Back To Work By Bike

Are you heading back to the office? For good or for ill, literally, states across the country are reopening, and some businesses are bringing their people back to work in person. If you relied on public transport before, you may be considering going by bike. Now is a great time to do it. 

There are myriad benefits to commuting to work by bike. There’s evidence that riding your bike to work daily can improve cardiovascular health, help you lose or maintain weight, improve your skeletal health, improve your mood, and even help you save money. 

But if you’re new to commuting by bike, it can seem like much more of an inconvenience or risk. That’s simply not true, and you can take a lot of the stress out of your ride by following a few simple tips. We’ve broken into down into two categories, focused on what you’ll do on the bike and what you can do off the bike, as well. 

Off The Bike

This is all about preparation and logistics. Put yourself in a position to succeed and develop schedule or routine for your ride. 

Clothes/Hygiene - Depending on how far and and how fast you plan on commuting, this could change. If you’re going just a few miles, you won’t need to worry about getting sweaty or bringing a change of clothes. Just dress visibly, comfortably, and appropriately for the weather...and the office, too. 

However, if you’re going further or using your ride for exercise, you may need to think ahead. If your workplace has a shower, bring a change of clothes and toiletries. You can also bring a week’s worth of work clothes on Monday to change into to avoid bringing a bag every day of the week, too. If your office doesn’t have a shower, get cooling wipes and wash clothes for a quick rinse in the sink. 

Plan Your Route - One part of feeling confident in your commute is planning a route that balances efficiency and safety. Map it out before you leave home and watch for other ways that might offer less traffic, more visibility, or even just a better view. It’s a great idea to mix your commute up, but if you’re new to an area, making a game plan to start with is a good way to ensure a safe morning ride. 

Pack It In - You can get as ambitious or simple with your commute gear as you like. It’s hard to beat the utility of a backpack, but if you want to mix in errands like grabbing groceries or even picking up the kids to your routine, there are cargo and transport bikes, like the Surly Big Dummy, that offer great platforms to get more out of your trip to work and back. 

On The Bike

Being safe on the bike should be your biggest priority, and it goes beyond simply having front and rear lights and wearing a helmet. How and where you ride will have an impact on how much fun your commute is and how safe you’ll be while enjoying it. 

Be Predictable - Using hand signals, making eye contact with drivers at intersections, and following the rules of the road as if you were a motorists are really the best ways to stay safe. One we do need to emphasize is being visible. It’s not about wearing colors as much as being in the eye line of drivers, and that means getting out of the gutters. Riding in the lane where you aren’t at risk of parked cars or pedestrians allows you to ride straight and not have to swerve to avoid hazards. It also keeps you in sight of drivers at all times, even if they need to slow down to overtake. 

Be Vigilant - Riders can never let their guard down. Anticipate the actions of drivers and always assume they’ll do the worst thing; that car may not run a red light, for example, but wait for it to stop completely before entering the intersection. At stop signs and turns, be assertive and hold your ground, while keeping your eyes open to those who may not notice you. 

One tip we really encourage is moving up. On a road with a bike lane, don’t get in the line of traffic. Instead, use your bike lane to get to the light. This allows all the drivers in the line to see you before the light turns green, so they know you’re ahead on the road. 

Finally, enjoy the ride. One you develop the habit, you’ll learn to appreciate and even jealously guard your commute and take a lot of pride in doing it every day! 

Any more commuting tips? Let us know!