Every (Nice) Day Is Bike to Work Day
But whenever I talk to people about commuting by bicycle, they say they would like to bike to work but then bring up myriad reasons why not to, most of them fairly reasonable. I always think of witty remarks after conversations are over, so I thought I'd put my two cents down in writing.
Here is a list of reasons my friends and colleagues have given me about why they don't ride to work—and the cheerful comebacks I would have said if I'd thought to say them at the time.
1. I haven't ridden since I was a kid, I'm not interested in racing or mountain biking, and I'm not a cyclist. No matter. Your brain has not forgotten how to ride. Think about it this way: walking is not running a marathon, even if you're walking fast in running shoes. Biking for transportation isn't a competitive sport. You can go at your own pace, and get there when you get there.
2. It's too dangerous. I'm not going to dismiss this legitimate fear. We all know someone who has been riding along and been doored or side-swiped. I even know someone who got hit by a car and woke up in a hospital not knowing who she was. I can see how you'd be scared of riding on the roads if you haven't been on a bike in years, or if you've only ridden on bike paths and beaches. If that's the case, you should practice your riding skills and become more confident before you set out into traffic. You need to be able to ride in a straight line, start riding quickly from a stop, take one hand off the handlebars to signal, swerve around obstacles, go over potholes and bumps without braking too late or too early, etc. I've found that riding in everyday clothes (rather than a skin-tight lycra getup) helps drivers see me as a human being; stopping at red lights and generally following traffic rules are just as important on a bike as in a car; and keeping my eyes and ears open as I ride is more important than wearing a helmet (which I do, Mom). Recent research found that cars give more clearance to female riders wearing everyday clothes than male riders and male riders in cycling costumes. And that buses have no room to get around cyclists, so it's best to hug the curb when a bus is coming.[PDF] This is all good advice, but the most honest thing I can say is that to live life, you have to take a few risks. I'm sure you're not a saint; you like a little danger in your life. While you're riding, don't think about anything. Stay alert; it's like meditation.
3. I'll get sweaty. Dude, people sweat. It's OK. Wear deodorant and ride slower—getting to work isn't a race. (Or you could do what I do, if your office has a bathroom, or, even better, a locker room with a shower: Bring clothes to work to change into when you get there.) Don't be embarrassed; you'll emerge calm and refreshed and looking professional for the rest of the day.
4. I'll get dirty. If you can't change clothes at work, get a bike with fenders, internal gears, a chain case, and dress guards. City bikes are on the rise here in the U.S. but they have been popular in Europe for ages. The blog Lovely Bicycle has been a total eye-opener for me. I completely agree with her when she says, "bicycles meant for everyday transportation should not require us to change the way we dress or lead our lives in order to ride them."
5. I have no time. You may be surprised at how efficient biking is. I am amazed every single time I arrive at work in the exact amount of time it takes me to drive. I hate sitting in traffic, and I love the feeling of breezing by a long line of bumper-to-bumper cars stopped at a red light. Plus, the half an hour riding to the office is burning off half of lunch (so I can cross that off my list while I'm at it). I like arriving at work with more energy and less frustration.
6. I have too much stuff to carry (including a laptop): Get a rack and panniers. (I bought a handmade pannier/messenger bag off Etsy at Vayabag; it holds my Macbook Pro, lunch, snacks, clothes, shoes, phone, wallet, and keys, with room to spare.)
7. I can't afford to buy a new bike. One of the best pieces of advice I found on Lovely Bicycle is to buy a vintage Raleigh off craigslist for $200 or less and spend another $200 or so having your local bike shop fix it up for you nice. These old bikes can be found in great condition and were built to last, plus they are super comfortable to ride and can handle adding front and rear racks for your panniers and kids. If that's not your thing, there are some brand-new budget city bikes for $300 or so. I know that sounds like a lot for something you might decide you don't want, but you could probably sell it on craigslist for almost as much as you bought it (bikes don't lose as much value as cars do when you ride them "off the lot"). A friend of mine just bought a barely used bike in great condition off craigslist for $150 and spent $50 on a new chain and a tune up.
8. I live in the boonies; my commute is too long. Well, I can't argue with your choice to live off the grid. But I did run into a bicyclist on Main St. the other day riding a road bike with an "electric assist" motor attached. She was pedaling normally to get the motor going and was traveling at around 30 miles per hour. She blew right by me!
9. I don't want to ride in the rain or snow or cold. I sympathize. I'm a fair weather biker, so I haven't yet sold my car, but I still save money on gas three seasons out of the year. And I don't pay for a gym membership.
10. I need to drop my kids off at school and daycare in the morning. Cargo bikes can carry anything. Or you can rig up your bike for carrying kids. There are limitations, of course. Newborns aren't good candidates for commuting by bike. But toddlers and older kids can ride in a trailer, in kid seats, on the deck of an Xtracycle or Yuba Mundo, or even in front of you in a Dutch bakfiets if you're willing to spend a whole bunch of money. I discovered the world of family biking by reading Car Free with Kids and Mamafiets and other blogs, and I'm in the middle of figuring out what setup will work for me and my kids. If you know me well, you know that's what I'm thinking about when I get a far-off look in my eyes. Come September, I will hopefully have come up with something that works. I might just put a Wald basket on the front rack to carry my stuff and put my toddler in his usual seat on the rear rack (he rides in a Co-Pilot Limo)—we will find out! The important thing to me is that I get to keep riding to work when it's nice out.
I've been biking to work for a few years now (West Newton to Kendall Square in Cambridge), and I love it. The safety issue was the biggest blocker for me, but I've gradually learned how to ride assertively in traffic. I actually did not know that bikes can use a whole lane when they need to- that's been a huge help on some of the Cambridge streets that are narrowed by construction. It feels great to get exercise, lower my CO2 footprint, and reduce traffic all at the same time.
ReplyDeleteThat's awesome, David! Thanks for reading my blog!
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