Arsbars

Say you have a friend interested in bike commuting. What would be your top 3 tips or words of wisdom to get them started?

alan s 

1. Straddle the top tube
2. Place one foot on a pedal
3. Push off with other foot

fietsbob

don't be late in the morning,
don't live too far away ,
have cab fare in your pocket for emergency break downs.

tyrion

Map out a bike friendly route, if possible.

GeneO 

Make sure you are always very visible on roads. A bright (60+ lumen) flashing taillight makes you visible in the daylight. Travel off road as much as you can (I have a 30+mi RT route that is almost all off-road)
Use a mirror. It once saved me from getting run over by a garbage truck (but don't let that set you back)
Enjoy it! It is a good feeling to get there on your own power, you feel better through the day (endorphins are great!)

Booger1

3: Engage brain before pushing pedal with foot.

2: Ride like cars don't see you.

1: Don't listen to people on the net,half don't ride,the other half think they do.....Myself included....

Arsbars

Mantra for life!

Gresp15C

I have friends who I've successfully talked into giving bike commuting a try. A couple have become regular bike commuters, one of them on an e-bike.

Folks know that I'm kind of on the crazy side -- year round in all weather -- and I don't want that to frighten them. So I encourage them to start out real easy, like just planning to ride one day during nice weather, on a day when they don't have any schedule pressure or stuff to transport. Once they're over that hurdle, they'll figure out what step to take next.

Gear: I recommend that practically any bike can work for commuting. I'm perceptive of what their preferences tend towards, and encourage them to get something that they like, not something that I like. I offer to help them get their bike into working order. I also offer to show them how to take care of basic maintenance themselves.

What I've noticed is that most of the success stories involved what seemed like painfully slow progress, but folks eventually found a level of commitment that was appropriate for their lives.

Viich

Start. If you like it, you'll keep doing it.
Learn some maintenance, and carry tools. Be the guy who can stop and help someone, not the guy begging at the side of the trail. (Which reminds me, I need a knife for my bike)
Don't feel that you have to bike every day.

ThermionicScott 

1) Just do it
2) Just do it
3) Just do it

Darth Lefty 

Ride the bike you have
Try bike share
Don't make mountains out of molehills. Most problems you encounter you already know how to solve.

a1penguin

The first month or so can be difficult. Set reasonable goals and stick to them. Start out biking to work twice a week and work your way up to three days a week (MWF) and then consecutive days. Add more days. Factors that influence goals will be distance of commute, how many hills, weather, initial physical condition.

It can take some time to get past the "pain" to the place where you enjoy the rides and look forward to biking. That's where the "Just do it" comes in. I started commuting to work and bike riding in 2010 and average about 2000 miles a year.

caloso

1) ride to work
2) work
3) ride home

Really, that's it. Everything else is detail.

canklecat

It's okay to take the longer scenic route instead of the shorter but hectic route with heavy vehicle traffic. Especially when you're starting out and not yet in good shape. Just plan and schedule accordingly.

It's okay to ride on the sidewalk to climb hills while you're struggling to get in shape. Probably less stressful than riding 5 mph in the street. Just be more alert, realize that cars may not see you as they enter/exit driveways, and always yield to pedestrians. (If you're lucky you'll find entire blocks where sidewalks might as well be bike trails anyway -- virtually no driveways or pedestrians -- and the main hazard is overhanging tree limbs.)

Be seen. All the usual stuff -- lights, reflectors, hi-vis clothing, etc.

SloButWide 

Just do it.

Pack the night before.

If it's not fun, you're not doing it right. Adjust your attitude if you can't adjust the situation.

acidfast7

1. Don't invest a huge amount of money in it.

2. Have facilities for cleaning at work ... this could be as simple as a private handicapped toilet.

3. Ride the route on a weekend first (and select routes that go public transport options or bike shops).

RubeRad

OK there's a lot of joke responses out there, maybe amusing but not helpful. I would say:

* Do a practice run/scout a good route on a weekend (with clothes/food etc) before trying it live in rush hour traffic.
* If you ride a MTB, ditch the knobbies for some urban/city slicks.
* If it's hard, you can make compromises like fewer days/week, multi-modal, no rain, no dark, etc. You've got nothing to prove, and just by trying it out the first time you're already ahead of the game.

Or maybe a better #3 would be:
* Safety depends on Visibility, Vigilance, and Predictability

Abe_Froman

1) Be able to change a flat, and have a pump/spare tube on your bike.

2) Have storage on the bike for things you will need every day...lunch, change of clothes, etc.

3) Realize that even on days where you're not really feeling it...10 minutes on the bike will really perk you up, and you'll be happy you decided to ride. Even more importantly...if you commute home in rush hour, you'll be gleeful as you glide past stopped traffic.

Oh and double +1 on the tires recommendation above. Any bike will do, but don't cheap out on tires. Get good slicks, with puncture protection corresponding to level of confidence in changing a flat.

pdlamb

1. Plan how you're going to carry stuff, change, and clean up.
2. Start riding (hardest of the three!).
3. Have a backup plan.


If the new rider likes it, s/he should be prepared to buy lights in October when DST ends.

mcours2006

For anyone thinking of commuting by bike here are my top three tips:

1. Route--The route you choose is the most important factor in whether you enjoy it and continue with it or abandon the idea altogether after a few attempts. The stress of riding mere inches away from traffic moving at 40+ mph can be quite overwhelming. Choose a route that minimizes your exposure to fast moving traffic.

2. Preparation--Prepare your things the night before so that in the morning you need not think but just do. There is no time to think in the morning, and the more you have think the less likely you're going to get out the door with the bike.

3. Be realistic--doing too much too soon, like trying to do 30 miles every day when just starting out is way too much. It's okay to cut yourself some slack and take the car or transit a few days a week if you're feeling tired or run down. You may work up to doing it every day eventually, but if not that's okay too. Some is better than none.

Have fun with it. When you make it a regular thing you have done something that most people wouldn't even have considered because it's not easy.

Klaw

1) Always assume cars can't see you & will turn without signalling
2) Beware of pedestrians the silent killer.
3) Be prepared to never want to bus, train, subway or drive again.

noglider 

1. Learn to ride in traffic safely and comfortably. Skill plays a huge part in your safety.
2. Get your equipment and clothing ready the night before.
3. It's probably not as hard as you think, and it's probably more rewarding than you think.

Amitoj

1. Route: Avoid heavy traffic areas. Drive the route. Pre ride it over the weekend. Note down spots that could be troublesome like narrow road, no shoulder etc.

2. Gear: Helmet, rear view mirror, lights, a good back pack.

3. Diet: If it is a long commute, make sure you fuel your body well.

kuroba

1. Get. Lights. (and a helmet)
2. Try your route BEFORE commuting (like, on a weekend). That way you can test if you can actually do it and in how much time.
3. Learn how to fix a flat before your first happens. Nothing like freezing your ass on the side of the road to put anyone off bike commuting.

Bikeforumuser0019

Since the original question is about getting started:

1) For me, biggest factor was accountability/moral support. This probably varies a lot from person to person. If this is something you need to get started (as I did) it's good to be aware of that and find some.
2) What others have said about making a test-ride your commute. Doing it when there's no pressure to be somewhere on time.
3) Don't spend too much money on your first bike. Mine was a $50 steel MTB from Craigslist, it was heavy and slow but I learned a lot. When I was ready to spend some cash on a better bike I knew exactly what I wanted.