I had occasion in social situation to speak with a few people about bicycle commuting yesterday. There are some questions I can count on, so I have answers ready.
1. What if the weather is bad; what if it’s raining? Wear the right gear. It’s really not a big deal. But bicycle commuting is not all-or-nothing. If you don’t like the weather, then drive your car. Being a fair-weather bicycle commuter still pays big rewards. Just one trip per week on a bicycle instead of a car pays big rewards.
2. Don’t you get all sweaty? No. You don’t have to go fast. You don’t have to push it. Bicycle commuting isn’t a race. It’s not all-or-nothing. I find bicycle commuting relaxing and pleasant. It’s quality time. Granted, if the weather is in the 90s and humid, you’ll sweat doing just about anything. But, really, it’s not a big deal.
3. Isn’t it hard to do? No. It’s as easy as, well, riding a bicycle. You just get on and ride. Follow the traffic rules. But, really, peddling a bicycle is not a particularly strenuous or challenging activity unless you live in an area with a lot of hills or busy traffic. It’s not an all-or-nothing proposition. Ride short distances to the store, or school, or a neighbor’s house. Pick quiet routes through neighborhoods. Build your strength and confidence. Don’t try for everything all at once.
4. What do I do if I live far from work? Bicycle commuting is not all-or-nothing. Some people do live too far from work to comfortably commute by bicycle. Yes, there are a few who manage long commutes, but they are truly committed and generally have the equipment and skills necessary for the task. But you can still integrate active transportation into your life by drawing a 1-mile circle around your home. Just commit to eliminating one car trip per week in that circle. Walk or bike instead.
Comments 5
You know it’s interesting. I think we all adopt an all-or-nothing attitude much of the time.
Good post! Good points!
Posted 23 Nov 2008 at 8:00 pm ¶I am the perfect example of what I call “partial commuting”. On Tue-Thurs I can’t ride from my home because of my daughter’s schedule. She gets off the bus at a friends house on those days. The friend lives 2 miles from our house so I park at their house and ride to work. I ride back to their house in the evening pick up my daughter and I drive home. I only drive 4 miles total on those days and ride 14 miles. It’s a win win for me.
Posted 23 Nov 2008 at 9:26 pm ¶And of course this partial idea is exactly how people behave over here.
Being a cyclist in the Netherlands is not a political act. People ride because it’s the most convenient way of making their journey.
When for some journeys it’s not the most convenient way, they take some other means of transport.
Clearly when the weather is horrible you get fewer bikes than when it’s a lovely summer day.
However, the environment has been made such that cycling is really attractive very very often. The result is that whatever the weather, for everyone in this city whatever their age or sex, each person makes an average of 1.2 cycle journeys a day right through the year.
If cycling is really pleasant people will choose to do it. Carrots work better than sticks.
Posted 26 Nov 2008 at 1:16 am ¶David… I think the all-or-nothing attitude is pervasive here mostly as a defense mechanism against change.
Posted 26 Nov 2008 at 8:09 am ¶I know I am commenting almost a year later, but thanks for this. I always feel guilty when I don’t ride. But lately- I’ve been working on cutting myself a break and just take each day as it comes. This ends up making me feel less “bad” and simply looking to the next time I can be on my bike and enjoy it for what it is. Like today- two camps one mile apart, two kids and a huge main street and steep hills to cross and oh- drop off and pick up times are at the same time. I just didn’t have it in me to feel rushed for each child. After camp was all done and we were back home- 3 yr old needed a haircut. We all piled in and on the bike and biked the mile to the barbers. Biked back and voila!
So thank you for validating what I can do.
Posted 30 Jun 2009 at 6:56 pm ¶