Friday, August 22, 2008
10 Excuses for Not Biking to Work
1. I’ll be all sweaty and gross when I get there.
Find a way to clean up in the bathroom, use the shower on the next floor, keep spare clothes in your office, or find some other way. The benefits are worth it.
2. It’s too far.
Your subjective sense of the distance may be skewed if you haven’t really given it a serious try. Leave some extra time and try it out for a few weeks. You’ll be surprised at how the distance seems to shrink as you get used to it, and as you get into better shape. For most people, riding as much as 8-12 miles each way to work can be enjoyable.
3. There are too many hills.
What if you thought of hills as the best part of biking. Nothing feels more primal and satisfying that digging into the pedals and clawing your way up a hill and then the feeling of self-sufficient accomplishment you have at the top.
4. I feel like a dork riding my bike.
What is this, the 8th grade?!? Besides, being a dork is the new cool, dating all the way back to Devo.
5. It takes too much time.
The chances are that if work is less than 12 miles, you can find a way to get there on your bike that actually takes equal or less time than driving. Bikes don’t sit in traffic; they can use alleys, bike paths, and other short cuts. (We didn’t tell you to run any red lights.)
6. I’m too tired in the morning/after work to ride.
Have you ever gone to work out, even when you feel tired and crumby at first, and then felt worse later? No way – you always feel better. And, once your fitness level comes up, you’ll be shocked at how much more energy you have overall. You’ll be leaping out of bed and onto the bike.
7. There’s no place safe to put my bike.
Could there be a closet, an unused corner in your office, or a storage room? A bit of space for a hook on the wall? Could the boss put in a bike rack or help you find a solution?
8. My work isn’t very bike friendly.
That sucks. We sympathize. But what if you do it anyway, and others notice and follow your lead? (We didn’t tell you to cause an uprising.)
9. Bad weather.
This bites. But there are buses, trains, and subway options for going in or coming back when the weather suddenly turns bad. Sometimes the fear of bad weather is worse than the real thing. Sometimes it’s not so bad once you’re out in it. And you can take a perverse pride in your suffering.
10. I telecommute.
You have a point there. Ok, you’re pretty much off the hook. ¶ Friday, August 22, 2008
Find a way to clean up in the bathroom, use the shower on the next floor, keep spare clothes in your office, or find some other way. The benefits are worth it.
2. It’s too far.
Your subjective sense of the distance may be skewed if you haven’t really given it a serious try. Leave some extra time and try it out for a few weeks. You’ll be surprised at how the distance seems to shrink as you get used to it, and as you get into better shape. For most people, riding as much as 8-12 miles each way to work can be enjoyable.
3. There are too many hills.
What if you thought of hills as the best part of biking. Nothing feels more primal and satisfying that digging into the pedals and clawing your way up a hill and then the feeling of self-sufficient accomplishment you have at the top.
4. I feel like a dork riding my bike.
What is this, the 8th grade?!? Besides, being a dork is the new cool, dating all the way back to Devo.
5. It takes too much time.
The chances are that if work is less than 12 miles, you can find a way to get there on your bike that actually takes equal or less time than driving. Bikes don’t sit in traffic; they can use alleys, bike paths, and other short cuts. (We didn’t tell you to run any red lights.)
6. I’m too tired in the morning/after work to ride.
Have you ever gone to work out, even when you feel tired and crumby at first, and then felt worse later? No way – you always feel better. And, once your fitness level comes up, you’ll be shocked at how much more energy you have overall. You’ll be leaping out of bed and onto the bike.
7. There’s no place safe to put my bike.
Could there be a closet, an unused corner in your office, or a storage room? A bit of space for a hook on the wall? Could the boss put in a bike rack or help you find a solution?
8. My work isn’t very bike friendly.
That sucks. We sympathize. But what if you do it anyway, and others notice and follow your lead? (We didn’t tell you to cause an uprising.)
9. Bad weather.
This bites. But there are buses, trains, and subway options for going in or coming back when the weather suddenly turns bad. Sometimes the fear of bad weather is worse than the real thing. Sometimes it’s not so bad once you’re out in it. And you can take a perverse pride in your suffering.
10. I telecommute.
You have a point there. Ok, you’re pretty much off the hook. ¶ Friday, August 22, 2008
