The first time it occurred to me to ride my bicycle to work was in 1984. I was an active triathlete then and always found it difficult to find enough time to train in the three required disciplines. One day as I was driving the 18 mile trip to work, dealing with the usual traffic congestion, I noticed a bicycle zoom by on the right side of the road. I thought about how nice it would be to be on my bike at that moment. Then it hit me! Why shouldn't I be on my bike? What would be wrong with riding my bike to work? I vowed to give it a try the very next day. That initial trial ride would springboard into many years of enjoyable bike commuting. Despite working at a number of different locations over the years I would always look to use a bicycle as my method of transportation whenever possible.
My purpose in creating this blog is to hopefully motivate others to join me in using bicycles as transportation. It is the rare occasion that I happen upon a fellow bike commuter. Apparantly, we are a rare breed representing only a miniscule percentage of all commuters. This is unfortunate as there are numerous benefits to this type of travel. At the top of the list is that it is simply fun to do. I view my trip to and from work as recreation rather than a drudgery that must be endured. Additionally, there are financial returns. Typically bikes are less expensive than cars, cheaper to maintain, and they require no fuel. Another consideration is the health benefits associated with regular exercise. The number one excuse given by people who don't regularly exercise is that they can't find the time. Commuting by bike can be a major contributor to a fit and healthy lifestyle. Furthermore, it is a time efficient endeavor. Commuting by car takes a certain amount of time. While it is likely to take somewhat longer to cover the same distance by bike, the time is subsidized by the fact that you had to travel there anyway. From a time management standpoint this makes sense. If the drive is 20 minutes and the bike ride takes twice that at 40 minutes the additional time investment is only 20 minutes. Finally, those who commit themselves to it can take pride in doing something positive for the environment. If everyone used a bike in lieu of a motor vehicle for just 10 miles each week the difference would be huge. Millions of tons of carbon emissions would be eliminated from our atmosphere.
With all the benefits it seems hard to believe that so few participate. I recently asked the owner of my local bike shop if they sold a lot of bikes for the purpose of commuting. The answer was no. He went on to say that most people were afraid to try it for fear of being struck by a vehicle during rush hour traffic. He explained that all the bike commuters he knew were avid cyclists for which commuting only represented a part of their cycling experience. I confess to being in that category as well. I enjoy cycling for recreation and am a regular participant in cycling events. However, there were times over the years when I only used bikes for transportation and found that equally enjoyable. Cycling is cycling. My body can't tell if I'm on my way to work, running errands, or out for a pleasure ride. It responds the same in all cases. It feels good to ride a bike no matter where I'm headed.
Now that I've outlined the reasons for using a bike to transport oneself to and from the place of employment let's move on to the nuts and bolts of the issue. How do we take this from a concept to a reality? Only through detailed planning can one be successful. There is much to consider and a lot to do. As with anything there may be obstacles that need to be overcome, but if the desire is there it will all come together. Follow the outline below modifying it to suit your individual needs. There is not one single correct way. What works well for one may not be ideal for another. Experiment to find what's best for your set of circumstances.
Step # 1
Will bike commuting work for me?
I once read another blog by a respected female distance cyclist who commuted every day by bike. She and her husband, also a respected long distance cyclist, opted to forgo the luxury of owning an automobile. They reside in the suburbs of Boston, Mass. She wrote that the optimum bike commuting distance is 12 miles each way. Long enough to be worth the effort, but not too long to be cumbersome. I agree with the statement that 12 miles is a nice distance, but that is not to say that longer, or shorter, distances don't work. My prior job was 21 miles each way. It was a bit too far too undertake by bike daily. So, I rode three days a week. I drove to work the other days. My current commute is as short as eight miles, but I usually take a more circuitous route to bring it up to 12 or 14. I undertake it daily. It's nice to have the 8 mile option available in the event of bad weather, etc. Most people's jobs are within the range of 5 to 25 miles and commutable by bike. But, what does one do if they live 50 miles from work? There are still possibilities, it just requires more creativity. One solution is a partial commute. Leave home with bike in the car. Park somewhere in between, then ride the remaining miles. At the end of the day ride back to the car, then drive home. There is also the one way commute. Say the commute is twenty miles each way, which would total 40 round trip. The distance can be cut in half by driving to work with the bike in the car. Then riding home at the end of the day. The next morning ride back to work, then drive home at the end of the day. Repeat indefinitely. I have friends that take their bikes on trains and get off three stops in advance of their destination to ride the remaining miles to work. The possibilities are endless, just know that there is a way to accommodate most everyone.
