Bicycles have the speed of (slow) cars but the vulnerability of pedestrians, so these three don’t mix well in the city. Some places address this with physical infrastructure that keeps everyone separate and—especially for cars—enforces prudence and awareness. Other places don’t. For example, most of the US has little more than painted bike lanes and … Read more
Cycling is far more than a weekend-warrior activity in the Netherlands. It’s a deeply ingrained part of life. But why is that the case? Has it always been so? And what can other places learn from Dutch attitudes and actions around cycling? Here’s why the Dutch ride bikes The Dutch ride bicycles because they’re practical … Read more
Adding a motor usually isn’t a recipe for fitness. Several well-designed studies agree that electric bikes are good cardiovascular exercise. They require less exertion than standard bikes do, but still enough to be healthful. Over time, e-bike riders are more active on average. Remember, you can always reduce the motor’s assistance if you want to … Read more
For all the benefits of bike commuting, it has some notable disadvantages. And it’s certainly not the typical way of life here in North America–or, really, most other places. So, if you’re contemplating taking up a two-wheeled commute, it’s perfectly reasonable to question whether it’s worth it. And that’s exactly the question we’re going to … Read more
It’s easy to work up a sweat when you’re bike commuting. And if you’re explicitly looking for exercise, then that’s a good thing! But what if you don’t have time for showers or don’t have access to them at your destination? Does that mean you’ve got to ditch the bike or accept being a sweaty … Read more
Getting on a bike, with the wind in your air and fresh air in your face, always beats starting your day with gridlock. But when you’re tight on time, it’s not so obvious whether the practical benefits of bike commuting are actually worth it. And time is one of the most common concerns. As a … Read more
Bike commuting is generally getting more popular, but it’s still a little uncommon in most cities, so myths abound. Some of these myths are trivial, but others turn into obstacles that might deter you from a fun, healthful, and rewarding commute…all unnecessarily! We’re going to look at some of the most common bike commuting myths, … Read more
If safety makes you think twice about cycling in the city, then you’re not alone. It’s tragically rare to find totally protected bike lanes, let alone intersections that force drivers to slow down and pay attention. In these circumstances, it’s sad but true that we cyclists need to take extra precautions. Based on years of … Read more
It’s easy to wax poetic about the virtues of cycling. Not necessarily climbing mountain passes or “sending it” over huge gap jumps, but just getting around town under your own power. But let’s get really practical for a moment. We all deal with an array of small but annoying problems. You know, the everyday things … Read more
Some of us start bike commuting because traffic’s too bad or transit’s too unreliable. Others pick it up to build more exercise in daily life. After all, that really is the “secret” to lifelong fitness. Still others are seeking a fun way to get from A to B, to save money, or just to try … Read more
