Bike commute time

Add the things route planners leave out, like red lights and getting changed, and see the real door to door time.

Your details

4.0 miles (6.4 km) each way at 12.0 mph (19.3 km/h)

28 min

door to door, each way

Riding20 min
Waiting at lights3 min
Locking up and changing5 min
Cycling minutes a week (3 days, both ways)138 of your 150 a week

Commuting by bike counts as moderate activity, and the UK guidelines suggest 150 minutes a week. Try the route on a quiet weekend first, and see if your employer runs a Cycle to Work scheme.

The working

4 miles at 12 mph, 6 sets of lights

Riding takes 20 minutes. Six sets of lights at about 30 seconds each adds 3, and locking up and changing adds 5: 28 minutes door to door. Three days a week, both ways, that is 138 minutes of cycling, nearly all of your 150.

Planning it

First week tips

Ride the route on a quiet weekend first
Leave work clothes at work on a car day
Use quieter back roads, even if longer
Fit lights, front and back, for winter

Why bother

Bonus minutes

The UK Chief Medical Officers suggest 150 minutes of moderate activity a week. A bike commute ticks that off without finding extra time, and many employers offer the Cycle to Work scheme to spread the cost of a bike.

Read with care

What this cannot tell you

TrafficRush hour can add or save minutes.
WeatherHeadwinds and rain slow you.
ShowersIf you need a shower at work, add that too.

Questions

Common questions

How long does it take to cycle 5 miles?

About 25 minutes at 12 mph, plus lights and getting ready.

Is cycling to work faster than driving?

In busy towns it can be, especially once you count parking. Time both on a normal day and see.

Does cycling to work count as exercise?

Yes. It counts as moderate activity towards your 150 minutes a week.

Sources

Last checked 21 October 2026. Spotted something wrong? Tell us and we will fix it.

Before you push on

New to exercise, or got a heart, lung or joint condition? Have a word with your GP or practice nurse first. Stop and get help if you feel chest pain, faintness or unusual breathlessness, and call 999 if it is severe.