Step #2
Get a Bike
Obviously the first thing you will need is a suitable machine. There is not one type of bike that is ideal for commuting. Any well made bicycle will get you there. I would not suggest attempting any commute of more than a couple of miles on a cheap department store bike. If you have a decent bike already, that may work fine to start out. You can always get something different at a later time when you are sure this is something you will stick with. If your bike has been sitting unused for awhile I suggest taking it to a bike shop for a tune-up. It's possible you may need new tires, brakes, cables and possibly a new chain. You do not want to have mechanical issues while trying to get to your job. If you need to acquire a new bike the best situation is to go to a good bike shop in your area and ask for suggestions as to what would suit your need best. The more information you give them about your intended use, and future cycling goals, the better they will be able to dial you in to the right bike. Just keep in mind that more than one type of bike can get the job done. So, think hard about what appeals to you. I have commuted on many types of bikes and tend to switch up from time to time to keep things interesting. I have ridden to work on mountain bikes, fixed geared bikes, carbon fiber racing machines and lately have been known to use a high-racer recumbent. Each machine has its pros and cons. For example the mountain bike is rugged, reliable and great on rough roads, gravel, dirt. Also, good in foul weather. The downside is the extra weight and high rolling resistance from the wide tires. The fixed gear is easy to maintain and fun to ride, but the limited gearing can make it difficult to manage over hilly terrain. The carbon fiber racer is fast and fun, but somewhat delicate with skinny tires, light weight wheels and componentry. My recumbent is the most comfortable bike ever, but is more difficult to maneuver, especially at slower speeds. I would suggest you take your time, test ride lots of bikes and find the one you will be happy with. You may have it a long time. I have an aluminum frame mountain bike that I've used off and on for over 16 years. For an initial investment of $700 that computes to $43.75 per year. When you consider it has never burned even a drop of gas that is a hard value to beat.
Step #3
Map-A-Route
The route you use to drive to work may not be the ideal way to travel there by bike. You will want to consider how suitable each of the roads you currently use will be for this alternate form of transportation. Think about the traffic density, road surface, speed limit, and number of traffic lights. Does your current route to work consist of roads you would want to ride a bike on? If the answer is no, then your first job is to figure out the best route to get you to and from the job safely. The approach I use is to go to a mapping website such as Google Maps. I have the program plot the most direct route between my home and job. If the roads selected are unsuitable for cycling, ie; busy highways, I look to re-route on the nearest alternate road. Often a highway will be paralleled by a local, or service road that is lightly traveled. There may be a specific bike path that goes in the general direction you need. Remember that speed limits are of little consequence to the cyclist. Motor vehicle traffic will avoid a 25 mile per hour road as being too slow for their purposes, but not so for the bike rider. Low traffic roads do not need to be wide with usable shoulders, as long as traffic is light. Vehicles will have no trouble getting around as long as there isn't a steady flow of oncoming traffic. Road surface should weigh heavily in your decisions. A pot-hole laden road will not only be less enjoyable but less safe as well. Personally, I would prefer to ride a couple of extra miles if the experience is all around better. Once you've mapped your initial route try driving it to get a first hand look at it. Can you see yourself safely riding a bike on the chosen roads? If not make the changes necessary to get it right, this is not something to rush through. I actually set up multiple routes that vary in terrain and scenery. That way I don't become bored by riding the same roads day in, day out. Each day I can choose between hilly, moderately hilly, or relatively flat commutes. My routes also vary in distance by a few miles. If the weather is particularly nice I opt for one of my longer routes. If I'm cold, wet or tired I'll use a shorter one.
Step #4
Organize
Now that you have a bike and a route there is still more to figure out. What will you do when you arrive at work with your bike? Where will you store it? Will the clothes you ride to work in be the same clothes you will wear for the day? If not where will you keep your clothes? Where will you change? Will you need to shower? Obviously the answers to these questions will vary based on your occupation. I can only tell you how I have overcome these issues. My occupation is retail sales. I wear a shirt, tie and dress slacks to work every day. I prefer to ride in cycling specific clothes. I've never worked where there was a specific locker room, or changing room. I have managed using storage rooms or utility closets. When I start working at a new location I scope out all the nooks and crannies in the building. Usually, there is a minimally used location where I can store my bike and clothes. If it's a private enough area I'll change there. If not a bathroom will suffice. I don't feel the need to shower after my morning commute. I use towels to dry off any perspiration. Contrary to popular belief sweat doesn't give off odor,as long as one bathes daily. To re-supply the clothing and towels I make a trip in by car once a week. Another method I've used at times is to drive to work with my bike in the car and all the clothes and supplies I'll need for the week. At the end of the day I'll leave the car in the work parking lot and ride the bike home. The car will serve as my storage facility for my bike and clothes for the rest of the week. I'll then drive it home at the end of the week when my supplies run out. A side benefit to this method is that the car is there if the weather turns particularly bad, or I'm just too whipped to want to ride at the end of the day. Creativity is the key here. If the desire is there any obstacles can be overcome. I actually enjoy the extra challenge involved with the logistics. As I am sure you will too.
Step #5
Make it Happen
The final step in the process to quote a somewhat outdated advertising theme............."just do it". All the planning in the world is meaningless if you don't commit yourself to the task and follow through. It's easy to find exuses as to why you should leave the bike home and take the comfy car to work instead; ie: not enough time, too cold, too hot, not feeling well, need more sleep, etc. The list is endless. Don't fall into the trap. There is rarely a day that I can't find some reason not to go. Short of dangerous weather or a physical injury I very rarely give in. Once I'm out there on the bike I'm always happy with my choice. I found it helps to keep a log book entering my data from each days ride. Whether a commuting ride, or pleasure ride, keeping track of mileage, speed, weather and other bits of information helps me discover what works and what does not. Perhaps you will find it useful as well.
Good luck.............................I'll see you on the roads!
