Riding your bike to work not only improves your health, it is also good for the environment. By reducing emissions from vehicles, you can improve your carbon footprint and feel good about yourself. However, there are some hurdles to overcome by commuting to work on a bicycle.
For one, the distance from your place of residence to your place of work might be a factor in deciding whether to take the journey by bike every day. Even if your workplace isn’t far away, it can be quite a trek for beginner bikers. Practicing shorter distances with your bike before attempting to make the morning commute is always beneficial. When riding your bike after work, pay attention to how long it takes you to get a certain distance. This way, you will know how much time you need to allow to commute in the mornings.
Although bike lanes are popping up around the country, they may not always be available in every city. These special lanes are reserved specifically for cyclists. This can not only keep you safer, but also allow you to make a quicker journey since there is no need to concern yourself with traffic. However, bicyclists should aware be aware of the present dangers that they face in their daily commute. Even if you can take a route that provides a bicycle lane, this doesn’t mean that drivers will use more caution. If you must veer off of the designated path to avoid an obstruction, the amount of danger greatly increases. Not only that, but if bicycle lanes are not available to you, your chances of being struck by a vehicle greatly increases.
It is no secret that drivers are becoming increasingly distracted in recent days. Whether it be texting, talking on the phone, changing the radio station, or even dozing off, people are less inclined to use caution when operating their vehicles than they were in earlier times. Because of this, injuries to cyclists because of motor vehicle related accidents are on the rise. The best options for people who choose to cycle to work is to use extreme caution and always have a personal injury lawyer on call. Personal injury attorney’s such as Abels & Annes are available around the clock and require no fees unless you win your case. Keeping one of their business cards in your backpack can come in handy if there should be an accident on your way to work. This is useful, not only for motor vehicle accidents, but also in case you are injured due to faulty pavement or unkempt bicycle lanes on your commute.
Weather is another factor that can be completely unpredictable when commuting to work by bike. Cycling in extreme cold or heat can be unpleasant. Be sure to take plenty of water with you on your journey. If there is a predicted storm in your area, you may want to opt for taking your vehicle rather than your bike. The only exception to this, of course, would be if there are covered bike lanes along your commute.
In any event, be sure to exercise extreme caution when using your bicycle to commute to work. When conditions are ideal and the weather is fair, there is no greater feeling than riding your bike to work. You will love the change in your body, your mental health, and in your impact on the environment.