Published: May 01, 2009 01:15 pm      

National Bike-to-Work Day is May 15

For John Nafziger, commuting to work on his bicycle, rain or shine, has become a habit. Last year, all but eight of his three-mile trips to his job in Goshen were on his bicycle.

“It keeps me in shape, it is kind to the earth, and it allows my wife and I to be a one-car family,” Nafziger said. “I like to show people that it can be done.”

His dedication doesn’t waver even on the coldest winter days. One snowy day, when the temperature dipped to five degrees below zero, Nafziger wasn’t fazed. He donned heavy gloves and ski goggles and switched to a fat-tired mountain bike for better traction in the snow.

“I haven’t always biked to work,” he said. “But once I tried it, I was hooked.”

On May 15, many would-be bicycle commuters will give it a try. That’s National Bike-to-Work Day, when Bicycle Indiana is helping people all over the state to link up and safely ride together. Bicycle Indiana (formerly the Indiana Bicycle Coalition) is a statewide organization dedicated to creating a bicycle-friendly Indiana.

Bicycle Indiana considers Bike-to-Work Day a celebration, an opportunity for the bicycling community to come together and ride with a purpose. Across the state, routes and meeting places have been set that allow cyclists of all stripes — weekend cruisers, devoted racers, occasional commuters, mountain bikers — to commute to work. Last year’s Bike-to-Work Day was a huge success, with more than 1,000 participants across the state.

(May is National Bike Month, and some Indiana cities will host Bike-to-Work Days on dates other than May 15; see the website www.bicycleindiana.org for details.)

“Riding your bike to work is exercise with a purpose,” said Bicycle Indiana board member Pete Fritz. “I feel like I’m doing something that’s good for me, instead of just sitting in a car. Bicycle commuting is a great way to squeeze regular exercise into a busy schedule. And Indiana employers should support bike commuters, because healthy, active workers miss less work and are more productive.”

Fritz says there are also economic benefits to consider. He recently calculated the savings of riding his bike to his Indianapolis job. Taking into account gas, parking fees, and maintenance on his vehicle, he estimates he saves $1,500 per year.

The environment benefits, too. With automobiles being the single largest source of U.S. air pollution, more bicycle use means a smaller carbon footprint. According to the League of American Bicyclists, replacing short auto trips with bicycling saves the atmosphere 3.6 pounds of pollutants per mile.

To prepare for your first commute to work, Bicycle Indiana suggests the following steps:

• Ride your bicycle on a few nearby errands, such as a trip to the grocery for a loaf of bread.

• Add longer trips until you have worked up to the distance to your workplace, so you know how much time you will need.

• Make sure you have the right gear. Consult your local bicycle retailer for advice.

• Plan your route to work, considering rush hour traffic.

• Determine where you can safely park your bicycle, and whether you will need to shower or change clothes when you get to work.