Things You'll Need:
- Commuter bicycle
- Bicycle helmet and other protective gear
- Bicycle education course (optional)
- Cycling club membership (optional)
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Step 1
Commute more efficiently than walking and driving. Riding a bike 1 mile uses less energy than walking the same mile. A cyclist can travel 3 miles on 100 calories. A bicycle can weave through congested traffic and park in a bike rack that is usually much closer to a building's entrance than the parking lot.
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Step 2
Save money in a variety of ways, including gas, parking, car maintenance and transit fares. Bicycle commuting can eliminate the need for your second car (or even your primary car), which will reduce your maintenance, insurance and licensing costs.
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Step 3
Live longer and be healthier due to a more active lifestyle. Bicycling serves as both an aerobic and strength-training exercise. Aerobic exercise improves cardiovascular health while reducing risk of heart attack, high blood pressure and stroke. Strength training builds muscle and increases metabolism, which are two benefits that will help you burn more fat.
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Step 4
Contribute to a cleaner environment. Automobiles are the largest source of air pollution in the United States. Bicycle commuting translates to fewer pollutants in the air, including benzene, cyanide, lead, carbon monoxide, CFCs and sulfates. You can prevent 15 pounds of automobile air pollution in a 4-mile round-trip commute by riding your bike instead of driving a car. Taking shorter trips by bicycle instead of a car will eliminate 3.6 pounds of auto pollutants for each mile.
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Step 5
Ride safely by making yourself visible, wearing protective gear and maintaining your bicycle. Bright clothes improve your visibility during the day. At night, reflectors help drivers see you. A well-fitting helmet has saved many cyclists' lives. Neglecting your bike's maintenance could lead to a breakdown or a crash. Test the brakes and properly inflate the tires.
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Step 6
Follow the same traffic rules as automobiles. Ride in the same direction of traffic and stay off the sidewalk. Use hand signals to warn drivers before you turn or stop. Use the driving lane when there is no bicycle lane and move into the left side to encourage drivers to use another lane to pass you. When there is no second lane, wait in a safer area to let cars pass, for example, an intersection or wider stretch of road.
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Step 7
Get advice and recommendations from experienced cyclists by taking a bicycle education course or joining a cycling club. Learn from others' bicycle commuting mistakes to avoid making them yourself.
