In many cities, biking to work is a viable alternative to driving a car. Bicycling is a better option than driving in many ways: it is more enjoyable, doesn't involve sitting in traffic, is a great source of exercise, is more environmentally friendly, and is much cheaper than owning and driving a car to work.
If you ever look outside the window at work and wish you could spend just a little time outside each day, biking to work can be a wonderful way to get your daily dose of sunshine. It takes a little bit of planning to find a good route around town, but once you have found one right for you, you will likely never go back to congested freeways and the drone of noisy traffic.
Finding Your Route
If you are new to biking around your town or city, try searching for a bike map on the internet. Simply type “[Your city] bike map” to find relevant search results. There are many websites that provide useful tools for mapping out viable bike routes in cities around the country. Bike maps are different from regular maps because they highlight roads and paths that are ideal for cyclists and point out major obstructions that aren't visible on a regular map, such as steep hills or dividing medians.
There may be many different routes that you could take to work. Try doing a test ride on a nice weekend to see how long it takes you to get to work. If you don't like one route, try another until you find one that suits you. Some cities also have extensive off-road trail routes that may be useful during your commute. It is not recommended to take a road bike on hike and bike trails, but if you have a hybrid or mountain bike, this may be a good option.
Preparing for Different Conditions
Depending on the weather, you may want to be familiar with a few different routes to and from work. Perhaps one route will get muddier than another and should be avoided on rainy days. Alternatively, one route may take longer but be more scenic, which could make for a great ride on nice days when you are not in a hurry. Having a few alternatives allows you to adjust to weather and traffic situations accordingly so that you are always prepared.
Contact Us
If you decide to make the exciting change to bike to work, remember that it is important to always properly secure your bike wherever you may park it. A strong u-lock and cable lock combination, locked to a bike rack, is strongly recommended to provide maximum security.
To speak to a bike lock expert about the lock options that are available to you, please contact A&Js' bike locks today at 708-460-2999.
