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Comment by pjs_ | Hacker News Reader

Being able to cycle to and from work across a nice university campus, through fields and trees and in good weather, makes me feel as rich as any human who has ever lived

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I've been biking to work in Los Angeles for ten years and it's surely been one of my best life hacks ever (to the point where access to biking infrastructure has been a primary consideration when buying my house).

I know a bike mechanic who commutes by bicycle (of course) in a city. I brought up bike infrastructure and they said they don't need much: side streets that are too slow for cars going any distance are perfect 'bike lanes' - either there are no cars or it's one lane of slow cars and the bike fits in fine. All they need to do is figure out a route, but usually they can find their way the first time without a map.

LA is notoriously car-oriented, but is it different in that respect?

The secret of LA biking infrastructure is that there are a few small rivers / creeks / storm drains running towards the ocean and sometimes those have bike trails.

Those are really next level because they are essentially bike freeways; completely separated from car traffic (no intersections because the river & bike trail go underneath road bridges).

In fact, it's not only safe and fun, but also much faster than driving during rush hour.

I spend 10-20 hours/wk on the bike and I personally hate almost all bike infrastructure. I understand why it exists, and I'm pro it being built but personally miss me with that shit. I hate the separated bike lane more than anything, even practicing parallel bunny hops every ride it still sketches me the fuck out to be trapped in a little channel like that. I'd much rather swim in traffic, and have all the options that that gives me.

The one I have in mind is actually 100% separated from car traffic, eg along a river or rail line.

Side streets are often designed specifically to make thru traffic difficult. They have dead ends, weird routes, etc.

But yeah, when you can find an empty/slow side street it’s hundreds of times better than a bike lane right next to high speed traffic and cars cutting you off.

Still, many of those things don't limit bikes nearly as much - one way streets, alleys and parks, etc. Even a section of road under construction can be bypassed on the sidewalk.

I've been cycling to work for more than a decade in a more bike friendly city than LA (presumably), but still a city. What worries me a bit is the impact on my lungs. A doctor friend once told me they could easily tell the country person from the city dweller from looking at their lungs.

Apart from that it is a net positive for me and I wouldn't stop. You have to die one death they say and if it is lung cancer or COPD for me, so be it.

Yeah, agree. Although I'm not sure how much of a difference biking makes vs. living there in general.

> Being able to cycle to and from work across a nice university campus, through fields and trees and in good weather, makes me feel as rich as any human who has ever lived

Just wait til you try it with a 7 year old who adores you and just can't wait to go biking again. Or with a 12 year old, just chatting about life's paths. What a blessing.

I currently ride my 2.5 year old 5km to and from daycare every day. Mountain town, glacier in the distance, lake in foreground, tons of leaves and flowers now.

Paradise.

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