Bicycle Commuting Guide
Education
Education
Employees may be hesitant to try bicycle commuting because they feel they don't know enough about how to do it. They may need help finding a comfortable bike route to work, or they may want to learn more about buying and maintaining a bike, dressing, carrying gear and navigating traffic effectively. To the novice, bicycle commuting may seem complex and mysterious. In fact, it's as easy as, well, riding a bike! Here are some ways to provide information about bicycle commuting:
| Potential Brown Bag or Lunch-and-Learn workshop
topics The Basics of Bicycle Commuting How to Buy and Fit a Bike Introduction to Bicycle Maintenance Nutrition for Bicycling Bike Safety Bicycles and the Law |
No doubt, there are seasoned bicycle commuters at your business who would be happy to share their expertise for an hour. Local bike shops might be willing to send an employee to talk about buying or maintaining a bike, and many individuals are willing to lead workshop sessions as well. Provide door prizes and encourage a sense of camaraderie among regular attendees.
Sponsor an Effective Cycling Course.
Effective Cycling is a national curriculum that teaches bicyclists how to be safe, predictable and effective roadway users. The core course consists of nine hours of classroom and on-bike instruction, taught by nationally certified instructors. Additional courses are available on bicycle commuting and children's cycling. For a list of upcoming Effective Cycling classes in the Madison area, see the resource section.
Assist new bicycle commuters with route finding.
The first thing new bicycle commuters tend to ask for is a map. The city of Madison Transportation Department publishes an excellent bicycle map of the greater Madison area. Recommended bicycle routes are marked on the map, and many streets are rated according to traffic volume, speed limit and roadway width. Call Arthur Ross at (608) 266-6225 to obtain copies of this map. Work with your Bicycle Action Committee (BAC) to identify and highlight popular cycling routes to your business, and post this map on a bulletin board or information kiosk.
Coordinate a Bike Buddy Program.
First, identify a handful of experienced bicycle commuters at your business who would be willing to spend a little time mentoring a novice. Note where they live. Some members of your BAC might also be willing to serve as Bike Buddies. Then advertise that hands-on help is available to new bike commuters if they'd like it. Try and match Bike Buddies with new commuters who live in the same part of town. Their job is to provide new bicycle commuters with information, advice and moral support. They can even offer to meet new commuters before work and accompany them on their first ride.
Provide new bicycle commuters with a handbook.
This website can be freely reproduced, and distributed to your employees. It may provide the answers to many of their questions.
On to: Facilities…
Back to: Accessories
 |
||||
|
Home: www.bfw.org
Mailing Addresses and Phones: © December 2006 |
||||
