Bike to Work? Why, Yes, I Think I Will – Bike MS SoCal Participates in Bike to Work Week 2009

For quite a few reasons, the idea of biking to work is becoming more and more popular. Not only is biking an incredibly healthful activity but it’s also an awesome way to conserve energy, respect the environment, and save some money. May 11th–15th, is National Bike to Work Week, Friday the 15th is National Bike to Work Day, and if you’re on the fence about participating consider these reasons to hop on your two-wheeler before you say no and hop back in your car. Also, if you’re concerned about safely and successfully executing this body- and environment-loving adventure, I’ve included some tips from the Sacramento Transportation Management Authority on how to plan a seamless bike trip to work.

Why bike to work?

1. Good for your body

Way back in the day (15 years ago or so) a study was conducted in Copenhagen, Denmark that gauged the health benefits of cycling. The study—which sampled 30,000 people who biked an average of 3 hours a week and took into account age, health status, and socio-economic factors like education—concluded that regular cycling can reduce the risk of mortality by approximately 40%. It also showed that older riders benefit even more from the exercise than younger cyclists. Numerous other studies have found that cycling improves aerobic fitness, aids in weight loss, and improves overall mood and brain function. With all the proof that cycling is good for you, why not do it?

2. Good for your car and your wallet

If you’ve spent any time commuting to work you understand how even the shortest of trips can tick days, months, or even years off the life of your car. The stop-and-go aspect of heavy traffic congestion can take a real toll on your car’s transmission and braking system, and even those trips a couple blocks down the road can take the charge out of your battery and cause rust to develop in your exhaust system. Doing all you can to get the most of your vehicular investment includes giving it a break every now and then. That, of course, can be done by cycling to work, to the pharmacy, or even to the movies. Not only will you be able to keep your car in top shape, you’ll save money on gas, and you’ll probably shave some time off your work commute if you usually sit in heavy traffic.

3. Good for your planet

If you know nothing else about the whole green initiative you probably know that one of the best things you can do to “go green” is reduce your carbon output. Well, cars put out a lot of carbon when they’re doing what they do best (i.e., going somewhere). The hybrid version of my car, a 2008 Nissan Altima, puts out 5.4 tons of carbon a year. I don’t know about you but that seems like a lot (by my calculations that’s nearly 30 pounds a day). Although I can’t find a solid number for the carbon output of you on your bike I can guarantee you put out less than 30 pounds of carbon cycling to and from work in one day.

Okay, so now that we’ve established some of the benefits you can get from cycling to work, how do you go about it? If you’ve never done it before, below are 10 steps for how to safely ride to work from the Sacramento Transportation Management Association.

1. Get your bike tuned up and checked out if it’s been awhile since you’ve ridden it.

2. Plan your route by using tools such as Google Maps. At the bottom of this post I’ve included a great (soundless) tutorial on Vimeo for how to plan a safe bike route using Google Maps.

3. If you don’t want to bike the entire way, cycle to your nearest bus or rail stop, then store your bike or take it on board.

4. Get your co-workers in on the movement and bike with a buddy. Riding with a friend can often be safer and it’s usually more fun, too!

5. Drive your route before you ride it. When you drive your route pay attention to things like the width of the lanes, if bike lanes are available, and the general flow of traffic.

6. Make sure you know the rules of the road and how cycling fits into the picture.

7. Make sure to have all the right equipment, including a helmet, bike reflectors, and a water bottle.

8. Assess your fitness level before taking on this endeavor. If you’ve been out of the exercise game for awhile, see your physician before you ride.

9. Talk to your employer about benefits, the availability of showers, changing facilities, and bike storage.

10. Go for it! If you live within 10 miles of your workplace it’ll probably take you about the same amount of time to bike to work as it would if you’d driven.

Also, remember to eat before your ride, pump up your tires, and give yourself an early start so you’ve got a little extra time. Below are some links to great online resources that’ll help you get cycling next week, including that Google Maps tutorial I’d mentioned. Have a great ride!

Planning a Bike Route w/ Google Maps
Official Site of National Bike to Work Week
Advice from Wired for Last Year’s National Bike to Work Day (just because it’s a year old doesn’t mean it’s not applicable)
Great Tips from TreeHugger About Freshening Up After Your Ride