Tips and times for aspiring bicycle commuters

By Joanne Gullyes, Flagstaff Resident

Last month I reviewed the many reasons why bicycling to work is a good idea.  At this point many excuses are probably going through your mind as to why commuting by bicycle isn't for you. Believe me it can work and be enjoyable. To help you get started, I'd like to explore some of the problems that you may encounter and provide you with easy solutions. 

One of the first problems encountered is having enough time to ride to work. I timed a few rides by bicycle to see exactly how long it takes to get around Flagstaff.  I obeyed all traffic laws and took side roads or trails whenever possible.  I work your basic 9 to 5 job; so most rides were done during the week during rush-hour traffic. 

I am not a fast cyclist and ride at a fairly steady, easy pace. You can see by my times that the shorter distances may take about the same amount of time, or less than riding in a car, depending on traffic congestion. If your commute is fairly long, time and distance can be a problem. I like to limit a bike commute to around ten miles. Longer than that, time can be a factor, especially if you have a family.

When I lived in Oregon, my commute one way was 25 miles. For me it was too long to do both ways on a daily basis. To get some riding in during the week I would have my husband drop me off at work in the morning since we usually rode in together, then ride home after work. It was a good way to decompress after a hard day, and also get some exercise.

Plus, I wouldn't have to worry about staying clean since I was just going home. I also knew some people that would drive part way in and ride the rest of the way to work. So even if you live in one of the outlying areas around Flagstaff, there are still ways to get in some exercise and cut down on your time spent in your vehicle.

Excuse number two is one that plagues many office workers and people who work with the public. You have to wear nice clothes and you don't want to be sweaty when you get to work. Clothing can be dealt with in a variety of ways. You can drive once a week to work and bring in clothing for the rest of the week. If  your commute is not too long, you can probably ride to work in your good clothes, just be careful of chain grease.

I take my clothing in every day. I have a pack that fits a change of clothes perfectly, and rolled clothing as opposed to folded tend to stay more wrinkle free. I also keep them in a plastic bag in case I get rained on or run through a puddle. I have done this even with dresses and have looked just fine!

You can shower when you get to work if one is available, but most bicycle commuters I know just do a quick rinse in a sink with a  washcloth or paper towels and are comfortable and socially acceptable. I keep a hair dryer at work to "fluff" the inevitable helmet head.  It takes me about ten minutes to clean up and change.

Getting children to school and daycare is another problem many parents encounter. Children are leading an increasingly sedentary lifestyle, which is part of the reason we are seeing more health problems in our youngsters including obesity, high cholesterol and high blood pressure.  We also have to deal with a hectic schedule with more and more being expected of us every day and little time available to spend with family members. I'm sure Superman would have a hard time keeping up with some of the schedules and expectations we set for ourselves. Cycling with our children to school can help us break away from that hectic lifestyle while providing a wonderful opportunity for conversation and promote exercise at the same time.

If your children are too small to ride by themselves, there are many trailers or seat attachments available. One gentleman I worked with attached a trailer to his recumbent so he could drop his child off at daycare before he came to work. The kids enjoy it and it's an excellent work out for the parent.

One of the best things about moving back to Flagstaff for me was that I knew I would be able to easily get around town by bicycle or walking and be able to leave the car at home. Since moving back to town we have saved ourselves approximately fifty dollars a week in fuel costs alone. I also feel good in knowing that it is a healthier lifestyle for me and for the environment. Flagstaff is a beautiful town and looks even better from the seat of a bicycle.  

Joanne Gullyes returned to Flagstaff from Oregon about a year and a half ago. She relies heavily on her bicycle for transportation. She works at the Fronske Health Center at Northern Arizona University.