It's Time to Get Serious
You like riding. You've gotten comfortable with your bike and with riding in traffic. You really want to reduce your time in the car. You're thinking about commuting to work on your bike.
     OK, take a deep breath. This is serious. Don't get me wrong - it's terrific! After all, for a driver, the commute is the worst part of the day, while for a biker, it's the best part. But you need to know what you're getting into, and how to handle it all.
Start Slow
Start out by riding your proposed route several times on the weekend or in the evening while it's still light. Remember, the best car route is probably not the best bike route. Check a street map of the area - you may find side streets that parallel your driving route which would be more bike-friendly than the main auto thoroughfare. Your goal should not necessarily be to find the shortest route, but the one most amenable to biking. You may find short cuts through parking lots, up stairways or around barriers which you can do by bike. It might also be worth going out of your way to incorporate a bike path in your route which would make your commute more enjoyable.
Check the traffic: Is it comfortable for you? Will it be still be comfortable in rush hour? Are there any danger zones? If there are problems, you may want to try several alternative routes, as well.
Check the pavement, the berm, all the places you'll be running your tires over: Is it smooth enough, wide enough, free from road debris? You don't want to be stopping to fix flats.
Check the time: How long does it take you to get to work? Will your time vary in rush hour? How much extra time should you allow? How fast should you ride? Do you have a computer to help you with this? It's not a race, and if you ride too fast you'll get sweaty. Do you have shower facilities at work?
Check the street lighting: You may have to ride in the dark occasionally; is the route well lighted all the way? You'll also need lights on your bike, of course.
Check the parking lot: If you have to leave your bike outside, where will you put it? Will it be secure with a good cable and lock? Will it be sheltered from weather? Will there be a security guard who knows that it's there?
Once A Week
You could start your commuting career by riding once a week. Or just when it's nice out. Or just during the summer months. You don't have to ride every day to be a successful bike commuter. But every day you don't use your car is a better day for all of us. Imagine the impact on our environment (and gas prices) if everybody biked to work just one day a week!
More Stuff to Come
Nailing your route down is just the first step, of course. There are lots of things you should know about gear and equipment, clothing, riding and especially about workplace related issues. The pages in this section will give you lots of help on those, and the Resources sections will put you in touch with the real experts - everyday bike commuters.

On-line Bike Forums Local Bike Shops

Commuting Sites On-Line Biking Sites

Commuting Blogs

© 2010 - 2012 Bob Beach