Overcoming concerns around active commuting
- Start at an easy, comfortable pace and take as many breaks as you need.
- Ride your route on a weekend to find the easiest way to work
- Consider an e-bike (including commercial bike sharing programs)
- Bike part of the way and use transit for the rest
- Your endurance will build over time!
- There are over 11,500 bike parking spaces on campus
- Want a more secure option? View bike lockers and shelters
- Let our Bike Center know that you are commuting and have them tune up your bike
- If you can’t maintain your bike yourself, identify bike shops near your route
- Make sure that your bike is reliable and in good working order before you start riding
- Keep multiple sets of clothing at work; rotate them on days you drive
- Have work clothes cleaned at nearby laundromats or dry cleaners
- Pack clothes with you and change at work; try rolling clothes instead of folding
- Join a bike group to bike with others
- Obey traffic signs, ride on the right, signal turns, and stop at lights
- Plan a route ahead of time to utilize low-stress bike networks and protected bike lanes
- Wear a helmet every time you ride
- People who use active commuting or public transit at least three days per week are eligible for Metro Transit's Guaranteed Ride Home program.
- The program will reimburse you up to $100 in value or four times per year if you need to call a rideshare service to get home due to an emergency.
- You must be registered for this program before you need it–so register soon!
- The average commuter travels at 10 mph (and faster by e-bike)–the more you ride, the faster you will get
- Trips of less than three miles will be quicker by bike than by car
- Trips of five to seven miles in the city usually take the same time or less as by a car
- Try riding to work and taking public transit home, then alternating the next day
- Combine riding and mass transit to shorten your commute
- Ride to a coworker’s house and carpool to work
- Most commuters don’t shower at work; ride at an easy pace to stay cool and dry
- Ride home at a fast pace if you want a workout; shower when you get there
- Become a Bike Center member for access to showers on campus
- Fenders for your bike and rain gear for your body will keep you dry
- If you are at work, take transit or carpool to get home; ride home the next day
- Take transit or drive if you don’t have the gear to ride comfortably in the rain
- Add accessories like a cargo rack, basket, or handlebar bag to add carrying capacity
- Make sure that you have a lock to secure your bike while you are in a building
- Allow extra time to get to scheduled appointments and find parking
- Use a commercial bike or scooter for quick stops
Thank you to the League of American Bicyclists for tips for overcoming concerns listed above.