Ride Your Bike to Work

I've been pedaling my way to various jobs -- relying on the area's vast network of bike paths and well-marked roadway routes -- as often as I can for more than a decade. For starters, it's a fun and fast way to work out. I burn a whopping 1,000 calories per round trip. Plus, I save hundreds of dollars in gas and other expenses a year and cut down on auto emissions, this area's principal source of air pollution and a source of those nasty greenhouse gases.

But if exercising, conserving cash and saving Mother Earth aren't enough to inspire you to try pedal power, hear the stories that scores of bike commuters likely will share on Friday, when they gather at 8 a.m. at Freedom Plaza (14th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue NW) as part of Bike to Work Day. Many will have just zipped in from points around the city, participating in the annual convoy to promote bicycling as a way to commute. The event, sponsored by the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments and the Washington Area Bicyclist Association, is one of many in the area (check http://www.waba.org/ for details).

Once you're ready to try biking, here's how to get your wheels in motion.

THE RIGHT ROUTE. Go for a dry run on the weekend to test and time your route, keeping in mind that traffic will vary in the 9-to-5 world. Another option: WABA has volunteers to advise commuters on finding the right roadways. "They really helped me learn where the paths and side streets are," says U.S. Navy electrician Tamfu Fomuso, who moved to the area in April.

PUBLIC TRANSIT. If you live too far to bike the entire distance, try splitting your commute between biking and public transportation, advises WABA Executive Director Eric Gilliland. Most Metro buses -- and many local transit buses -- have bike racks on their front grilles. (Don't let the contraptions intimidate you -- they have easy-to-use directions posted in plain sight.) Racks hold up to two bikes, are free and are available at all times. (Unless you work off-hours, Metrorail isn't much help: Bikes are prohibited from 7-10 a.m. and 4-7 p.m.) And no one says you have to ride all year or when the weather's not suitable. Andy Clarke, executive director of the League of American Bicyclists, uses a bike path that flanks I-66 for his eight-mile commute from Falls Church to downtown. "Bike commuting is not supposed to be an extreme sport," he said. "There are plenty of days when I'm content just to ride Metro."

RULES OF THE ROAD. Don't even consider riding without a helmet, and leave your iPod at home. (If you need a reality check, here's one: An average of six cyclists are killed in the area each year.) While on the road, follow the same rules as you would driving, including stopping for red lights and at crosswalks. Other essentials: reflectors and lights. And don't forget a hefty lock, or -- even better -- negotiate for a safe spot to stash your bike. "There's always empty space somewhere in a building -- below a staircase or in an unused room or closet," says Environmental Protection Agency scientist Barbara Klieforth, who pedals in several times a week from Cottage City in Prince George's County. "You just have to convince management that you have a good alternative use for it."

KEEP UP APPEARANCES. So long as you don't have to argue before a judge or testify before Congress, folding your clothes neatly and toting them on your bike will probably suit your needs. Traditionalists like me favor panniers -- bike bags that attach to a rack suspended over the rear tire. But many prefer backpacks or over-the-shoulder satchels. Joan Oppel, an insurance program manager who commutes downtown year-round from Arlington, swears that wrapping items in tissue paper and rolling, rather than folding, prevents wrinkles. EPA's Klieforth hedges her bet by keeping part of her wardrobe -- mostly fussier items such as suit jackets and blouses -- at the office. (When they need cleaning, she takes them to a dry cleaner near her building.) As for washing up, it took some negotiating, but Klieforth and other EPA bike commuters persuaded their landlord to allow them to use the showers originally intended just for security personnel. In lieu of a shower, keep a towel and some toiletries on hand at the office -- or avoid at-work helmet hair all together by riding in on the bus and zipping home on your wheels.

Rita Zeidner

More information

League of American Bicyclists. Suite 800, 1612 K St. NW. 202-822-1333. http://www.bikeleague.org/ . An advocacy and educational group that promotes biking nationwide.

Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments. Suite 300, 777 North Capitol St. NE. 202-962-3200. http://www.commuterconnections.org/ . Its program Commuter Connections is a network of local transportation organizations and includes the Guaranteed Ride Home program (800-745-7433), which can give registered commuters a free ride home up to four times a year. The Web site offers tips for employees and employers alike.

Washington Area Bicyclist Association. Suite 1030, 733 15th St. NW. 202-628-2500. http://www.waba.org/ . Advocates for bike-friendly policies year-round.

Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority. http://www.wmata.com/metrorail/bikes.cfm . Bike-'N-Ride on Metro program.

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