1. Bicycle Commuting Tips

2. Outline 1.Poll the audience on bicycle commuting comfort level 1.Planning before you ride 2.On your ride 3.End of ride planning 4.Tips from a Pro 5.Additional resources

3. Planning before you ride: Route Consider distance, traffic volume, road width/condition. Ride on roads with speed limits less than/equal to 35 mph. Use a bike map and google maps with the bicycle layer. Some routes may be a bit longer but are much more pleasant. Test new routes on the weekend/ off peak times. Ride with a friend or group is you can. Bike to Work days provide an excellent opportunity to find a group to ride in with. See BikeHouston’s webpage event calendar to find details for May 2015.

4. Planning before you ride: Your Bike Check your bike - brakes, tires, lights. Rechargable lights are great. Take a test ride, bring it to a local bike shop if needed. Learn basic repair skills from BikeHouston. May 6th - Ready to Ride Night – we will provide you with mechanic services for free and have a tire changing class. What bike to use? Any bike that you feel comfortable on will work; make sure it is in good working order. Consider weather protection such as fenders and a rack for carrying capacity.

5. Planning before you ride: You Wear a helmet, Clothing: loose clothing can get caught in your gears - watch for this, bright clothing is helpful. If you have a short commute, ride in your work clothes at a relaxed pace. Waterproof and breathable fabrics keep you comfortable and dry. Leave a spare of work clothes at the office.

6. On your ride: Traffic and Bicycle Laws Bikes are vehicles and should act and be treated as such Laws that apply to motorists also apply to people on bikes Signals and signs Obey all stop signs, traffic lights and lane markings Look and signal before you change lanes or turn

7. On your ride: Safety If the lane is too narrow or you are going the same speed as traffic, take the lane Be visible and predictable at all times: wear bright clothing, signal and follow the law Wear a helmet Weather Fenders and rain gear help keep you dry Wear layers on cold days When it’s hot, try breathable clothing

8. End of Ride Planning: Bring a change of clothes, face wipes, and a snack. Lock: Always have a lock. Lock to an immovable object in a highly visible area. Consider options for safe, covered parking. Showering: For short rides you may not need one, and a change of clothes and toiletry items can often do the trick. Does your building have one? A near by Health Club?

9. Tips from a Pro: Don’t be afraid to take the lane, you may get honked at but that is okay. Get out there and try it! Start small and keep going. Bike commuting should be really fun, so don’t get discouraged. You can do it! Riding on the sidewalk is illegal in business districts. However, if you feel safer on the sidewalk, you can always get off your bike and walk on the sidewalk.

10. Additional Resources BikeHouston: (bike laws, events, route planning, courses and more) http://www.bikehouston.org/resources/ http://www.bikehouston.org/bikehoustoncalendar/ League of American Bicyclists: (a national organization, one stop shop for bicycle questions) http://bikeleague.org/content/commuting http://bikeleague.org/ridesmartvideos

11. Questions? Contact Mary Blitzer, mblitzer@bikehouston.org, 281-940-6139.mblitzer@bikehouston.org