How short before you'd just walk?

[steverob]

As someone who has walked pretty much everywhere for most of my life (my family didn't have a car until I was well into my teens, which was in the mid-90's), I'm happy to walk for at least half an hour before I'd even consider swapping it for a bike ride instead.

My current commute does involve a 25 minute walk to the station (and the same again on the way home) and while I can do it in under 10 on a bike (I'm a fast walker and would also have to go a slightly longer route by bike), the time spent unlocking/locking up the bike at either end and getting kit on and off means I wouldn't really save much time at the end of the day. Plus my local station did previously have a bad reputation for bike theft (or damage if the local scrotes couldn't easily steal it) so that's probably playing in the back of my mind as well.

 

[presta]

A trip to Tesco & Sainsburys is 2.08 miles there & back, I wouldn't dream of cycling that, it's more faff than it's worth. Getting the bike out, going the long way round, parking, locking, theft/vandalism risk. No thanks.

 

[Rusty Nails]

For that sort of distance it would be walk every time. No hassle unlocking and locking the bike at both ends plus less bother dressing appropriately in the rain or very cold weather. I enjoy walking and, as a bonus, there are probably more health/fitness benefits from walking over cycling at that sort of distance.

If I were to cycle that distance as a commute it would have to be on an old, steel Dutch style bike with swept-back bars to do it in style. They can be bought used quite cheaply with the added benefit of not being a target for your average bike thief.

 

[Mazz]

My work's just over 10k away, so for a bit of variety I'll sometimes run in & cycle back, or vice versa.

 

[TheDoctor]

Aldi is about a mile from me. I ride it, as I prefer cycling to walking and I'd sooner not carry my shopping.
That is about the minimum I'd cycle though.

 

[biking_fox]

I think about a mile - 15-20min walk, longer than that ride. Somewhat dependant on terrain/activity etc. I used to ride 12mile each way every day, which was challenging on hard days, and I think about the max that I could do every day. The ideal distance for work is about 8mile I think, you can extend for longer on sunny afternoons but it still feels worthwhile/manageable on rainy ones.

 

[Ming the Merciless]

Aldi is about a mile from me. I ride it, as I prefer cycling to walking and I'd sooner not carry my shopping.
That is about the minimum I'd cycle though.

I’m happy walking that distance for shopping. Anything up 45 mins each way in fact. Probably as much because I’m aware how much I cycle. I need to ensure I’m doing enough walking for overall bone health, balance etc.

 

[palinurus]

Up to 2- 2.5 miles I'd probably walk- but if I have to carry anything I'll often take the bike. Shortest regular bike journey is to Sainsbury's / Morrisons (each about a mile, in opposite directions). I prefer walking generally.

Having said that I sometimes get the tube* to the beer shop (2 miles away, one stop)

*Metropolitan line- feels wrong to call it the Tube or The Underground out where I am.

 

[Profpointy]

If there's a reasonable place to leave the bike at the far end, I guess my cut off would be between 20 and 40 minutes. If chaining up was a bit of a faff or I was leaving the bike in the open all day (eg when taking the train to London), then I'd likely walk for an hour rather than cycle

 

[presta]

My decision was based more on purpose of the journey rather than distance really, travelling for utility such as shopping I prefer walking because a don't want a bike with me to nursemaid. That said, if I was shopping for bike parts in Colchester or Chelmsford I'd use the bike because half the shops are scattered to the four winds, and too far from the railway stations.

 

[Gwylan]

I tend to use the bike, whatever.
Saves the parking, paying etc in town centre. And securing access to the communal car.
Downside is getting the bike released from security. Getting a helmet on, securing somewhere on arrival
But, unless it's pouring down under 10km and I'll take the bike.
Cycled 25 km to the doctor today, because I can! It was a niceish day.
Oh, we are a one car, two person household. That explains a lot.

 

[ManiaMuse]

I've been looking for a new job because although I like my current one, I spend far too long in the car getting to and from it (too far to ride, public transport timings don't work well, and I can't work remotely)

I've seen one that's of interest that is (according to google) a cycle commute of under 10 minutes. I think by the time I've got the bike out at one end and locked it up at the other I'd be almost as quick walking. Add any change of gear because of heat / rain in to the mix and it gets even closer in time.

Which got me to thinking, what is the shortest distance you would commute by bike? Personally I think for this distance I'd walk sometimes and cycle mostly, if only because I'd kid myself on that I might take a longer route home.

Did a job that was 20 minutes walk down the river for a while and occasionally rode the bike. It was a 5 minute ride tops and felt pretty pointless. Lots of dog walkers so couldn't go far anyway.

Didn't bother changing clothes so very weather dependant whether I turned up to work sweaty/wet. Getting the bike out of the shed/locking up was another 3-5 minutes either end.

I do find walking to be boring but for that distance it made more sensee

 

[dicko]

I used to cycle daily, come rain or shine, from Southbourne to Bournemouth town centre via Boscombe and home in the evening rush hour it always took me 20 mins there and 30 mins home. It was a very enjoyable experience and after a while I knew which and where to position myself for the upcoming junctions. It kept me very fit and my wife too cycled daily to work and Gym afterwards.
These days we both walk about Derby about roughly miles daily.

 

[oldwheels]

I used to cycle the half mile from my workshop to the retail shop for morning and afternoon coffee with my wife. The pavements mostly were too crowded for comfortable walking and security was not a problem. People walking on the carriageway were detested and I had a very noisy front brake which I kept for frightening the pests.

 

[Alex321]

That's about my guide as well.
When I was at school, we lived about a mile from the school and I always used to walk. Even walked home for lunch (or was it "Dinner", but that's another debate!).
I used to be envious of other boys, who lived further away and had to cycle in.

Slightly OT, but how short would a commute need to be to consider riding every day?
In my final stint at work, I could manage a 12mile commute each way, 5 days a week if needed. But a previous employment, 23 miles each way proved too much and could ony do 2 or 3 days per week.

I've done a 14 mile commute 4-5 days a week earlier in my career.

Now I do 15.3 miles each way, but I'm only in the office two days a week (hybrid working since COVID). I probably could still manage it if it were a 5 day week though.