Starting to Bike Commute?

Section of new highway in the Back Bay, Boston, Mass., Boston Public Library

Winter is finally over. Bostonians have put away their snow shovels and Canada Goose coats for good and broken out their Toms and shorts. Anytime the temperature rise to the middling 50s and the sun shows up, people spill out onto the sidewalks, by the Charles River, and in the Public Gardens for a healthy dose of Vitamin D. The bike lanes, populated over the winter by a few hardy slash masochistic souls, have filled up with bicyclists. As they pedal with glee over their freedom from the soul-sucking MBTA wait times, you might watch them and start asking yourself, "Hey, could I do that too?"

Springtime is a great time of year to embark on new pursuits and passions. And biking to work is one hobby that I've had many friends tell me that they would love to try out. Except... fill in the blank here. They're not sure they can do it. They're afraid of biking in crazy city traffic (a healthy fear to have, I might add). They're not sure how to get started.

If you want to get started biking to work, here is a short checklist that will help you create a game plan.

How's your equipment? 

Make sure you have all the essentials. Bicycle (duh) in good condition. Check that the tires are pumped to the right pressure, that you can change gears smoothly, and that the brakes work. Get it tuned up at your local bike shop if need be. Safety gear: helmet, lights, locks.

What's your route? 

Go to Google Maps, punch in your start and end points and select bicycle as mode of transportation. You'll be able to even see what bike paths are nearby and what roads are considered "bike friendly." When I first started biking to work, I stayed safe and stuck to bicycle trails when I could, even though it made the commute longer. Once I got more comfortable biking on city streets, I changed my route to a shorter, faster one. Do a practice run on the weekend before you bike it for real to get a sense for how long it will take you.

Where will you will be parking your bike?

Whether it's in a parking garage, on the street, or in your office, check where you'll be keeping your bike while you're at work. Especially if you're parking on the street, make sure you are locking your bike as securely as possible.

How will the weather affect your wardrobe changes?

Unless you have an incredibly short bike ride to work or you just don't sweat, you will probably be needing to change clothes once you get to the office. If you're lucky and can shower and change at a gym or your office has showers, then you're pretty much all set. However if all you have is one of the bathroom stalls at work, you can still make it work, even if it means resorting to using paper towels and/or wet wipes. Whatever it takes to not be sweaty or smelly. Your co-workers will thank you.


This is just a short list of things to keep in mind when biking to work. Hope you find it helpful!