However, if you are biking in an area with lots of hills, it will be harder for those who have weaker legs to push through for longer periods. The stronger someone’s legs are, the harder they can push for longer periods.įor instance, if you are riding in a city environment, strength may not matter because the area will be flat. Strength has a direct impact on how fast the average person can bike. While the average pace of riding a bike is between 12–16 mph (19–25 kph), this can vary for many reasons, including the few already mentioned above. This is significant considering that NYC has tons of traffic and stop signs.Īre you average? How fast an average person can bike After just a few months of doing that commute daily, I was able to get there in about 45–50 minutes.
When I started commuting to my job in NYC from New Jersey, it took me on average about 1 hour to bike 13 miles. Endurance also plays a factor, which is why the average speed of a beginner biker lies around 10-12 mph. A beginner might be a little too nervous about going fast and, in general, feel off-balanced when starting and stopping. Biking experienceĮxperience in biking plays a major role. A tailwind, on the other hand, is your new best friend.
A strong headwind, for example, can add another 5 minutes to your commute. If you are riding in a windy area, such as by a river or waterfront, then you can also factor in wind resistance.
The length of the ride simply affects your average speed. But it doesn’t mean the longer the ride, the quicker the speed, or the shorter the ride, the quicker the speed. Obviously, the length of your bike ride will have an impact on your biking speed. Additionally, biking on the sidewalk isn’t always an available option to stay clear of these obstacles.Īs a cyclist in NYC, I was averaging my 13-mile commute to work around 14 mph, which is okay considering the amount of stop-and-go traffic in NYC. It is on the slower side because of the number of stops you’ll have to take and because there are more cars that you have to pay attention to. Urban biking is averaged at 12-16 mph, which is to be expected. Every time the light is red, or there is traffic, you will need to slow down or stop completely. Number of stopsīiking in a city is going to increase your number of stops. Below, we’ll discuss all of these factors and how they can affect how fast you can commute on a bike. The average speed on a bike accounts for several factors like traffic, number of stops, physical strength, and endurance. However, it is not likely that they can sustain those speeds, especially if you are riding in the city or have longer commutes. Advanced cyclists can ride at speeds up to 20-25 mph (32–40 kph). The average speed cyclists can commute is 11–18 mph (18–29 kph). What’s the average speed of bike commuters? I learned a lot of important lessons about riding efficiently and safely in the City that I’m happy to share here. I’ve been commuting by bike for 6+ years, even from New Jersey to my job in NYC. Regardless of why you choose to bike to various destinations, you may be wondering how fast it will take you to commute from point A to B. Or, if you don’t have a lot of time to exercise, commuting to work or doing some errands by bike is a great way to get that activity in. If you live in a city, it may be a great way to avoid traffic. Commuting by bike is very attractive for several reasons ( including saving money).