Aerostich. New they are expensive but you can get them used on eBay. Two zips and the whole thing comes off to reveal your work clothes. It’s a 10 second change that keeps you safe with knee, hip, back, elbow, and shoulder pads. Did I mention water proof too? Hands down the best protection for commuting.

My boss used to laugh at me walking to my desk asking if I was going snowmobiling. But he got canned so who’s laughing now?

And denim pants evaporate in a slide.

I got two pairs of kevlar jeans that I got reduced. Even after I took the pads out they're too uncomfortable for a day in the office, but for short trips they're perfect. For anything longer I got a full textile suit.

That being said, I really need to stop visualizing my mangled legs while driving at highway speeds with normal jeans on.

I have a pair of jeans with knee and hip pads. While I believe the stretch denim material helps keeping the pads in place, it also cuts off blood circulation on longer rides (around the knees). Got some cargo pants with protectionnow, which are wider and more comfortable. I don’t commute though, but want to to feel comfortable while having a coffee or lunch break during a ride…

ATGATT. Either riding jeans or my overalls if it rains/I tour for longer.

Here's a scooter enjoyer often found wearing downhill skiing pants (warm, windproof) for quick rides. Dainese leather gear if it's a more involved undertaking.

I use Oxford Jeans for short commutes. They're surprisingly comfortable considering the padding. They weren't much more expensive than normal jeans when I got them a few years ago.

Riding jeans with knee and hip armor if I'm riding the putt putt bike around town.

Since I can still squeeze my ass into my leathers, so I wear those on the go -fast(ish) bike. Even sometimes on the putt putt for grins. I don't like two piece leathers, so if I'm going to look weird, I'm going the Power Rangers route.

You can usually find riding jeans on sale for around $100 online if you keep at it. I got mine at motorcyclecloseouts.com.

By special pants you mean protective clothing? Of course! Dress for the slide and so on.

When I was commuting by bike in Europe I had a full touring suit but also summer bike clothes. Two sets of pants (one denim style , one regular rider style) which would've protected me in case.

And yes, for me the (used touring) clothing was more expensive than the (used) bike.

Have you ever scraped your knee through normal pants in a bicycle crash? Consider what'd happen at 5x-10x the speed. Up to you.

On the very rare occasion I've worn regular pants after my squid summer, I've worn Icon Street Armor knee pads over top. For the most part, I wear riding pants and they're fine for regular use as pants (will detail experience below). I do have nylon sedici overpants, but I find them too cumbersome for regular use - a bit bulky, quite slippery, annoying to slip over boots, and unflattering. I have to be going directly to some shorts event to use them. Otherwise, it's way simpler to shove shorts and shoes in a cargo net and be on my way, changing at the destination.

My favorite jeans are Rev'it with interwoven aramid (no liner). They have thin, flexible, siliconeknee and hip pads that are somehow still CE2. I usually go for a relaxed fit (read: I have thick legs), which they offer in the Philly men's model. They're not much heavier than jeans and the pads are comfortable.

For half the price, I also have Street and Steel aramid-lined jeans and aramid-lined/ spandex-sleeved cargo pants. They're comfortable, though thick. I removed the knee pads due to being a harder foam that never quite sits right on my knee and is annoying to walk with. This is where the Icon knee pads come into play. There is some other S&S jeans with interwoven aramid, no liner, but I haven't tried them.

All that being said, the only pants that have seen pavement are the sedici overpants. A 20mph lowside. I landed on my elbow (jacket had pad) and thigh. It was enough to rip up the pants and add a pair of thumb holes, but I had nothing happen to me besides a tiny rugburn on my elbow from the pad. My regular pants inside were protected. I've had worse injuries from slower bicycle crashes.