Refresh your commute

The majority of U.S. workers commute five miles or less to work. However, 87 percent commute by driving.  Try a new commute option this month!  Biking and walking are two practical options for many commuters.  Not only does biking and walking burn calories, it also reduces air pollution which improves air quality.

Biking | Walking | Health & Environment Benefits | Regional Veloweb

Biking to Work
May is National Bike to Work Month; the perfect time to try biking to work.  People who live within five miles of their workplace may find it easier and quicker to ride a bike to work.  Commuting by bicycle will saves you money and reduces the amount of wear and tear you put on your vehicle.  The following simple tips will help you get started on biking to work:

Get Comfortable with Your Bike

• Have your bike fitted for you at the bike shop.
• Adjust seat height for near full leg extension.
• Buy a high quality gender-specific seat.
• Seek a comfortable handlebar adjustment.
• Get the essential accessories: helmet, bike lock, bag, water bottle, sunglasses.

Before You Bike

• Identify city bike routes and trails to make connections.
• Identify connecting secondary streets.
• Avoid crossing major streets at uncontrolled intersections.
• Contact your local bike shop or club for suggestions.

While Biking

• Wear a helmet. Never bike without one.
• Share the road. Don't assume motorists can see you.
• Avoid riding too close to parked cars. Drivers might open a car door without seeing you.
• Never ride against traffic. Follow signs, signals and pavement markings.
• Inform others of turns by using hand signals.
• Wear comfortable shoes
• Bring a change of clothes.
• Be courteous, predictable and visible. Never assume you can be or have been seen by drivers. Scan the area and be aware of motorists.

Walking to Work
If you live within three miles of your workplace, give walking a try.  If you live farther away, you can still walk to work.  Simply consider combining your walk with public transportation.

• Budget 30 minutes per mile when you start. Over time, you will reduce your minutes per mile.
• Wear comfortable shoes.
• Bring a change of clothes.
• Carry your belongings in a comfortable bag or backpack.
• Be visible. Never assume you can be or have been seen by drivers. Scan the area and be aware of motorists.
• Be prepared for bad weather. Wear proper clothing and carry an umbrella.

To see completed, funded and needed off-street bicycle/pedestrian facilities, please review the Regional Veloweb map [PDF].

Benefits of Biking and Walking
By biking or walking to work, you can save money on gas and can lessen the wear and tear on your car. There are also numerous health and environmental benefits.

Health Benefits

• Biking half an hour daily burns the equivalent of 11.4 pounds per year and raises the body’s metabolic rate.
• The rate of fatal heart attacks in male non-biking is 47 percent higher than the cyclists’ rate of fatal heart attacks plus the rate of fatal cycling injuries.
• Biking 60 miles per week starting at age 35 adds 2.5 years to average life expectancy.

Environmental Benefits

• Bicycle commuting is the zero pollution solution to regional congestion problems.
• Short distance automobile trips can be replaced by bicycling and walking, which is especially important in urban areas where the majority of emissions come from automobiles.
• 20 percent of emissions can be cut by bicycling and walking once per week.

Regional Veloweb
Don’t feel comfortable biking or walking on busy roadways? Take a look at the Regional Veloweb.  The Regional Veloweb is a 644-mile, designated off-street trail network that has been planned to provide bicycle and pedestrian connections in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex.

• Click here for more information on the Regional Veloweb.
• A map of the Regional Veloweb is available here [PDF].

Source: NCTCOG.org