In my decade of working life I have never lived closer than
20 miles to work. I started out over 40 miles away with my first job while
living in San Marcos. Now I live about 3 miles away from my office. I can get
there in 10 minutes! So what do I do? I go and make my commute almost as long
as when I was 20 miles away by deciding to commute by bike.
First I had to get a bike. I had a nice bike when I was in
college back in San Marcos which was stolen off our front porch (they cut the
chain). Then, I had my niece’s old bike which had brake issues so I
intentionally left it unlocked at work to be stolen/taken. I followed that up
with my co-worker’s daughter’s old bike. That bike got me to and from college
classes at ACC for 2 years. It was removed after sitting idle for several years
locked up at work. I was not heartbroken because it was nothing fancy and
pretty well worn out (starting to rust). So, I was bike-less as of last weekend
and really wanted to get started on bike commuting before I got completely
spoiled by a 10 minute drive. Most cheap bikes from big box stores are foreign
made. They also seem to be worth about what you paid for them. Bike shops in
Austin are very proud of their merchandise and both their new and used stock
are priced such that you understand why they offer payment plans. Ultimately, I
found a bike for $30 on Craig’s List. The bike seemed practically new and was
just what I needed. I took a safety buddy to pick it up and have been bike
commuting since then.
First off, I am pretty happy with the whole bike commuting
experience. I can get exercise and save money while fulfilling a need. Here are
some of my suggestions if you want to get into bike commuting. Although I’ve
only been bike commuting a grand total of 3 days, I have quite a bit of
experience with urban bike riding from my college days.
1)
If you live within 5 miles of work and can get
there without getting on a highway or major thoroughfare, give bike commuting some
consideration.
2)
Buy a cheap used bike to start out. You can
always upgrade later. First off, a cheap bike will probably be a tougher
workout since they aren’t built for speed. Second, it will be less of a target
for theft. Third, it will be easier to tune up yourself. Cheap equals simple
and simple is good when you are starting out.
3)
Take it easy. Don’t try to get there quickly. It
is not a race. Don’t be embarrassed to get off and walk up a steep hill (there
is one hill toward the end of my ride home that I so far refuse to ride up).
4)
Take a route through neighborhoods. It seems
safer. People drive slower, are looking for obstacles like kids, dogs, and
bikes. They are also probably less likely to be texting and driving as there
are too many obstacles such as parked cars, speed bumps, and traffic calming
islands to take their eyes off the road.
5)
Be aware of your surroundings at all times. Slow
down at intersections and parking lot entrances/exits even if you technically
have the right of way. Cars might not see you, so make sure you see them.
6)
Wear a helmet (duh!).
7)
All locks can be cut, so just get a decent steel
u-lock and save your money: http://www.lockyourbike.org.uk/how-to-lock-a-bike-guide/
