Complete this sentence: "I'd like to be a bicycle commuter but ..." Next, watch how easy it is to shoot holes through these excuses. Here are some solutions to problems you may be anticipating.

Excuse List:  [Equipment]  [Dressing for Work]  [Showering]  [Bike Theft]  [Rush-Hour Danger]  [Losing Sleep]  [Long Work Hours]  [Foul Weather]  [Too Many Miles]  [Too Few Miles]  [Reaction from Co-Workers]  [A Car Is Necessary]

Equipment
Excuse: I can't afford a special commuter bike.
Solution: You don't need one. Even a racing bike can be fitted with a light alloy rack and a pack big enough to hold a change of clothes. Wearing a small backpack or fannypack is another option. Sure, it's great to have a special all-weather bike with fenders, lights, a front rack, panniers, sturdy wheels, and Kevlar-belted touring tires. But if your commuting will be done only in daylight and rarely in the rain, an inexpensive, used "beater" bike is better than a shiny new one, assuming you maintain it properly. You wont' feel obligated to wash it ever time it gets dirty, and each scratch won't make you nauseous. It also won't be the envy of every bike thief.

Dressing for Work
Excuse: I have to dress well for work and can't stuff my good clothes in panniers.
Solution: Drive to work one day, leave a week's worth of clean clothes, and take the dirty stuff home. Driving also gives you a rest before your longer weekend rides, and it provides a chance to knock off a couple of errands that are accomplished more easily by car. Increase your efficiency by getting in the habit of scheduling personal appointments, shopping, and other sides trips for the day that you take your supply of clean clothes to work.
     If your commute is a short one, simply wear your office clothes. Drivers may even be more careful if you're dressed like a lawyer.

Showering
Excuse: I can't shower at work.
Solution: Store a washcloth, soap, towel, and deodorant in your office. Clean up at the restroom sink or check for a nearby health club, school, or hotel that may provide a locker and shower.

Return to the Excuse List

Bike Theft
Excuse: There's no secure place to park my bike.
Solution: Most buildings have a storage closet or out-of-the-way corner somewhere. If you can't secure your bike behind a locked door or put it where you can see it, fasten it to an immovable object with a stout U-lock. If your boss won't allow your bike in the workplace, find a sympathetic, co-worker who lived nearby, a bike shop, or another place within walking distance. Free storage is ideal, but a few bucks' rent is cheap insurance to make sure your bike will be waiting for the ride home.

Rush-Hour Danger
Excuse: It's not safe to ride in rush-hour traffic.
Solution: Not if your route to work is the Seattle Freeway. But it's usually possible to get from point A to point B on quiet city streets or secondary roads. Scout a route on your bike during the weekend when traffic is light and you can try several alternatives. Or you can do it on the kitchen table using a city map obtained in a bookstore. To commute on a less-congested route you may travel a few extra miles, but the point is to be safe and enjoy your ride. And more miles bring more fitness.
     Unless you're sharing the road with New York City buses and cabs, the fear of riding in traffic is often disproportionate to the actual danger. In stop-and-go traffic, a fit cyclist can usually maintain the same speed as cars, so it's acceptable to ride in the traffic lane instead of hugging the curb where you're less visible. If you don't claim your rightful place on the road, you'll tempt even mild-mannered motorists to squeeze past. Look at it this way ... if they're honking at you, at least they see you.
     To share the road successfully with cars, always ride lawfully, assertively, predictable, and where you're visible. this means riding where motorists expect to see other vehicles. One example illustrates this point exactly: When preparing to make a left turn, don't hug the right shoulder until the last second so you have to dart across lanes of overtaking traffic. Instead, signal your intention and get to the left early. A rearview mirror will help you choose the right moment, but always glance behind to doublecheck. And always wear a helmet.

Losing Sleep
Excuse: I like to sleep. I'd have to get up earlier if I rode my bike.
Solution: Because of traffic, you can usually cycle from home to work in about the same time it takes to drive. If you subtract the time it takes to find a parking spot but add the time to clean up and change clothes, you're still almost equal. Besides, those few extra minutes of sleep aren't nearly as refreshing as a brisk morning ride. You'll arrive at work invigorated. And your evening ride home will leave you relaxes, so you'll sleep more soundly. Quality over quantity.

Return to the Excuse List

Long Work Hours
Excuse: I leave for work early and come home late. I'd have to ride in the dark.
Solution: Wear light-colored, reflective clothing, and attach light and reflectors. Even most thoroughfares won't be busy before and after rush hour, and for some reason drivers tend to be more careful when overtaking a cyclist in the dark. If your route is lined with streetlights that provide ample illumination, aim your headlight at drivers' eye level so oncoming traffic will be sure to notice you. If you ride on unlit rural roads, use a dual-beam headlight so you can switch to high when there's no ambient light.

Foul Weather
Excuse: I don't like riding in the cold/rain/snow.
Solution: Don't. Just because some commuters bare themselves to natures' fury by riding every day doesn't mean you have to. But even if the weather is clement only half the year, that's a lot of has you'll save and fitness you'll build. And who knows, you may start looking forward to your daily rides so much you'll invest in a rainsuit and cold-weather attire. One thing is almost always true: The weather is never as terrible for cycling as it seems through the window of your cozy home or office.

Too Many Miles
Excuse: My commute is too far to ride.
Solution: Tell it to Pete Penseyres, former winner of the Race Across America (RAAM). He commutes at least 30 miles each way when he's training. But if you're that far from work and not up to rising at 6:00 A.M. for a 2-hour ride, consider cycling only partway. Drive within range, park, and pedal the rest. If leaving your car isn't convenient, maybe you can take the bus or train to where your bike is stashed.

Return to the Excuse List

Too Few Miles
Excuse: I live too close to work to make riding worthwhile.
Solution: Take the long way home. Let's say you live 5 miles from the office. When the weather is cold or rainy, that's plenty of riding. But for better days, create routes that extend the ride in or out to 10, 15, or more miles, thus combining training with commuting.

Reaction from Co-Workers
Excuse: People will think I'm weird if I ride a bike to work.
Solution: Actually, those days are past. Your co-workers are much more likely to understand and respect your interest in fitness and protecting the environment. An increasing percentage of motorists will see it this way, too, because more U.S. adults than ever include cycling as one of their recreational activities. Lots more people behind a steering wheel know it isn't strange to be behind a handlebar.

A Car Is Necessary
Excuse: I need my car for work.
Solution: It's tough to shoot holes in this argument. You probably don't want to leave your car at the office, but it's a possibility if you have two. Another idea is to schedule car-related work for certain days and commute by bike on the others. Or, see how realistic it might be to use your bike for work trips instead of your car. If you try, there may be a way to commute by bike one or two days a week, which still adds up to a worthwhile amount of cycling each year.

Return to the Tri-Cities Bike Commuting Page