The Commuting Experiment Oscar Gallego Sept. 5/2014 Fort Riley Area I started this little experiment as a part of my research paper. I chose to write about hybrid bicycles. I’ve been in contact with bicycles since I was a child but, I did never enter in any competition I just rode for the joy, I did never have to ride with a impose time( commuting to school-work does). I returned to bicycling after 3 surgeries: foot, ankle and hip, and one injury that left me partially disabled while conducting a deployment to Iraq with the 1st Infantry Division between 2010-2011. After being medically discharged, I needed to find something different other than running to keep me in fighting shape. The terrain that I commute on includes 8 miles of flat road and about 14 miles of hill and anyone who has been stationed in Fort Riley, KS knows how windy the area is, especially at the end of the summer. I do have the following constants: Subject: Myself Bicycle: Diamondback Trace hybrid bicycle Distance: 22 mile round trip Bicycle gear My variables are as follows: Time: Approximately 35 minutes one way Weather (summer, UV index 8%, humidity 68%, with a wind factor of 16mph) The lack of dedicated lanes makes it very difficult and dangerous to ride on peak areas. The irregular terrain is excellent for training purposes, but, makes difficult to commute at reasonable speed. Lack of showers at the destination point, no bicycle gear storage, and no bicycle racks creates a problem for the potential of several bicycle commuters to ride to the same place. Those factors make challenging for anyone to consider commute by bike in this particular area. Fort Riley has the potential to become a Bicycle Friendly Community if the planners invest in bicycle infrastructure for start, to motivate people. The League of American Bicycles can help and support any community that decided to become a BFC.