Cycle Your Way to Work - It May Be Easier Than You Think!
With bike racks on buses, bike lanes on streets, bike lockers at SkyTrain stations and a growing bike-friendly culture to support you, cycling to work can be a great option.
If your commute is 5 km or shorter, you'll get there faster by cycling than by taking the car.
Benefits of Cycling to Work
Cycling is an outstanding form of exercise with even the shortest ride yielding health benefits. But there are other great reasons why cycling can be a good choice for commuting:
- Start your day with an endorphin high.
- If you work in an office, the physical activity will help counteract the strain of working at a desk.
- If your commute is 5 km or shorter, you'll get there faster by cycling than by taking the car.
- Even if you're cycling on the same road as cars, the air you're breathing is typically less polluted than inside those cars.
- For every hour of cycling, you'll burn approximately 300 calories. If you do this just once a week, you'll burn 15,600 calories in one year, which is 4.5 pounds.
How to Integrate Cycling into Your Commute
If you're thinking about making the two-wheeled trek to work, keep these things in mind:
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Safety - If you are unsure of your abilities, consider taking a cycling skills course before hitting the streets. Sponsored by TravelSmart, the Vancouver Area Cycling Coalition offers courses to get you ready to cycle to work.
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Route - Plan your route by checking out one of the many online cycling map planners that help plot your best course. You might even find bike trails along your way, and avoid traffic.
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Comfort - If this is a new exercise regimen, give yourself time to take it slow until you've built up some endurance. Make sure your bike and helmet fits you properly.
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Etiquette - Safety is paramount, and most rules exist to protect everyone:
- On trails, keep to the right if you're a slow rider; pass on the left
- On roads, always ride with traffic, not against it.
- Ride defensively and with a group mentality - assume there are cyclists behind you, taking your cues
- Use hand signals to indicate your intentions when turning or merging.
- A smile and wave go a long way in showing your appreciation to motorists that give you wide berth or extra time.
Cycling and Transit
One of the best ways of integrating cycling into your commute is to combine it with public transit. Take your bike for free on the bus, SkyTrain and SeaBus and for a small fee onto the West Coast Express. Even if you're commuting between Richmond and downtown Vancouver, don't let the tunnel stop you! There's a free shuttle service for cyclists going through the George Massey Tunnel.
If you don't need your bike at the other end of the transit line, there are bike lockers available for rent at most transit stations and exchanges.
Are you one of the many Vancouverites cycling to work each day? Share your experiences or start a conversation with others about this active commuting option by submitting a comment below.