Advice for Potential new Bike Commuters

[mwhatley]

Hi everyone,
Next week, I’m giving a short presentation in my office on the advantages, benefits and options for biking to work in celebration of the upcoming bike to work day. I’d love to include some input from the forum here, so my question for you is simple;

If you were to offer up one sentence/piece of advice for people who are interested in biking to work; what would that be?

Some background, the audience for this session will be made up of 20-40 year olds, health conscious who mainly live in DC, some in VA/MD.

Topic

[dasgeh]

It’s not about going fast; it’s about having a great ride and getting their safely. Speed will come, and even when it does, will only save you 5-10 minutes.

[Tim Kelley]

“Try it once. It’s easier than you think.”

[KelOnWheels]

Confident City Cycling classes will make you a confident city cyclist!

[PeteD]

Your bike commutes can sometimes be as quick as your car commutes, unless you make a wrong turn and end up doing a century on the way home.

[Tim Kelley]

“For many people, biking is actually faster than driving, by the time you factor in traffic, parking, and the time you don’t need to spend at the gym.”

[acc]

Try it out on a weekend morning when there is less traffic and with the bike loaded exactly like you were riding to work.

[Tim Kelley]

“My morning bike ride IS my morning cup of coffee!”

[Greenbelt]

Oops, redundant, deleted. What acc said.

[mwhatley]

Thanks everyone – these are great! I honestly worried that we’d all get on our soap box about bicycle rights and all that – great to see such awesome answers.

Will definitely include these (and keep them coming!) – I’ll find a way to post the presentation on here next week.

Cheers!

[83b]

@Tim Kelley 50680 wrote:

“For many people, biking is actually faster than driving, by the time you factor in traffic, parking, and the time you don’t need to spend at the gym.”

For me it’s just plain faster! I’ve timed it and can bike in ~20 minutes hitting the average number of lights, walk + metro in ~35 minutes, and drive in ~35-45 minutes (plus deal with a garage that fills up really early in our building). Also, DC may get hot, but biking is so much nicer than the underground oven the metro stations turn into during the sweltering summer months.

[baiskeli]

Exercise, no traffic, no cost – twice in one day.

[brendan]

@mwhatley 50672 wrote:

If you were to offer up one sentence/piece of advice for people who are interested in biking to work; what would that be?

Via friends, I read this list yesterday. It’s not one sentence/piece of advice, it’s a list of DO’s and DON’Ts…but perhaps it can help?

http://www.peopleforbikes.org/blog/entry/kristin_butchers_guide_to_introducing_new_people_to_bike_riding_without_rui

Update: that list is more geared to leading your perhaps-reluctant friends on rides or getting them to join social rides, but perhaps a few items are useful.

Brendan

[ebubar]

I’ll echo the thought that its easier than you think. As a relatively new commuter it really shocked me how easy it can be. My goal last August was to ride back and forth on my 30 mile round trip at least once for the year. Now I’m up to around 3 times a week, working up to all 5.

I’ll also add my big motivator:

It’s cheaper than metro. Saves me $11 for every round trip. I can bike commute AND bring home cupcakes cheaper and faster than if I take metro.

[mwhatley]

@brendan 50701 wrote:

Via friends, I read this list yesterday. It’s not one sentence/piece of advice, it’s a list of DO’s and DON’Ts…but perhaps it can help?

http://www.peopleforbikes.org/blog/entry/kristin_butchers_guide_to_introducing_new_people_to_bike_riding_without_rui

Update: that list is more geared to leading your perhaps-reluctant friends on rides or getting them to join social rides, but perhaps a few items are useful.

Brendan

Brendan – thanks for the share – this guide is just what I need. Much appreciated!

[mstone]

You, too, can look forward to your commute.

[Author]

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