FIT CITY

Geared up for work

Want to bike to the office? Get the right equipment and map out a safe route.

By Pamela LeBlanc
AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF
Monday, June 30, 2008

It sounds easy enough. With gas at $4 a gallon, you'll give up your car and bike to work.

But how tough is it to pedal to the office? What kind of gear and skills do you need to do it? Is it really worth it?

That depends largely on the route. I live eight miles from my office, and most of my commute is along the Shoal Creek hike-and-bike trail. For two-thirds of the ride, I don't have to worry about car traffic. My husband, who's pretty handy around a bike frame and crank set, built my commuter bike from parts and outfitted it with a rack and removable bag, lights, blinkies and a bell. I don my helmet and neon yellow safety vest once a week — I'd do it more often if I didn't have a schedule packed with far-flung interviews — for the 35-minute cruise downtown.

I'm lucky. Most people face obstacles such as busy roads, high-speed traffic and scarce bike lanes when they're planning a commute. Some don't have showers at the office like I do, and others have too far to travel.

Still, some 1,800 people — about 0.7 percent of Austin workers at that time — commuted to their jobs by bike in 1990, according to U.S. Census data. By 2000, that number had increased to 3,280 — about 1 percent of the city's labor force. That number was 3.3 percent in the central part of the city. And in the past six months, I've seen more people than ever commuting by bike.

Austin easily ranks above other Texas cities. Just 0.1 percent of the Dallas work force and 0.2 percent of the San Antonio work force ride a bike to work, for example. But it's far behind some U.S. cities such as Portland, where 1.8 percent bike to work; Seattle, where 1.9 percent ride; and Eugene, Ore., where an impressive 5.8 percent bike commute.

Those numbers are probably low, too, says city demographer Ryan Robinson. They only count folks who commute more often by bike than any other mode, not those of us who ride just one or two days a week.

Regardless, the City of Austin's Bicycle Plan goal was to have 4 percent of the work force commuting by bike by 2008 and 8 percent (a whopping 35,566 people) by 2015. Robinson expects to see a dramatic jump the next time numbers are calculated. "A big driver is the cost of fuel," he says.

Yellow Bike, a nonprofit community bike shop that provides free education in bicycle repair, has experienced a boom in people coming in to work on their bikes since the cost of gas exploded. Between March and May 2007, when the average price of gas was $2.75 per gallon, Yellow Bike saw an average of 115 visits per week. A year later, when gas had increased to $3.65 per gallon, the shop saw an average of 176 visits per week.

Capital Metro doesn't track the number of riders who put bikes in the racks on the front of its buses, but spokeswoman Misty Whited says they've been fielding more calls about how the racks work and concerns about them being full. All Cap Metro buses except the downtown Dillos can carry two bikes.

Bike commuting has plenty of benefits beyond saving gas costs. Pedaling at only 10 mph, a 140-pound cyclist burns about 400 calories an hour. And it's fun. Instead of fuming in gridlock traffic, you're sprinting down a trail, chatting with other bike commuters, noticing the turtles in the creek. It's eco-friendly, too.

We checked in with some local cyclists who recently started commuting to work by bike to see how they made it work.

Tom Forshee

Director of sustainability and project operations for Site Stuff

Age: 41

Trip distance: 8.5 miles each way

Time: 32 minutes morning; 45 minutes evening

Time difference between biking and driving: 12 minutes longer to bike

How long bike commuting:About three weeks

Route:Steiner Ranch to office at U.S. 183 at Oak Knoll Drive; drives first few miles to get across RM 620/RM 2222 intersection, parks at a shopping center there and bikes rest of way.

How often: Three days a week.

Shower facility at work: Yes

Bike: Used road bike purchased for $700 on craigslist.org

Challenges:Hot southerly winds, crossing RM 2222, fitting everything in a backpack. 'One day I was riding on the right and there was an SUV parked in the road. As I went around it, a big truck went by me and its rear-view mirror came within inches of me.'

Pluses: Chatting with other bike commuters along the way — 'You can't do that in a car!'

Reason to commute:More exercise, gas prices, and as director of sustainability at the office, doing his part

Estimated gas savings:$100 a month

Tip:'I'm not as afraid of vehicles as some people might be. It doesn't bother me. You've just got to think like a car.'

J.T. Ellis

Database programmer at IBM

Age: 39

Trip distance: 10 miles each way

Time:30 minutes

Time difference between biking and driving:15 minutes longer to bike

How long bike commuting:Two months

Route:Avery Ranch to IBM, just behind the Domain shopping center

How often:Four or five days a week

Shower facility at work:'No. I bring in fresh towels and wash clothes every week and use an empty office to clean up and change clothes.'

Bike: Road bike with rack, panniers and lights

Challenges: Auto traffic, primarily on Duval Road, where there's no shoulder or bike lane

Pluses:Hasn't bought gas for a month, squeezing in a workout when he used to be driving to work, losing 8 pounds

Reason to commute: More bike time, gas prices

Estimated gas savings: $30 a month

Tip: 'Austin Cycling Association offers a Street Cycling Class.'

Larissa Sirmon

Accounts receivable analyst at SiteStuff

Age: 31

Trip distance: 3 miles

Time: 20 minutes. 'Today was first time ever, it wasn't so bad.'

Time difference between biking and driving: 15 minutes longer by bike

How long commuting:One day

Route:Whispering Valley Drive to office at U.S. 183 and Oak Knoll Drive

How often:Probably 2 or 3 times a week

Shower facility at work: Yes

Bike:Beach cruiser with a basket to carry stuff

Challenges:The timing, no bike lane on feeder road of U.S. 183, just getting on the bike and doing it

Pluses: 'Time to wake up and see the neighborhood, knowing I'm going to shed some pounds.'

