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Bike to
Work Toolkit

Whether you’ve commuted by bicycle in the past; only biked for recreation; or are a first-timer, this toolkit details steps to dust off your bike (or get a new one) and hit the road!

Bike Back to Work: A Toolkit for SRP Employees

Biking is naturally socially distanced, a great way to exercise, and we think it's a great commute mode to consider.

Whether you’ve commuted by bike in the past; only biked for recreation; or are a first-timer; this toolkit details the steps to dust off your bike (or get a new one) and hit the road!

Why Start Now?

In many ways, now is the best time to get on a bike and start a new commute habit. Here are a few reasons why:

Benefits Include:

With limited choices these days, a bike ride is one of the prevailing outdoor activities. Benefits include:

  • A good excuse to get out of the house
  • Excellent, well-rounded source of exercise
  • A great way to explore, whether on a nature trail or around your neighborhood
  • A way to shop for household essentials
  • A strategy to keep your kids active and engaged
    • For extensive info, check out this Family Biking Guide from the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition.

A Disrupted Routine

Research shows that it's easiest to change your habits during a significant change in your life, such as moving houses or starting a new job. Take advantage of this transitional opportunity while being home, and keep biking once more re-opening and business resumption occurs, and returning to the workplace starts to occur.

Fair Weather

While cycling is feasible year-round in the Bay Area, Spring and Summer are especially forgiving, with lots of dry, sunny days. Just don’t forget the sunscreen. :-)

Avoid the Traffic Dilemma

If you own a car, driving alone back to work is a natural option that you’ve likely considered. Take a moment to think about the fact that many of your fellow Bay Area neighbors are thinking the same thing. With the existing constraints on roads, it’s worth considering the added strain on this infrastructure once everyone returns. Avoid this traffic dilemma altogether by preparing yourself to bike to work.

How to Be a Successful Bike Commuter

There is an old proverb that says “the thousand-mile journey begins with the first step.” It can be daunting to think about getting back on a bike. Maybe your bike is out of service, or you aren’t familiar with the right equipment. The following offers a wealth of resources to help take that first step – or pedal to be more accurate – and how to build up to comfortably and confidently riding to work.

Get Ready to Hit the Road

Flat tire? Rusty chain? Poorly fitting helmet? Or simply need the right bike? Check out these videos and other resources to help get your bike ready for the road:

Picking the Right Bike:
Getting Your Bike Ready to Ride

You can also have an expert come do a (socially distanced) house visit to get your bike in order. Velofix is a mobile mechanic that makes house calls.

Having the Proper Gear

Go For A Ride

Once you have your bike and gear ready, it’s time to hit the road! The following offers best practices and guides for choosing the best route.

Biking Fundamentals

Choosing Your Route:

Important Tips:

Begin On the Easiest, Safest Route

Start with something easy and familiar, like a ride around your block, and move up from there.

Practice Your Commute

Like we mentioned before, now is the best time to explore the streets with reduced level of traffic (remember to continue to obey all traffic laws and proper bicycle maneuvers outlined earlier in the “Biking Fundamentals” links). Take this opportunity to practice riding your work commute. Remember to plan out your route first.

Behavior Change Doesn’t Happen Overnight

Research shows that it takes an average of two months for a person to successfully change their behavior. So start now, but start small, and work your way up. And most importantly, keep it up!

Motivation!

Need more tips and/or nudges to get you out of the house and onto the streets? Check out the following resources ranging from expert advice to fun bike-centric activities.

Advice from Experts

There are lots of helpful webinars and interactive virtual sessions happening now that are well worth taking advantage of. Many of these sessions are local to the Bay Area, and are even hosted by your fellow SRP colleagues.

  • San Francisco Bicycle Coalition Virtual Events: sfbike.org

Challenges, Tracking and Other Fun Activities

The SRP Bike Program

Learn more about how Stanford Research Park helps current and aspiring bicycle commuters: SRP Program Explainer

SRP Bike Commuter Profiles

Get inspired by your fellow SRP riders: