On Wednesday morning, in the pre-dawn darkness, I was counted a half-dozen other bicyclists on the 12 miles of road I covered between Lititz and downtown Lancaster. The number was unusually high. I have noticed more commuters in recent months - those cyclists like myself, carrying bags of clothing and sometimes a coffee thermos on their bikes.
As the mornings have grown darker and cooler, I have been watching to see if commuters who began riding in summer’s daylight and warmth would continue. Would the slightly lower price of gasoline, lack of tights or lights send them back to their cars? I am glad to see them persevere.
Yet, commuters make up only a small minority of even avid bicyclists. The League of American Bicyclists’ commuter tips page makes the case for commuting: it saves money on gasoline; it save time at the gym; it is less stressful than driving; it reduces traffic congestion; and it is healthier for the rider and the environment.
A list of common excuses people use for not commuting, and the League’s responses to them are here.
Commute by Bike, a web site devoted to bicycle commuting, is another resource for getting started. It has beginner tips, product reviews, news and links for more information.
The page also has this calculator that can estimate how much a commuter would save by taking their bike. The tool calculates only the savings in gasoline costs. If you were to make the leap of giving up a vehicle, you would save about $3,000 annually, according to the League’s web site.