Reason to commute:'Gas. Every time I turn around, I'm filling up. I'm also trying to get back in shape.'

Estimated gas savings: $30-$40 a month

Tip:'Stretch. I didn't stretch when I got on and when I got here my legs felt like Jell-O.'

Choose the right bike for your route

The first thing you need if you're going to ride to work is a bike. The second thing is a plan. A little research and a visit to one of Austin's many bike shops should be your first steps on the road to commuting.

The best commuters aren't always fast, thin-tired racers; they're sturdy bikes with racks, panniers, beefier tires and a comfy seat. A hybrid or cyclo-cross bike is a good choice. If you're on a trail the whole time, you might even prefer an inexpensive mountain bike. If your route is very short and through neighborhood streets, maybe a fun (but heavy!) cruiser bike like an Electra would work. The biggest challenge for most people is finding a safe route. At Bicycle Sport Shop, 517 S. Lamar Blvd., customers can sit down at no cost with a staffer who will help you map out a feasible cycling route from your home to work. For a fee (starting at $65), the shop will send a Street Cycling-certified employee to your home to ride with you the first time you make the commute.

The next biggest problem? Cleaning up. Not every workplace is equipped with showers. If you don't have access to one, try wiping down with a little water and alcohol or baby wipes.

You'll need something to carry your stuff in. Options include a rack with a removable "trunk," panniers that clip on a rear rack or a backpack.

As for clothing, the more wicking power it has, the better. Don't wear cotton T-shirts; they'll be soaked in sweat 10 minutes into your route. If you're riding at night, Bicycle Sport Shop recommends two red lights in back — one solid red and one flashing — plus a white light attached to your helmet or front handlebars. Other items? Reflective strips for your helmet or bike, a water bottle, a flat tire kit, a good U-lock, a bell and maybe a safety vest.

Sales of accessories such as panniers, bags, racks, bells and lights are up about 20 percent at Bicycle Sport Shop this year, says Chris Carter, marketing/promotions manager. Sales of hybrid bikes for commuting have surpassed sales of mountain bikes, which used to be the store's biggest sellers.

"It's one less car, it lowers your carbon footprint — all that stuff we've been hearing about," says Carter, who bikes 21 miles to work. "I think it's invigorating. It completely changes your mind-set going into the day. You're awake, productive, and you just did something good for yourself."

The store is even running an in-house commuting competition to encourage employees to ride to work. Teams with names like Magnificent Wheels of Destiny count miles, earn points and talk trash. So far, about 50 participants have logged nearly 8,500 miles since the contest started May 5. "The parking lot definitely is a lot emptier," Carter says.

At Mellow Johnny's, Lance Armstrong's new bike shop at 400 Nueces St., commuters can take a shower (towel provided) and store their bike for $1 a day. A punch card system and commuter club is in the works, too. And the first Friday of every month, the shop provides free coffee to bike commuters between 7 and 9 a.m. So far, about a dozen regulars have used the service, says employee Eileen Schaubert.

Once you're on the road, be aware that many motorists are not aware of cyclists' rights. Likewise, some cyclists disregard traffic laws.

The key is respect — on both sides.

Commuting tips

• If you haven't ridden your bike in a while, have a bike shop mechanic inspect it.
• You might want to consult with your physician to make sure you're fit enough to ride.
• Design a route by looking at the city's bicycle route map. Remember, the shortest route might not be the safest or most enjoyable.
• Wear a helmet.
• Do a test run. Drive the route and look for things such as wide lanes and traffic flow. Then do a test ride on your bike on a weekend prior to riding on a busy weekday.
• Know how to fix a flat. Consider getting puncture-resistant tires and tubes. Carry a pump, tire levers, spare tube and patch kit.
• Use a bell to announce yourself to other cyclists and pedestrians.
• Get a rack, panniers, a seat bag, backpacks or messenger bag to haul your stuff.
• Roll your clothes, don't stuff them, to prevent wrinkles. Or leave one or several changes of clothes at work.
• Install fenders to keep you clean if it's wet or muddy.
• Always lock your bike to an immovable object.
• Find a buddy to ride with. It's safer and more fun.
• Reflectors and lights are required in Texas when it's dark. Wear brightly colored or reflective clothing.
• Cyclists have the same rights and responsibilities as motorists. Ride with, never against, traffic. Stop at stop signs and lights, signal your turns and stay in control.
• If bike paths or bike lanes don't exist, assert your position in the middle of the lane. Drivers will be less inclined to try to squeeze past and endanger you. This practice is legal and safe; drivers passing within inches of cyclists, however, are not.
• Assume that drivers can't see you. Constantly scan for motorists. Be prepared for unpredictable actions.
• Ride at least 3 feet to the left of parked cars. Use utmost caution at intersections.
• Try pingponging. If your commute is long, drive in one morning, bike home that afternoon, and pedal in the next morning.

Sources: Bicycle Sport Shop and California Bike Commute

Beginners ride

The Austin Flyers and Bicycle Sport Shop offer an instructional entry-level road ride at 8 a.m. the last Saturday of each month at the Veloway. For more information, go to austinflyers.com.

Route map

For an official City of Austin Bicycle Route Map, go to www.ci.austin.tx.us/bicycle/downloads/bicycle%20map_07.pdf or mail a check for $2 payable to the City of Austin to: City of Austin Bicycle and Pedestrian Program, P.O. Box 1088, Austin TX 78767.

Street cycling classes

The Austin Cycling Association offers a Street Cycling class to help adults improve biking and commuting skills. The two-day class includes a 5 to 9 p.m. Friday classroom session at REI's north or downtown location and an 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on-bike session that starts at Cafe Mundi, 1704 E. Fifth St. Cost is $65. Register at www.austincycling.org. The class is held monthly; the next one starts July 25.