biking is a bit more strenuous than walking, even though I try to ride at a somewhat leisurely pace so I am not too exhausted to work and it doesn’t affect my running workouts. Sometimes I walk/ride a little less or a little extra depending on which office I go to or if I make a detour to the store on the way home, but the difference is usually 1-2 miles at most.

Cargo (+1 bike)

When I bike to work, I need to bring a change of clothes, bike repair kit (tube, tools, pump), extra water, and extra food. Sometimes I plan ahead and bring things to work the day prior to biking, but that doesn’t always happen. I have grocery panniers on my bike where I keep all this stuff , and 2 water bottle cages on my bike. I also have a rear rack and basket (which I usually remove) if I need to carry more stuff. Carrying more stuff could affects my balance and maneuverability on the bike, specially in the front basket, but it’s not too bad.

When I ride the bus, I still carry a tote bag full of stuff. I need to bring lunch, and sometimes breakfast if I am running late, and never leave home without my Kleen Kanteen water bottle. I bring headphones and mp3 player to keep me entertained. I sometimes carry extra clothes or food so I don’t have to when I bike the next day. If it’s going to rain, I may carry an umbrella or poncho. It is actually harder to carry more when I take the bus because I have to walk 1-2 miles with the stuff, whereas on the bike I just roll.

Weather (+1 bus)

If it is raining, I only have to deal with it for a short time while walking to the bus stop and I can use an umbrella/poncho. Riding in the rain requires a lot more gear and is just not very pleasant unless it is a light drizzle. Heat is another factor, and as long as I stay hydrated is not too awful on the bike. Since the humidity is a bit insane, I usually wear workout clothes to walk to the bus then change when I get to work.

Route (+1 bike)

The Lynx bus roue is a direct shot along Colonial Dr with a detour to VCC. It stops a lot, so that is why it takes longer than driving, but the stops are less frequent or quicker depending on the time of day. There isn’t much to look at along the way, other than road construction and other passengers. The bike bus route is along the Cady Way trail for the first half, then 6 miles on University Blvd into the sunrise. I love taking in the surroundings, enjoying the morning breeze, and getting to know my fellow bike bus passengers. Observing traffic dynamics, as well as their reaction to our presence on the road, is rather fascinating. I used to feel anxious riding my bike down University Blvd, but I’ve embraced it and now find it calming. I’m even considering making the ride alone sometime, which I would have never considered a few weeks ago. I also experience more stress riding the Lynx bus because of it’s unpredictability, and I have to deal with the noise and chatter on the bus.

Effort (+1 bus)

This is the big one and probably the main reason I choose to take the Lynx bus over the bike bus more often. Obviously, it takes more effort to spend over an hour pedaling to work than seating on a bus, even if I ride slow, so some days the decision not to bike to work is based on my level of exhaustion or body aches. However, there are other additional considerations that take effort when commuting to work regardless of method.

I need to bring a change of clothes because it’s not feasible to bike 15 miles in my work clothes in the Florida heat without being a sweaty, smelly mess when I get to work. I need to bring supplies to take a shower (towels, toiletries). I keep a set of these at work, but do have to monitor them to replace them when they start running low. I need to bring more food because I need more calories on days I bike. I need additional gear to bike than to walk to the bus, i.e. helmet, gloves, bike tools, water bottles, etc. So yeah, a lot to consider. I try to pack my bag the night before, but that doesn’t always happen, so that means getting up earlier to do it in the morning.

Commuting by the bus takes some effort too. I still need to get up on time and time everything just right so that I don’t miss the bus or stand out there for too long (I always do because the bus is always late). Because of the increasing humidity, I’ve started wearing different clothes to walk to the bus and then change at work. This does not require a shower, but I do need to pack clothes. I need to make sure my iPhone and/or mp3 player are charged to entertain myself on the bus.

With either method, the effort required to prepare before leaving is minimized if I just plan ahead and pack the night before. But that cuts into my time seating around on the couch surfing the web or blogging =P

Final Score: bike 5.5; bus 3

So there you have it. Now it’s  your turn! Given all the facts, which do you think you would choose more often? Which factor do you think would influence your decision the most? Are there additional factors that would influence your decision?

It’€™s been a month since the first official Bike Bus ride, and we’€™re still going strong. We have 3 regular passengers in addition to Jason and I, though not always on the same days. We pick up ad hoc passengers from time to time, and have gotten inquiries from potential passengers interested in riding but our schedules haven’t aligned yet.  Jason has been trying to add additional days on some weeks, but it’s not really feasible for Jason and I to ride every day. It will be nice when the bus grows enough to have different drivers covering all 5 days. If you are interested, let us know!

Motorists seem to be getting used to us on the road by now, and we rarely get honks. When we do, they are usually from 2 lanes over so they aren’t even affected by us. Our bright colored shirts, or highlighters as one kid that saw us on the trail remarked, are getting plenty of attention by coworkers who notice us on University Blvd on their way to work, and other UCF staff interested in joining us soon.

What’s Coming Up for the Bike Bus:

• We’ll have a table at the One Less Car Orlando Expo this Saturday. Come by to say hi and learn more about how to get involved with the Bike Bus.
• Jason is working on a Bike Bus Tracker app that will let passengers know where the bus is and how long before it reaches their location. He is still testing it, but should be ready for beta soon.
• Jason and I will be at the First Friday Ride on October 1st. The first one last month was a ton of fun, so don’t miss out!
• If you want your own Bike Bus shirt, Big Frog Orlando has the art work on file and the highlighter yellow shirts on file. No minimums required!
• I encourage you to join the bike bus when you can, even if just to experience it once when you have a day off. Check out the Central Florida Bike Bus site (sidebar) for upcoming rides and hop on!

Today was the first official ride of the UCF Bike Bus, and it went great! We still didn’t have any passengers, but Jason and I had a great time and observed great civility while riding down University Blvd at 7:30 am this morning and at 5:00 pm this afternoon. This portion of the 15 miles route is 6 miles long and takes us about 25 minutes.

The morning commute, while noisy since we’re on a 6-lane road, is usually very comfortable and we often have the road to ourselves.  There is more traffic in the afternoons, and people do not seem as calm since they just spent a full day at work, so it’s not always as pleasant. However, today both rides were amazing. We did not get a single beep in the morning, and only 2 minor ones in the afternoon. Watching the video from the rear camera showed that people were not only being civil to us, but to each other too as they helped cars merged onto their lane 1-2 car lanes behind us.

I got home energized and excited for future Bike Bus rides. As I sit here 3 hours later writing this post, while eating a homemade ice pop, I’m still basking in the joy of the ride home and can’t wait to do it again.

So what are you waiting for? Join us on Wednesday for ride #2!

We’re also on Facebook now, so like our page and spread the word!