Overcome Bicycle Commuter Challenges This Summer!

Think of all the ways in which a people currently commute to work. In some cases, we may live close enough to casually walk to work every day, but that’s not commonplace. Typically people drive themselves, take a bus or other public transportation, or carpool to work. What is commonplace, is to commute via some form of automobile that further expands our collective carbon footprint.

In fact, over 150 million Americans commute to work every day by car. That’s almost 90% of the working force. Does 90% of the population really work so far from home that they must drive to work every single day? Or is it really just that much more convenient to drive a couple of miles rather than walking or riding a bicycle?

In my hometown of Boise, Idaho the month of May is dedicated to alternatives to typical commuting. May in Motion celebrates alternative transportation such as walking or bike riding. It allows those who have signed up to log their daily trips to work and keep a running total of their green commuting.

I wrote about commuting to work on bicycle last May, and have ridden my bike to work a significant portion of the past several years of my life. Through my trials and tribulations of commuting on bicycle, I’ve experienced events that have been frustrating to say the least. I’ve learned from these errors, so you don’t have to. The following tips will help you stray away from the inconveniences and challenges of bicycle commuting, and allow you to enjoy the simple beauty of riding a bike this summer.

Craft Your Unique Path

Routing takes careful planning, be sure that you are very comfortable with your commute before you ride to work to avoid confusion variables that may make you late. Try to route your trip so that you are taking the safest path. Avoid heavily congested main roads, and opt for less busy side streets.

If you are taking a greenbelt to work, be sure you are very comfortable with the path you’re taking. It’s also worth your time to check the status of the greenbelts in your city and double check if there are any parts that are scheduled or are currently under construction.

I didn’t think this would affect me, but it certainly has. My current bicycle commute is mainly greenbelts and due to some much needed renovation, my 3 mile ride is detoured and is actually almost twice as long now.

Create A Bicycle Commuter’s Tool Kit

It’s important to always be prepared for the worst on a bicycle trip. Flat tires and other mechanical slip ups do happen, especially on long rides. I keep all of the following items in my backback and saddle bag on my bicycle:

-portable pump
-tire levers
-bicycle tool, with allen wrenches
-small patch kit
-spare tube(s)
-gloves (changing tubes makes your hands very dirty)
-extra batteries for your lights

For long commutes, consider buying panniers (side bags) for your bicycle. This will take strain off your back as you won’t have to wear a heavy backpack while riding. It’s also a smart idea to keep rain gear in these bags--you never know when you’ll encounter a surprise rain storm!

Check the Status of Your Tires

Okay, this one might seem like it’s blatantly obvious, but keeping the quality of your tires in check is crucially important. I ride on a rough green belts near my home all the time and have even gotten contact flats when my tires start getting worn out.

Before you ride, always make sure there is enough air in your tires. Both tires should be solid, and depending on your weight and the type of bike you ride, the air pressure of your tires should be between 60-100 psi. Every couple weeks or after riding through any questionable terrain it’s important to check tires for wear and flat spots.

Buy a Comfortable Helmet

While riding a bicycle is exciting and enjoyable there is a serious side to bicycle commuting. The more you ride your bike, the more likely you are to be involved in a wreck or crash resulting in a head injury. Buy a helmet that actually fits and that is comfortable. Any employee at a bike or consignment shop will be able to help you size up for a helmet if you aren’t sure how to.

I went for almost a year without wearing a helmet. All it took was one serious accident for me to change my opinion forever. A few years ago I was hit by a car while riding my bicycle to work. A car hit me that was only traveling about 20 mph.

Fortunately, I didn’t sustain any serious injuries, but I was beyond lucky because I was not wearing a helmet at the time. This was a wake up call for me, since I was riding safely when I was hit by a car.

The Injury Prevention & Control section of the CDC website points out that:

“In 2013 in the U.S., over 900 bicyclists were killed and there were an estimated 494,000 emergency department visits due to bicycle-related injuries.”

I was extremely fortunate that I wasn’t included in part of that statistic.

Overall, realize that preparation is your best friend when it comes to bicycle commuting. There's an overarching theme: be ready for the worst and you’ll be able to commute through anything!