Have you chosen to stop being traffic, and opted to start commuting to work, school or university by bike or e-scooter? Adding some extra activity into your day isn’t just a great way to escape traffic, it is a great step for your physical, social and mental health as well.
We don’t recommend you just jump on your bike or e-scooter and follow the most direct route to where you need to go. Taking a few steps beforehand should make it a better experience, and one that adds to your day. Here are BQ’s tips to help make your first attempt at bike commuting enjoyable and successful:
Plan your route
If you haven’t thought about the streets and paths you will take, feel free to ask us for advice about managing the trade-off between the safest, flattest, and shortest routes to work. We suggest riding to your workplace or place of study on the weekend as a trial run.
You can use Google Maps to help, they have made ongoing changes to bike routes, with the last major update in 2022. Just select ‘Cycling’ as the mode choice.
As you may expect, you will be given a few options. This route example has three, and as you click each route it will also give you a profile for the hills on the route. You need to go through the route to get an idea on where you’re being lead. This highlighted route actually involves a steep, dirt road climb – and as such isn’t one BQ would recommend for many users. But Google just knows it goes through. Using Streetview is a good way to take a closer look before commiting to a route.
You can also use Open Street Maps. What’s handy with this site is it has filters you can put over for bike routes or public transport. It even shows where bikeshops are! This is handy for finding out where bike infrastructure is in your area.
For those of you with a Strava account, or specifically a Strava Premium account, you can check out global heat maps and set your own route using those. The heat maps show how much said route gets used. That doesn’t necessarily mean it is a good fit for you – but it suggests that other bike riders (or e-scooter riders who use Strava) find it a best fit for them. And yes, Strava shows potential cafes to stop at!
You can set different criteria for the route as well. This includes choosing popular vs direct, surface type (for the gravel fans or haters) and elevation.
Whatever route planning option you choose, expect to update your route over time. Some riders choose hillier routes as they are on quieter roads. Some routes may have better lighting than others in winter, or have less intersections. But any of these tools will offer a great starting point to make sure you have a good route to start with.
Plan the logistics
Once your bike or e-scooter commute becomes more regular, you will want to minimise the amount of gear you have to carry each day. Items like shoes, belts, trousers and toiletries can stay at work or your place of study. Alternatively, you can bring a whole week’s worth of clothes in one trip (perhaps on Sunday evening). Many people who ride to work or their place of study like to have items like a hair dryer or straightener at their workplace as well. Some even leave their breakfast supplies there. We can also recommend spare socks!
If your office, school or university has an End of Trip facility, there may be a laundry service which operates in your area.
Tips on how you can ride to work and emerge crease-free and presentable
Know the basics
If you’re a seasoned bike or e-scooter rider, you’ll know the importance of a helmet, lights, wearing comfortable clothing and shoes, and making sure your bike or e-scooter is in good shape. If this is all new – make sure you view our Bike Basics series on YouTube.
Take your time
Your ride to work, school or university doesn’t have to be a sprint. It could be a leisurely spin, especially if your route includes bikeways. Ride at a steady pace, which doesn’t put you out of breath and in a lather of sweat. Change gears early on hills and spin up the incline in a low gear. If your ride takes you along busier bike routes, there will be other riders going quite fast. But go at your own speed that feels safe and comfortable, stick to the left and indicate for right and left turns.
Know your bike
Your ride to work will be much more enjoyable if you can handle routine roadside maintenance, such as fixing a flat tyre. Watch our YouTube series on bike maintenance by Bike Bestie.
Smile
Lots of people find travelling to work stressful or depressing. But, riding your bike to work is such a great way to incorporate fresh air and regular exercise into your day. Not only will you arrive at work alert and energised, but you will also have a smile on your dial. If you do encounter a grumpy driver, respond with a smile and a wave—they might be having a bad day, but you’re living life in the bike lane!
Join Bicycle Queensland
We’d also recommend that you join Bicycle Queensland if you’re not already a member. Bicycle Queensland advocates for safer riding for all Queenslanders, and our members have public liability and accident insurance. We also offer income protection for our members, discounts at our events, and extensive discounts from a range of retailers and partners. Bicycle Queensland membership is excellent peace of mind for those getting around by bike or e-scooter.
For all the details about membership types and the insurance coverage, head to our Membership page or Contact Us.
