Friday, May 21, 2004 is Bike to Work Day!

Get together with your friends from the office and ride to work! Healthy Communities sponsors Henry County's Bike to Work Day on May 21, 2004. Read on to find out how you can join thousands of others in making a positive, healthy effort to try commuting to work on a bike.

Keep a log of those from your office who ride to work this week (download a sample)! We'll even pick up the log, so we can see how many people in Henry County biked to work. 

Why Bicycle Commute to Work?

• It saves you money. Gas prices are at record highs. Cars are expensive to buy and to maintain. But a bike frees you from all of that, allowing you operate at your own pace both financially and physically.
• It's good for you. Riding a bike to work gives you exercise yet allows you to ride at a pace you're comfortable with. The mental and physical stimulation that comes from a little exercise relieves stress and increases blood flow, creating positive effects that last even after your morning and evening rides are over. Plus, your doctor will likely be thrilled that you decided to incorporate exercise into your daily routine.
• It's good for the environment (the planet, your city -- even your kids). Reducing your dependency on your car means reducing the amount of greenhouse gases it creates. But that's just the start; it also reduces the chemicals dripped on the roads and parking lots, the gasoline that has to be burned, and the amount of oil you have to change periodically. Finally, biking is incredibly efficient -- much more so than a car -- so you don't waste as many resources when you bike.
• It's good for your employer. By bike commuting, employees actually lessen the likelihood that they will develop diseases associated with a sedentary lifestyle. Those two small commuting trips a day could translate into thousands saved by your employer in insurance premiums.

Even though you think you can't, you can!

Many people think bicycle commuting is a good idea on paper, but that it won't work for them because of issues with scheduling, hygeine, or lack of proper equipment. Fortunately, all these can be overcome through proper planning and a commitment to sticking with your decision to commute through the initial transition stages -- the time when commuting can be most difficult.

For instance, biking to work every day is an ideal that many people -- even regular bike commuters -- can't attain. It's more realistic to start off riding to work on days you know you don't have anything special happening. Over time, you can begin to structure your schedule to increase the days you cycle to work.

Hygeine concerns, or worry about getting sweaty just before work, is another common barrier people perceive. But with a little forethought, you can integrate cycling with work without much extra fuss. Unless you have an exceptionally long commute -- greater than three or four miles -- it's not likely that you'll be too sweaty as long as you ride at a pace your body can easily handle. But if you do get too hot along the way, a small kit with baby wipes and any other essentials you need to clean up quickly before starting work is all that's necessary. The best method is to change clothes when you get to work, so that you ride in clothes you wouldn't mind perspiring in and then change after you arrive. For more information, see this article on Work Clothing and Bicycle Commuting.

Proper equipment, though necessary, doesn't necessarily translate into expensive equipment. Any mechanically sound bike will do, though a bike with more than one speed might be more useful if your route to work has hills. Panniers, or bags that hang on the sides of your bike, are useful for carrying clothes and other items, but aren't necessary. Many use a simple backpack or a rack on the front of their bike to carry extra loads. Lights are necessary if you intend to ride while it's dark. (Reflectors aren't enough!) To round out the commuting package, be sure to use comfortable, light clothes that won't get caught on your bike while you ride. A helmet isn't mandatory, but it could save your life!

Prepare to Ride Your Bike to Work

Gearing up to ride your bike to work isn’t as difficult as many people think. To prepare for the first time, Keith Hood, long-time bicyclist, recommends the following:

1. Plan your ride a day or so in advance. Figure out the route, time, etc. 
2. Check for a place to securely park your bike for the day. 
3. Check your bike: tires, chain, seat height, etc. Safety is of utmost importance. A single speed bike is fine for commuting. 
4. Get someone to ride with (it can be more fun and easier with a friend along)
5. Think about the reasons you wouldn’t ride and plan around them. (e.g. No place to shower at work. Commuting is different from fitness cycling; it needn’t be a sweaty affair.)

National Bike to Work Day

View some pictures of people who participated in our May 2003 Bike to Work Day (230K- JPG)

Links to Bike Commuting-Related Sites

Bicycle commuter safety.

An Indianapolis bike shop's guide to commuting.

A site for commuting in the wintertime.

If you have questions, contact Healthy Communities: bike@hchcin.org.

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