How long a walk is it worth taking a bike for?

[NeverHadAPantry]

That title probably doesn't make sense so I'll try to explain.

I don't get my bike out to go the the corner shop because by the time I've got the bike out of the shed, round the house and cycled there and locked up my bike I could already have walked there (5mins max) and be half way round the shop.

So what's your limit of walk vs bike? If it's a 10 minute walk, would you take the bike or prefer to walk? 15 minute walk?

Anything more than a 20 minute walk

It's not just the length of the walk it's where you are going and if you need to be able to store the bike at any point - like with your corner shop example, you'd need to be able to tether the bike securely to something because you couldn't go in the shop with it. So length of walk and context both matter. For me it would be 30 minutes and I would only take the bike if there was a proper place to store it (in the event I needed to leave it to do something, not just going for a normal ride). You'd be surprised how quickly someone can nick a wheel from a bike that's locked to a lamppost, as opposed to being stored in a proper cycle hub.

I live in the Netherlands so for me 5 minutes walk which is about 500m. I do often walk to the shops which are 1.5km, but that's expressly to get a walk. If I forget an ingrediënt, I take the bike.

I used to use my bike for local errands. Post office etc.
It's such a faff locking it up/unlocking.
Plus I always wear a helmet, so I could be halfway there by the time I am ready.

To answer your question, I would say anything over 20 minutes for local errands.

Prefer to save it for enjoyment/excercise in the countryside alone.

My bike takes 5 mins off my 20min walk to work. 10 mins to cycle, 5 for logistics. It varies the muscles I use through the week though which is often helpful.
Bike parking at work is plentiful and safe which helps a lot!

There are bike stands, so not a case of tying it up to a lamppost.
Context is to the station for a commute. There are bike stands at the local station (10 min walk, not convinced it's worth it, DH adamant it is) or a serviced, indoor bike parking at the main station 15 mins bike away (could take fast train which doesn't stop at our local station).
Hadn't thought of using different muscles.
@BogRollBOGOF maybe that's something i should actually consider!

Anything more than a 10 minute walk I would use my bike, as long as there is suitable bike parking at the destination.

My NDN cycles the 20 minute walk to the station. I don’t think it’s worth it but I like walking. Bikes do tend to get nicked fairly regularly from outside our station as well.

Agree with @TheCurious0range- more than 20 minutes it’s a bike ride. Especially if going to a shop and have to heft the one or two bags back!
In my youth I used to cycle the five miles to work at least twice a week, but one thing I always forgot is that it was a gentle down hill ride to work, and a tiring slope up at the end of an 8 hour day!

It depends on the weather as well. I prefer a longer walk over a shorter bike ride if it's raining, as it's easier to stay dry. If it's very cold you can wrap up and don't have to keep your face free to check traffic, junctions etc. Also the handlebars get very cold, even with gloves.
Also in the Netherlands, so used to cycling everywhere.

What do you do with your helmet? Carry it around all day?

At least 20 mins as I need to get it uncovered, unlocked, round from the back garden, helmet from shed, lock attached to bike, unlock and lock two gates, lock it to a stand, get helmet off etc. Longer at night because of lights. I wouldn't leave it a station unless in monitored storage TBH, too many thefts. Also for our station you have to go further by bike than walking because of pedestrianised and one way streets.

Lock it to the bike. I think your 15 minute option with the faster train and serviced hub sounds the better of the two.

I keep the bike in the hall because I use it daily anyway, and I’ll use it instead of a 10-15 minute walk if I need to get stuff done quickly (eg collect a parcel before school pickup). Lock and helmet live on the bike so it’s a job of a moment to get ready.

i probably wouldn’t cycle it to the station if there was a theft risk and it was walkable. I keep a heavyweight second lock at work.