Maybe you have considered it, maybe you have thought about it, but you never get to actually commit to changing your transportation habits because you may think is too complicated. Trust me, is not. Once you figure out the details and build the habit it will feel like a natural part of your routine and wonder why you did not start early.
Let's start talking first about the potential benefits of riding your bike to work/school/doing errands:
You get exercise checked off your list everyday. You have to go to work and/or complete multiple errands everyday, that is something you cannot change, you're busy! What if you can combine your trips with your desire to get fit/lose weight/or simply stay active? By the time you get back to your family in the evening you don't have to think about how to squeeze an exercise session in what little remains of your day...you'll be all done and ready to focus on spending quality time with your loved ones.
You connect with nature. True, we live in the cement jungle. But, we still have trees around us, birds singing in the morning and afternoon, and hopefully a few green areas around the road you transit everyday. Research has actually shown that those that exercise in the presence of nature experience greater improvements in mood compared to those that exercise indoors for the same intensity and same length of time (more research is coming up on biological changes following green exercise, in other words, what happens inside your body as you connect with nature). Want to know more? read the following article: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/body-sense/201009/green-exercise
You save on gas. You may not believe this one especially if you live close to work and think that driving a few miles everyday may not make a big difference to your pocket. However, after a few weeks biking everywhere you will notice that your tank is still full at the end of the month...well, it certainly depends as well on your car model and year, and how much you use it for other trips, but you will certainly save some bucks every month.
You take care of the environment. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), 27% of US greenhouse emissions (like carbon dioxide) that cause the earth's atmosphere to warm derive from transportation. A typical passenger vehicle generates approximately 4.6 metric tons of carbon dioxide per year. Thus, you can personally contribute to decrease greenhouse emissions and protect the environment by driving less.
Ok, now we are going to shift gears and talk about how to start...
Choosing the right bike. There are countless options out there- hybrid, road, mountain, commute, cruiser. You can also encounter a huge range of prices, from less than $200 to literally thousands of dollars. I personally recommend that you start with a a basic and affordable bike. First, you may want to experience a "tryout" period and make sure that you actually enjoy and feel comfortable with bike commuting. Second, if you are only planning to use your bike to commute to work, you really do not need a sophisticated bike to get you from point A to point B. So, my advice is to keep it simple and just invest in a bike that you consider safe, comfortable, and affordable for your personal budget.
Basic gear. You finally decided on the perfect bike for you and you think you are ready to go...not so fast! There are several pieces of equipment that are a must if you will be on the road...please keep reading. You need a helmet to protect your head in the unfortunate event of an accident. You need lights, even if riding by day to make you visible to the cars around you (and very important during rainy days and at night of course). A water bottle to keep you well-hydrated during your trip, even if it is a short one, especially as temperatures rise. And you need a lock to secure your bike while you are at work/running errands.
Practice your biking skills before you start commuting. If you considered yourself a beginner it is a good idea to practice your biking skills for a few weeks before you hit the road. Go to the nearest park or recreation area where you can feel protected with no menacing cars around you and practice how to brake, how to shift gears, and how to get in and out of your bike safely. Most importantly, do not hit the road unless you feel you have complete control of your bike. Remember that once you are biking to work/running errands, you will encounter multiple unexpected events (e.g. heavy traffic, pedestrians, the occasional aggressive driver, changes in weather conditions) so biking per se must be like second nature to you when you are thinking about how to deal with these unexpected events.
Clipless pedals or no clipless pedals? Clipless pedals may seem scary at first, but they will actually provide you more control and stability during your bike ride. First, you will have more power as you can take advantage of proper mechanics during the pedal stroke. Second, your feet will be protected during pedaling forces thanks to the specialized stiff sole of cycling shoes. Third, your feet will never slip forward and make you lose control of your bike, as it may happen with regular pedals. The key to feel comfortable with clipless pedals is practice, practice, practice! Read the following article to find out more about clipless pedals https://havefunbiking.com/products/clipless-pedals-beginner-guide/
A final word of caution...
Depending on where you live, biking to work may be feasible or not due to safety issues. Ideally, you should choose bike paths or streets that have bike lanes for greater safety. However, these may be absent in the areas where you live and work and thus you will need to circulate on the street right next to the cars...which is ok, a lot of people do it, you just need to be extra cautious. Based on my personal experience, here are some tips:
Choose streets that are wide enough that allows you to comfortably ride on the right while the cars pass by your left side.
Choose streets that have clear signs of "Share the road, it's the law"...trust me, this can make a tremendous difference because it reminds drivers that you have the right to be on the road as much as them. By law, cars must stay at least 3 feet away from a cyclist when passing. This may vary by state, see the following website http://www.ncsl.org/research/transportation/safely-passing-bicyclists.aspx
Ideally choose streets that are nicely maintained and have smooth pavement, especially if you have a road bike.
If possible, commute during non-peak hours. This will allow you to ride with less traffic. Most of all, it provides extra safety because during peak hours (e.g. 5-6pm when everyone is trying to get back home after a long day at work) people tend to drive more aggressively and have less patience...which translates into drivers that get mad at you for just being on the road with them.
Always, always, always obey traffic laws! The same way you have the right to be on the road as cars, the same way you have the obligation to follow traffic laws. Always ride in the same direction as the flow of traffic, stop at red lights and wait for the green, stop on pedestrians crossings, let cars know when you intend to turn using hand signals (click here to see how to do that https://www.ilovebicycling.com/cycling-hand-signals/), etc.
For more safety tips check the following website: https://caloriesburnedhq.com/biking-safety-tips/
Do you want some extra inspiration? Look at the following article to learn about the motivations and strategies of different women that commute to work on a regular basis https://www.liv-cycling.com/global/campaigns/queens-of-bike-commuting-tips-tricks-stories-and-must-have-gear/20008
Happy riding!!
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