| 12 steps to get your bike commute
started |
| By Jenny
C. McCune • Bankrate.com |
|
Need some guidance to get started on your eco-friendly
commute?
| Follow these 12 steps to ensure
a safe and comfortable ride to work. |
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| Tips before getting
started |
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1. Start off
easy
Instead of going from driving your car every day to
exclusively riding
your bike, commute by bicycle on a part-time basis, maybe once
or twice a week, and only in fair weather.
Even cycling to work
one day per week can substantially decrease your car usage, says
Arthur Ross, the pedestrian-bicycle coordinator for the Traffic
Engineering Division in Madison, Wis.
2. Don't feel
you have to go the distance
If your commute is a long one,
you may want to ride part of the way and then finish your commute
by bus or train. Many municipalities, including Seattle; Salt Lake
City; Austin, Texas, and Eugene, Ore., have bike racks on their
mass transit buses or allow bikes on trains to help facilitate partial
bike commutes.
3. Figure out
your route
Think like a cyclist, not a motorist. That means
that the shortest route -- especially if it is on a major highway
-- is probably not the best idea. Look for streets with bike lanes,
and avoid high-speed routes with no shoulders. To find good routes,
check your city's Web site. Many bike-friendly municipalities have
maps that show recommended routes. Also consider when the best time
to travel is and whether it makes sense to leave earlier or later
to avoid rush-hour traffic. Finally, have a "Plan B" route
in your back bike jersey pocket in case there's an accident or construction
delay.
4. Test it before
you commute
Give your route a trial run on the weekend so
you can work out the kinks and get an idea of how long it will take
you. Then make adjustments as you go. For example, you may wish
to find a different route when you discover "pinches"
-- overpasses, for example, where there isn't a shoulder to ride
on.
5. Find a bike
buddy
Safety in numbers definitely applies to cycling --
plus getting someone more experienced to show you the ropes is always
a good idea. "Even if you only ride halfway together, having
a bike buddy can really help you break into riding," says Elizabeth
Preston of the League of American Bicyclists, a bicycle advocacy
group based in Washington, D.C.
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