Why even bother?
Bicycle commuting has three main advantages over driving: it's good for your health, pocketbook, and it's fun!
- Health benefits
- One of the greatest things about bicycle commuting is the effect it will have on your health. The Centers for Disease Control recommends at least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise 5 or more days per week. If you bike to work you would almost certainly meet this requirement and be doing your part to reduce your risk of heart disease, stroke and obesity.
A lot of us really struggle with our weight. Bicycling is so easy on your body that we underestimate the calories it burns. An average commuter, traveling at a reasonable 12 m.p.h. for 20 minutes each way, would burn 363 calories per day or 1815 calories a week! Even if you commuted only half of the days, that would add up to 13 pounds of fat per year. If you are already at your ideal weight, think of all the little "rewards" you could have to make up for the 47,190 calories that would be over the course of a year. - Cost Effective
- With the cost of gasoline at an all time high it doesn't take very long to figure out that commuting by bicycle saves money. You're contributing to our energy security and the environment. Let's go back to our average rider - who is, remember, getting 13 pounds lighter. Again, riding only HALF of the time, they would save 50 gallons of gasoline for the year! There are some families in town who went from 2 vehicles to 1 after starting to commute by bicycle. Removing one vehicle completely and you are talking about thousands of dollars of savings per year.
- Fun
- Bicycling is fun. There is just something about a bicycle that makes a lot of us feel like kids again. In fact I often find myself smiling while riding home from work on a great summer day. A bicycle commuter can see more and hear more than the average driver. While riding my bike I'm not in a box looking through a window at a picture. I'm in the world, in the neighborhood experiencing it. I interact with people as I go by. This makes bicycling an even greater stress reliever than just exercise alone.
Getting Started
Don't expect miracles - at first! How awkward was your first date? How easy was the first time you drove a car? Be patient and experiment a little bit. If it doesn't work out the first time then a little adjustment of equipment or attitude will fix it. People who ride a bike aren't crazy; they've just figured it out. You can too. People don't go around saying things like "oh I had a flat tire once so I gave up driving." But you'll hear them saying that all the time about bicycling - "I tried it once but ..." That's so sad. Think of the pleasure in life you miss with that attitude. So give it a try!
Know yourself: How much cycling experience have you had? Be ready. Know how to ride safely with confidence on roads. It's no different than learning how to drive - we forget how much effort we put into that, which paid off because driving is now fun. Well so is cycling. Start in a parking lot and make sure you remember how to stop fast, start smoothly, etc. Then residential streets, then bigger roads. Success and happiness in life come from getting prepared.
Rules of the Road: Bicyclists fare best when they act and are treated the same as other vehicles. Ride on the right side of the road. Yield to traffic when they have the right of way. Make right turns from the right lane, left turns from the left lane - don't cut across lanes and expect people to read your mind. Signal if you're changing direction. The rules apply to everybody - don't sail through a stop sign and expect cars to be happy with you. Wait your turn at a stop sign.
These things aren't just the law; they're also a good idea. I don't have conflicts with motorists when I obey the law. I have many pleasant interactions, smiles and waves, when I extend simple courtesies to drivers and other bikes. This is no different than driving a car. Try it - get in your car, drive on the left side of the street through red lights and run stop signs, and see how people react to you.
Of course there are a few differences. We usually ride to the right and let the cars pass. On my 3-speed, I might leave 9th Street and cut across the quadrangle, which I wouldn't try in my Volvo.
It's really not that far: Most of us forget how much time we have spent thinking about driving a car - which times of day are good at which intersections, which left turns to avoid, what lane to get in at the light, etc. The first time I ride somewhere it seems like forever. Then I learn the best route, the best times to go if I have a choice, etc. As you ride, you get healthier and feel better. It gets more fun.
Know your road: Does Carl Edwards race on Providence? Should you be racing on Walnut? Be a good ambassador for cycling - don't make enemies just to get through a stop sign sooner. Rush hour traffic is not the time or place to be hot dogging.
Get the right attitude: A smile and a nod go a long way. If I make a mistake, such as not signaling or not waiting my turn, I say I'm sorry and usually get a wave or a nod in acknowledgement. If somebody else makes a mistake or cuts me off, I shrug it off. Am I sure the driver did it intentionally? Maybe they are having a bad day or just didn't notice? Think of this while driving, too, and you'll have a better day.
There will always be the occasional crank who leans on the horn or yells to get off the road. It's not easy but I have learned to shrug it off. Don't yell back or make any gestures. The response that works best is none.
It really is safe: People tell me a lot that they would ride a bike but "it's too dangerous." OK, there is a real chance of having an accident per 100,000 trips or whatever. But you have a chance of 1 in 3 of having cardiovascular disease, 1 in 15 of dying of a stroke, and maybe 1 in 3 of becoming obese if you don't do something about it. But if you do something, you can substantially reduce those very large risks.
So if you're thinking about accidents, you're looking at the wrong risk!
90% of bicycle accidents don't even involve a car: For most, not even another bike - the vast majority of the time, the bicyclist simply falls off the bike. Of the remainder, half are the bicyclist's own fault - you can avoid them if you obey the traffic rules. Many of the accidents involve extenuating circumstances - the bicyclist is riding at night in the country, or the sun is low in the sky. It would be untrue to say there's no risk whatsoever. But we can't hide in our homes and be afraid. We have to get out. We have to live.
What if your workplace doesn't have a shower? Under most circumstances, if you take a shower in the mornings before work and wear light clothing then sweat will not be a problem. If you shower in the morning you start off clean and fresh before your ride. Then, after you arrive at work you can use some baby wipes to freshen up a bit before starting work. Many people in the community ride their bikes to work everyday and have no problem with hygiene. It just takes some trial and error to figure out what will work for you.
Choosing a Bicycle
To get going, you'll need a bike, and some minor equipment. Think how much time you spent choosing your last car. And what to put IN the car. It has a spare tire and a jack, and maybe your favorite snack. A little bit of attention to your bike will make your rides safe and fun.
Let's start with what kind of bike
Start small: How many of your neighbors have bikes in their garage that they never, ever ride? Don't rush out and buy a bike - yet. To get started, borrow one, rent one, pick up a used one at a garage sale. Once you've ridden around a while, then you'll be better prepared to purchase one.
Take the Plunge: There are many kinds of bike, just as there are different cars and trucks. Fortunately, what's currently popular is also eminently practical - mountain bikes and hybrids. The so-called hybrid looks like a mountain bike but doesn't have the big heavy wheels. As a general rule, thinner wheels go faster and wider wheels are more sturdy and comfortable. Both bikes have upright handlebars - sitting upright is comfortable and it's easy to see around you. Remember that with bicycles you get what you pay for. A $100.00 department store bicycle is not going to be as comfortable as a bike shop quality bicycle. Sometimes people buy a really cheap bicycle to see if they will enjoy riding enough to buy a "good bike." Often they are setting themselves up for failure by purchasing a bicycle built more as a toy than a tool for transportation.
Now, let's equip it.
Get some stuff: Look in your car - you have stuff in it, right? Same deal here. For me, that's a rear rack with saddle bags. Or just a rear rack with a couple of bungee cords. In my bags, there is plenty of room for my gym clothes, running shoes, my lunch, a brief case, whatever. While bags and racks aren't necessary to get started they can certainly add enjoyment to commuting.
Maintenance: You wouldn't take the spare tire out of your car, would you? I keep a small under-the-seat bag attached to each bike, which contains a spare tube and tire changing tools, and a frame fit pump on each bike. It's important to keep the tool kit attached to the bike so that you won't forget it.
