Cycling to work is great for your health and fitness, cheaper than the bus and good for the environment. If you’ve decided to take the plunge and cycle to work, follow our tips to help you get started and stay safe on your daily commute.
2. Cycling to work is great for your health and fitness,
cheaper than the bus and good for the environment. If
you’ve decided to take the plunge and cycle to work,
follow our tips to help you get started and stay safe on
your daily commute.
Choose the right bike
If you don’t already have one, the first thing you’ll need is a good bike. The three
most popular types of bikes are road bikes, mountain bikes and hybrids. A hybrid is
a cross between a road bike and mountain bike. Choose a bike that you’ll want to
ride and that suits your lifestyle, for example, if you like off road cycling on the
weekends, a mountain bike might be the best choice for you. You could even
choose an electric bike or a folding bike if you are combining your commute with a
train or bus journey.
3. Find out about cycle to work schemes
These days, many employers offer cycle to work schemes, which usually allow staff
to rent a bike and deduct the charge from their salary before tax. Other
companies, including fast broadband provider Plusnet, now participate in schemes
that give employees a free loan of a bike to encourage more people to cycle to
work. Make sure you find out if you employer offers a similar cycle scheme.
Understand cycle laws and etiquette
There are specific laws for cycling on the roads, so make sure you brush up on the
rules that you’ll need to follow on your way to work. If you do cycle on the roads,
you must adhere to all traffic signs and signals as if you were a motorist. Many
cyclists recommend that you should never cycle timidly, so be visible and confident
when cycling on the roads.
Be a buddy to your fellow cyclists by letting them know that you are passing them,
helping them if they fall or get a puncture and warn them of any upcoming
hazards.
4. Be prepared with accessorise
Equip your bike with the essentials to keep you safe on the road. Some of the most
important things you’ll need are:
• Front and rear lights – for those foggy mornings and dark, wintry evenings.
• Helmet – while it’s not the law to wear a helmet, it’s definitely advisable for
cycle safety.
• Reflective strip or fluorescent vest – it’s a good idea to have a reflective strip
on your backpack or to wear a fluorescent vest so motorists can see you.
• A bell – essential for overtaking and warning runners and walkers.
• Wet weather clothing – be prepared for all seasons and brave the elements.
• Bike kit, including a puncture repair kit and a lock – it may be annoying to
carry around, but much less annoying than walking your bike all the way
home with a flat tyre. And a lock is essential to deter thieves.
Find a cycle route
If you’d prefer not to cycle on the roads, many cities in the UK have great cycle
path networks and cycle lanes so you can plan out a safe route that you are
comfortable with. Sustrans is a great place to start to find out more about safe
cycling routes in the UK.
Cycling is a fantastic way to get to work, so get out there and
enjoy it!
