They think it will take too long. They worry that they’ll be sweaty and messy and have bad helmet hair when they get there. Or quite frankly, it just never occurs to them to ride to all the places they usually drive to. If that’s you, it’s time to reconsider your transportation choices, especially for all those short trips around town we all make every day, maybe a few times a day.
A study by New York City’s Transportation Alternatives shows that trips of less than three miles are often faster by bike, and those five to seven miles in length — more than half of all Americans live less than five miles from where they work — take about the same time. Bike commuting is soaring in popularity now that more cities are creating bike lanes and bike share programs to deal with out-of-control traffic. Commuting can be fun and easy.
Here are your biggest biking commuting worries and how you can make it effortless:
1. Don’t worry about the hair
Unless you can wear a sweat suit and ball cap on the job, you’ll want to clean up and look fresh and professional when you arrive at work. Many office buildings are equipped with showers or have a gym facility nearby that you can use for cleaning up. If yours does not, shower and take care of personal hygiene at home before you leave, then freshen up in the lavatory at work.
2. Plan your outfit
What you wear depends on how far and hard you plan on riding as well as the dress code in your workplace. Basically, you have two choices: Riding to work dressed for work or riding to work in your cycling clothes and changing when you get there. If the ride is fairly short and casual, you can just wear normal clothing. If you work in a starched-shirt, shiny-shoe atmosphere, you may opt to drive in once a week to deliver fresh clothes for the upcoming week and shuttle worn ones back home for laundering. Or if you have fairly wrinkle-resistant business casual clothing, you can pack things in a backpack or messenger bag and change in the restroom when you arrive.
3. Choose your carry-on
There are a number of ways you can carry the items you’d normally bring to work in your briefcase. One of the most popular is a simple backpack. If you have a rear rack, you can bungee-strap a bag on the back of your bike. Some commuters prefer to use panniers, bags that attach to your rack. A bike shop can show you your options.
4. Map out your route
Depending on your current commute, you may follow the same roads on your bike that you drive, or you may need to choose a path that avoids highways or other unsafe roads. Your local bike shop can assist you in choosing the best routes to your destination. They also may have maps that show bike-friendly routes in your region, so you can try several different routes.
5. Cut it in half
Can’t commit to a long commute? Cut it in half. The first day, drive to work with your bike, then ride home that night. Ride to work the next morning, then drive home, and so on. Or drive halfway to work, but park at a mall or another safe place and ride the rest of the way. Many bus and rail lines allow bicyclists to bring their bikes on board (some require a permit, so check in advance), so you can ride your bike to a park-and-ride lot and catch a ride the rest of the way. Call your local transit station for ride share options in your area.
6. Lock it up
At work, there are likely places where you can stash your bike out of the way for the day. If not, talk to your boss about bike parking options. Many workplaces are eager to encourage employee health and fitness because it benefits their bottom line, so he or she has some incentive to help you keep your bike safely stored while you’re at work. If there’s nowhere to stash the bike inside, you’ll need a lock (go for a U-lock), just as you would for other rides that might involve leaving your bicycle unattended for a time.
———
This story was adapted from “The Big Book of Cycling for Women” and original appeared on Rodale Wellness
About the Author
