Commuting

Using a bike to get from place to place is great. It's quick, easy cheap and can be fun. Yet few people do it.

Some reasons why people don't commute by bike: 

It's dangerous.

No it's not. It looks dangerous when you are sitting in a car or bus, but out on the road it's not so bad. It will be scary the first few times you do it, but after a couple of weeks boring your friends with stories about how you nearly died, you'll work out where to be on the road and where the danger points are.

I'll get all sweaty / I need to look smart at work / I don't want to wear lycra

If you can walk down the road without sweating then you can ride a bike without sweating. The key is to dress sensibly. You need to wear a layer or two less than you would for walking, as you will heat up quickly when you get going. A windproof jacket with a full front zip is ideal for temperature regulation.

To keep your clothes clean, a sensible bike with proper mudguards and maybe a chainguard (or tuck your trousers into long socks) is essential.

You don't need to go flat out. In traffic speeding between lights is as pointless on a bike as it is in a car. These people who dress up in the clone uniform of yellow jacket, black tights and blue helmet to commute fast are really wasting their time. They might save 10 minutes on a five mile journey, but then have to spend 15 minutes showering and changing.

I don't want to get wet

Even in Glasgow it only rains at commuting time about 50 days a year. Waterproof clothing is widely available. Don't put up the hood of your jacket, it reduces your vital peripheral vision. Wear a hat.

For more information, see Go Bike! the local campaign group, and Whycycle.

There's a route planner at Cyclestreets.net.

There is some useful information at Bike Polite. If you have bought a bike from Common Wheel you can come in and get free Bike Polite reflective trouser bands.