Commuting (Part 1)

For many the thought of having a bicycle as their main form or transportation is a romantic venture that they feel is far too dangerous to actually pursue. Commuting by bicycle is actually a refreshing change from the hassle of sitting in traffic subtracting the minutes or hours off your life. Personally the difference in my mind-set when I ride my bike compared to when I drive is noticeably more buoyant at the very least. As for the danger factor there are decisions one can make to help reduce hazardous situations and soothe many fears.

One of the most important aspects of two-wheel transportation, beyond wearing a helmet, is picking a route that is as safe as possible. Some things to consider when choosing your safe route to work, the grocery store, or maybe the local hot spot is that the path of least traffic is generally safest. If, like myself, going through a heavily populated urban center is unavoidable try to chose a route that has bike lanes. In most areas roads and streets that are favorable for cyclists are marked with green rectangular signs with a white bicycle on them or the words “Bicycle Route”. When you finalize your route it is usually a good idea to ride it when you are not in a hurry so that if you get lost or have to make minor changes it is not going to make you late for an important date. Pre-riding will also give you a good idea of how long you will need to give yourself to make your commute.
Making the jump to using your bike as your main form of transportation can mean that you will find yourself riding during times of the day that could potentially be more dangerous than others. Choosing a route at night that is more populated with better lighting compared to a less populated sketchy part of town or road may be a good option. Always when riding at night it is best to have a front and rear battery operated light. Your local bike shop is a great resource for helpful route planning and a great place to pick up all your commuting gear.

So now I challenge you to pull your steed out of the garage on Monday morning and ride, ride to work, to the grocery store, just ride and then do it again.

Good luck with your route planning and be sure to check back for Commuting Part 2 and 3 for riding in traffic techniques and gear suggestions.

Sara