I work to educate, provide information and encourage people to get out of their cars and use public transportation, walk, carpool, rideshare, vanpool, telework and bike to work, among other things. For my own commute, I use the metrorail and bus and occasionally walk. I own a bike and live within an easy biking distance (less than 3 miles) from work but was too timid to attempt the different form of commuting. I enjoy a bike ride with my husband (who is an avid bike commuter) on the weekends or evenings after work, so it wasn’t like I didn’t know how to ride, I was just plain nervous about riding on busy roads in morning rush hour. What if I fell off or got too sweaty? For months my husband asked me to ride to work, even offered to take me along with him on his way to work but I refused, the train was just fine for me. It was the urging of a new coworker, who happened to live on my block, and peer pressure that finally got me onto the saddle and biking to work.
It took about four days of persistence for my coworker to talk me into commuting by bike. I finally worked up the nerve and we decided to meet at 8am the next morning. The night before, I packed up my back-pack in which included a small towel, a full change of clothes for work, my lunch plus snacks, my purse and make-up bag. My coworker, Tim, was already dressed for work in his slacks and dress shirt and only had a teeny, tiny, small backpack with his breakfast and lunch in it. At first, I felt oddly overdressed in my yoga pants and tee shirt with super stuffed backpack but nonetheless, strapped on my helmet, took a deep breath and hit the road.
We are lucky enough to spend the majority of our ride in designated bike lanes. Even with that small comfort, I was still very nervous not only about biking on the streets, but I was sure I would crash into his back tire or worse, a parked car and completely embarrass myself in front of my new colleague. After the first 2 blocks, my nerves calmed a bit. Fifteen minutes later, we walked/rolled into the doors of our office; I had survived!!! My confidence soared, I felt triumphant. I was more energetic and ready to start the work day.
Nine hours later, I was back in the saddle, slowly, and I mean slowly, pedaling up the Rosslyn hill towards Courthouse. Did I mention the ride to work is mainly downhill from Ballston to Rosslyn? Two hills and 18 minutes later, I was home. We decided (and by decided I mean, Tim made me) to meet the next morning and try again. I can’t honestly say that I was looking forward to it; I was still timid but by the end of the second day, I was already looking forward to riding in the next morning. By the end of the week, I was hooked. Not only did I get a little bit of exercise, but I felt more energetic, and saved about 15 minutes on my commuting time. Tim actually doubled his commute time by riding along with me, but hey, eventually I will get faster! I have already shaved off three minutes from my first day.
I have been biking to work for about two weeks now and looking back, I am glad I went outside my comfort zone and tried a new commute option to work. Even though I spend my days urging people to leave their cars at home and try something different for their commute, I understand that is not always an easy decision. It is hard to try something you aren’t familiar with. If you have a friend who bikes to work or takes the bus, ask to tag along so they can show you the ropes. It is worth having the commuting mentor to help you discover new options to get to work or around town. I can now proudly say, thanks to my coworker’s persistence, I am a bike commuter! (Side note: My husband was right. Biking to work is a lot of fun, I do enjoy it and yes, I should have started months ago!)
Diane Kean, Arlington Transportation Partners. Diane lives, works and plays in Arlington County, Virginia using public transportation, walking and now biking to get to work and around town.
You go girl! Welcome to the bike commuting club. Bike commuters are the happiest commuters. Studies show it's true.
Posted by: Steve Offutt | October 07, 2009 at 01:04 AM