Given all the great benefits provided by bike commuting, it's hard to believe that more folks don't take advantage of this great option. Usually, one or more of the following issues provide a road block to your bike commute.

Routing: There are some 200+ miles of major bike trails in the DC area. However, there is also at least 100,000 miles of roads. So unless you are very fortunate, it is unlikely that both your home and your work are adjacent to one of the area bike trail. This means that some on-road riding is usually required along your commute route. This one fact is usually enough to discourage people from starting. Here are some ideas:

  • Before you do anything else, I would recommend you get some kind of mirror for your bike. This helps you keep an eye on overtaking traffic.
  • The best route might not be the most direct route. Adding a mile or two to your commute will only help get you in better shape!
  • Are there any lesser traveled parallel roads to that "busy road" you normally take? There are numerous "cut-through" paths around the metropolitian area which may help you navigate around busier streets by inter-connecting back streets. Look for these around public schools and parks.
  • Do some weekend rides with the area's bike clubs. These rides help give you confidence on the road, and may also help give some routing suggestions.
  • Lookup one of the area's Bike Commuter Assistants. They can often help you choose a good route.
  • In a pinch, you might be able to use a sidewalk or sidepath along busy sections. Maryland and Virginia permit sidewalk riding (banned in DC, except the Mall area). However, make no mistake that riding on the sidewalk or sidepath can be very dangerous. In addition to being a hazard to pedestrians, cyclists on the sidewalk are at great risk of being clobbered at intersections and driveways by turning vehicles. The main problem is that motorists simply do not notice cyclists on the sidewalk, and will mindlessly turn on you. I'm not saying don't ride on sidepaths, however do ride with great caution in these situations.

Space Saving Wall Rack

Bike Parking: Once you get to work, you need a good place to secure your bike. The best location is typically inside your building. This usually keeps it safe from being stolen, and keeps it out of the elements. Many employers will allow you to bring your bike right up to your office. If your office is small, you might be able to hang it from a wall or ceiling to keep it out of the way. If lugging your bike up to your office is not feasible, then perhaps your employer can offer an alternative storage location, such as a small storeroom, parking garage, or wall mount bike racks. Some area jurisdictions offer incentives for employers to provide bike facilities, so you might be able to use this as a "carrot" in order to get some decent parking.

If all else fails, you can always lock the bike to post outside your building. When you do this, make sure the post you use is secured tightly into the ground (some posts will pull right out). Also, use a strong lock and be sure to secure both of your wheels and the frame itself. If thieves can't take your whole bike, then they will take pieces. TIP: If you don't want to carry a heavy lock, then leave it at work.

Showers: After a long commute into work, you're probably going to need a good shower. (Some will argue this is not necessary, however I would need to hear their co-worker's opinion on that subject <grin>). First, check with your employer. Your building might have shower facilities hidden away somewhere. If none are available, check if there are any nearby health clubs. Sometimes you can get a "shower only" membership. Your employer may even be willing to help subsidize this expense.

At work, I keep a complete shower kit (soap, shampoo, towels, brush, etc), so I don't have to lug this stuff back and forth every day.

Clothing: Admittedly, I have it pretty easily. My work does not have a dress code, so I wear very casual clothes (jeans and casual shirt). However, I still need to get this stuff to work. Many commuters will use either a backpack or a messenger bag. Personally, I hate carrying stuff on my back when I ride, so I use a rack mounted over my rear tire. When I am only carrying my clothes to work, I will attach a trunk bag to the top of my rack. However, if I am carrying other items such as lunch or fresh towels, then I will use panniers that attach to the sides of my rack.

If you are only commuting once or twice a week, then you can pre-position clothing at your office. The day before you plan to ride in, simply take in an extra set of clothes.

Weather: Personally, I am a dry weather commuter. If there is a really good chance of a long, steady rain storm, then I will use some other means to get to work. However, as it turns out, this is a very rare occurrence. Most of the rain storms Washington sees are typically of short duration (less than one hour). If rain it threatening, I usually check the online weather radar to determine how to adjust my commute. Leaving a half an hour earlier or later can often solve the problem. Also, public transportation can be used in a pinch if the weather catches you off guard. Metrorail has a bike-on-railpolicy, and some suburban bus systems have bike racks.

If you want to be prepared for "all weather" situations, then you might want to purchase some rain gear. You might also consider getting fenders to minimize road spray effects. However, once winter comes to town there are a whole new set of issues to consider.