Bike to Work--how and why

Today's Springfield News-Leader has a long story on how and why to think about bicycling to work:

Bike to work, save money, get fit, help the environment. It seems like a no-brainer, yet you still drive to the office every day.

One reason for putting off your bike-to-work resolution might be all the logistics involved, such as where to store your bike and how to get your belongings to and from the office. . . .

Besides the obvious benefits, biking to work could even boost your job performance.

"On the days that I ride in, I sit down and have the energy to start. I don't need to go get a Coke or anything -- I'm already in that mode," said Jason Kiker, a 38-year-old research analyst who started biking to work last year.

One thing that stops many people from even trying bicycle commuting is they get the idea that you have to do it every day, all the time.

In fact, most bicycle commuters only ride part of the time. You still get a lot of benefits.

* How about only cycling once a week or on selected days, like Casual Fridays. Even just cycling once a week saves 20% on gas and greenhouse emissions and gives you one day's workout.

* How about cycling only part way? My wife often takes the bus into work and bicycles home. A friend of mine with a 35 mile commute drives partway and bicycles the rest--it still saves half the gas and gets his daily workout in.

* Hate the rain, cold, or heat? Then just don't bicycle on those days. There are plenty of days in the year--about half, depending on your criteria--with good weather.

Paul Dorn has a great page with bicycle commuting tips.