Thursday, April 23, 2009

Let's Bust The Bike-Commuting Myths

From the League of American Bicyclists via a bikingbis tweet.

Busting the 10 bicycling myths

1. I'm out of shape

-- Ride an easy pace, in a few months you will be in great shape

-- Ride your route on a weekend to find the easiest way to work

-- You will improve your fitness level when you become a regular bike commuter

2. It takes too long

-- The average commuter travels at 10 mph; the more you ride, the faster you become

-- Trips of less than 3 miles will be quicker by bike

-- Trips of 5 to 7 miles in urban areas take the same or less by car

3. It's too far

-- Try riding to work and taking mass transit home, then alternating the next day

-- Combine riding and mass transit to shorten your route

-- Ride to a coworker's house and carpool to work

4. No bike parking

-- Look around for a storage area in your building or office

-- Stash your bike in a covered, secure place such as a closet or even your office

-- Formally request that your employer provide bike parking or lock it up outside

5. My bike is beat up

-- Tell a reputable bike shop that you are commuting and have them tune up your bike

-- If you can't maintain your bike yourself, identify bike shops near your route

-- Make sure that your bike is reliable and in good working order before you ride

6. No showers

-- Most commuters don't shower at wor; ride at an easy pace to stay cool and dry

-- Ride home at a fast pace if you want a workout; shower when you get there

-- Health clubs offer showers; get a discounted membership for showers only

7. I have to dress up

-- Keep multiple sets of clothing at work; rotate them on days you drive

-- Have work clothes cleaned at nearby laundromats or dry cleaners

-- Pack clothes with you and change at work; try rolling clothes instead of folding

8. It's raining

-- Fenders for your bike and raingear for your body will keep you dry

-- If you are at work, take transit or carpool to get home; ride home the next day

-- Take transit or drive if you don't have the gear to ride comfortably in the rain

9. The roads aren't safe

-- Obey traffic signs, ride on the right, signal turns, and stop at lights

-- Wear bright clothing

-- You are at no greater risk than driving a car

-- Wear a helmet everytime you ride

10. I have to run errands

-- Bolt a rack to the back of your bike to add carrying capacity

-- Make sure that you have a lock to secure your bike while you are in a building

-- Allow extra time to get to scheduled appointments and find parking

-- Encourage your employer to provide a bicycle fleet for office use

4 comments:

Kuan said...

7) Bring wipes to freshen up.

Unknown said...

Try cycling a bit further to find am alternative to using the roads.Such as cycle paths or canals.

John the Monkey said...

If there's other bike commuters at your workplace, ask them about bike shops etc - most will be happy to help out someone new to it all, in my experience.

Anonymous said...

I don't know if these myths are true or not, the only thing I know is that since my wife has been riding her bike to work, she is more cheerful and so am I!