Commuting by bike

May is annual Bike Month and Bike to Work Week is May 16–20th. 

Do you commute to work or school?  Have you thought about commuting to work or school by bike?  Hudson County NJ is a terrific place in which to leave your car keys at home and take to your bike.  With a great network of roads and multiple sources of reliable public transportation options you can pretty much get around all of Hudson County, out to Newark NJ and north to Bergen County and even across the Hudson River into neighboring NYC.

Bike commuting is fun, helps the environment, saves on gas (perhaps $4.00/gallon is a good motivator), can help you say fit and healthy while you burn some extra calories on your daily commute.  Plus what a terrific way to clear your head while heading into work and returning home after a long day.

To help you get rolling, here are a few tips to ensure a safe and efficient commute by bike:

Develop a sound plan of action that works for you:

Start off slowly and try commuting by bike a few days a week such as 2 or 3 days until you get the hang of it and find your rhythm. Maybe a day when you don’t have too much to carry with you or you are not in a rush with a morning meeting.

Test out a few different route options on the weekend then test each during the week to determine the best option for you as traffic patterns do change.

Ensure your commuting bike is ready for the task by bringing it to your local shop for a tune-up, have them check your tires and confirm that your brakes (pads/cables) work safely.

Transit sharing options: Consider if you are able to or willing to bike the full way or if you’ll need to use public transportation part way.  If the latter, look into the bicycle access policies by public transport operator; most include bike access timeframes and if applicable surcharges apply on their Web sites plus plan ahead and know if they provide an established safe place to lock your bike if you are leaving it behind. 

• The Waterway ferry to NYC does allow bikes, however there is a nominal bike surcharge for non-foldable bikes
• PATH trains do allow bikes, however just not during a.m. or p.m. rush hours.  Check their schedule for time frames.  Plus bikes cannot travel in the first and second cars from both the front end and back end of the train.
• NJ Transit supports access to its facilities and transportation services by bicycle
• There is no extra charge for bicycles brought aboard NJ TRANSIT vehicles, and no permit is required and many facilities include bike racks.
• NJ Transit buses are now including bike racks on the front of some buses in our region. 
• NJ Transit Trains and Light Rail do allow bikes. However not during peak times, check their website.  They do however provide bike racks at Hudson-Bergen stations

Suggested equipment that you may need:

• A proper fitting helmet:  please understand that helmets are usually only safe for use for 5 years tops, unless your helmet has been in a crash at which time you should immediate replace with a new helmet
• Bike locks: to thwart off bike thieves it is highly recommended to use a secure D or U shaped lock by manufacturers such as OnGuard and Kryptonite Locks (cost about $50 - $100) which come with a bike frame holder and guarantees. These locks are designed to stop good bike thieves as inexpensive light metal locks and thin cables are often easy to cut or break. You should also purchase a cable lock (about $10 - $20) of the same brand so that you can secure your rear wheel and frame to a stationary bike fixture and with the cable lock, secure the front wheel to the D lock as well. Plus you can loop through your helmet if you want to leave that behind as well.  
• Bike lights: it is recommended that you have at least one white light for the front and a red light for the back of your bike.  Most lights come with a mounting bracket to say on the bike where the light itself can be easily detached so that you can remove them when locking your bike.
• Velcro reflector strap for around your pant legs:  to help keep your pant cuffs clean and away from the chain/derailleur you can wrap a simple bike Velcro strap around your ankle. 
• Bike rack or pannier system: if you plan to carry a bag with you such as non-knapsack brief case, laptop or pocket book you can purchase a rack or pannier system to attach to your frame enabling you to free your hands for safe operation of your bike
• Rain gear: if you plan to commute by bike in the rain or to always be prepared just in case it is a good idea to invest in a reflective cyclist rain jacket (Velcro closure, easy to put on and cost between $10 - $30 dollars.)
• Always carry an ID plus medical and emergency contact information with you
• You can check out RoadID.com for their line of products

Bike safety and rules:  It is recommended that you hone your safety skills by checking some bike safety literature which can be found on the Web at sites such as Hudson TMA, BikeHoboken.com or the League of American Bicyclists web site.

• Use proper hand signals so motorists know when and where you are turning or stopping
• Ride the same direction as the flow of  traffic
• Be predicable so that motorist know what you are planning to do such as a lane change,  turning at a corner or avoiding a car pulling away from the curb for example
• Yield to pedestrians
• Cyclists are considered vehicles; therefore stop at stop signs and red traffic lights
• Be visible- wear bright colors for daytime and reflective clothing and use lights at night
• Do not weave in and out of parked cars, ride in a straight line as best as possible
• When sharing a lane, stay three feet to the right of moving cars
• Always be alert and ride carefully

Ride Safe!