ENJOY YOUR COMMUTE ON THE TRAIL


Overcoming Bike Commuting Excuses - from the League of American Bicyclists

I'm out of shape

Ride at an easy pace; in a few months you will be in great shape.

Ride your route on a weekend to find the easiest way to work.

You will improve your fitness level when you become a regular bike commuter.

It takes too long

The average commuter travels at 10 mph; the more you ride, the faster you will become.

Trips of less than three miles will be quicker by bike.

Trips of five to seven miles in urban areas may take the same time or less as by car.

It's too far

Try riding to work and taking mass transit home, then alternating the next day.

Combine riding and mass transit to shorten your commute.

Ride to a coworker's house and carpool to work.

No bike parking

Look around for a storage area in your building or office.

Stash your bike in a covered, secure place such as a closet or even your office.

Formally request that your employer provide bike parking or lock it up outside.

My bike is beat up

Tell a reputable bike shop that you are commuting and have them tune up your bike.

If you can't maintain your bike yourself, identify bike shops near your route.

Make sure that your bike is reliable and in good working order before you ride.

No showers

Most commuters don't shower at work; ride at an easy pace to stay cool and dry.

Ride home at a fast pace if you want a workout; shower when you get there.

Health clubs offer showers; get a discounted membership for showers only.

I have to dress up

Keep multiple sets of clothing at work; rotate them on days you drive.

Have work clothes cleaned at nearby laundromats or dry cleaners.

Pack clothes with you and change at work; try rolling clothes instead of folding.

It's raining

Fenders for your bike and raingear for your body will keep you dry.

If you are at work, take transit or carpool to get home; ride home the next day.

Take transit or drive if you don't have the gear to ride comfortably in the rain.

The roads aren't safe

Obey traffic signs, ride on the right, signal turns, and stop at lights.

Wear bright clothing.

You are at no greater risk than driving a car.

Wear a helmet every time you ride.

I have to run errands

Bolt a rack to the back of your bike to add carrying capacity.

Make sure that you have a lock to secure your bike while you are in a building.

Allow extra time to get to scheduled appointments and find parking.

Encourage your employer to provide a bicycle fleet for office use.

For more information on how to make your workplace more bicycle friendly visit www.bikeleague.org



Local Tales of Commuting

Point Marion to Morgantown - I commute at least 2-3 days a week on the Mon River Trail from Point Marion, PA to the Coliseum. It's a beautiful ride where I often spot wildlife and other interesting sights as I cruise along the river. My day just seems to start of right when I arrive at work wide awake and relaxed rather than stressed out from sitting in traffic when I drive. The funny thing is that it only takes me around 10 minutes (or less) longer to bike than drive my car on my 9 mile commute. I save gas, get the healthy benefits of exercise, and have more time to think when I bike. As with any sort of exercise, it gets easier the more you do it and the hardest part is getting out the door to start. To overcome this I always try to get my bike, clothing, etc. for the commute together and ready the night before. We are lucky to have the option to ride the rail trails to work. I often appreciate my situation and know that if I ever move from Morgantown I'm going to miss having such a wonderful two wheeled commute!
-Nathan Kile, Point Marion

Preston to Monongalia County - Biking to work down the Deckers Creek Trail affords me great solace. Knowing that each day that I am able to commute by bicycle it is "one less car" carbonizing our local air. I also look forward to a bit more than an hour down and 11/2 hours back up of exercise. It is a bit of "me" time. My mind is as rejuvenated as is my body from the early morning and late afternoon workouts. Being out on the trail allows me to appreciate the beauty of our local environment and to experience the changing of the seasons. As long as the snow is not too deep, every day is a good day to be on a bike. As a wise old sage once told me, "There is not such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing!"
-Mark Wm. Thorne, Reedsville

Mon River Trail North - Imagine for a moment if you could bracket your day with a commute that was such an enjoyment, it was the highlight of your day. This is true for me, and could be for you, too, if you were able to bike to work on the rail trail. I live on the rail trail, and my office is across the road from the trail, so my commute is almost exclusively on the trail.

On the few days that I have to drive to work, I sit isolated, in my steel box of a car, creeping along in the fumes and frustration of the morning traffic, hardly ever making contact with the other commuters. Nevertheless, the morning car traffic seems to communicate to me surliness and resentfulness; the evening traffic repressed anger and aggression.

By comparison, the morning commute by bike is for me full of the excitement of the new day. Because the trail is next to the river, it's often foggy, and usually very cool. However, even in winter, with clothes that block the wind, and the exercise to warm me up, I'm usually pleasantly warm. During the morning commute I usually see deer, sometimes rabbits, and even occasionally beaver. I always arrive at work invigorated, awake, and, usually, full of enthusiasm.

For the return commute in the evening, the over-arching trees tend to keep the trail cool in summer. In the winter, it's normally dark when I return home. With a strong headlamp, the smooth trail surface, and the lack of any vehicles, I feel perfectly safe. I really enjoy leaving the lights of Morgantown and heading into the dark countryside, often with the moon reflecting on the river. It makes me feel I'm leaving the cares of work behind.

I have two bike bags, or panniers, that fit over my rear bike rack, for carrying all my junk for the day. Typically I carry my lunch, a change of clothing, some work, and often my laptop. Occasionally I'll even fill the panniers with groceries.

My main interest in biking is the pleasure. I regard the exercise as a bonus, but I generally ride slowly, so I it's probably a rather small bonus. Since the trail is so very flat, it involves very little effort, even on days when I'm tired. Another side benefit is the savings in money, and reducing traffic congestion for others. Thanks to commuting by bike I have halved my gasoline bill. I've even reduced my mileage driven such that my insurance company reduced my insurance bill. In terms of time taken, 8 mile trip is about the same by car or bike, although I normally have to build in some extra time for changing in and out of my bike clothes.

There are quite a number of other cyclists who commute on the trail, and they always cheerily greet me like old friends. I will miss them greatly when the trail is dug up for the Morgantown Utility Board sewer line project. To me the trail is a transportation route, a way of life, and a community.
-Tim Warner