How to Encourage Your Fellow Citizens to Bike to Work

May 15 is Bike to Work Day in San Francisco. Biking to work is great on most days, but Bike to Work Day is special because the San Francisco Bike Coalition encourages people to try biking to work with Energizer stations all over the city that reward bikers with small gifts and treats.

I wanted to volunteer at one of these stations, but I was sick during the training sessions so that was out of the question. Since our new office is on a major biking route in San Francisco, Folsom St., where half a dozen riders cross with every light I figured we could do something a little special for the riders on our own.

The solution here is to set up a finish line complete with a tape for riders to break through. We had cheerers, medals for winning, and a "mayor" who would hand out medals and pose for pictures with the winners.

Check it out.

Step 1 Make Up a Race and Prizes

Since it's Bike to Work Day we had to have a Bike to Work Race. And what's a race without a medal? These medals were laser-etched and cut out of a few different kinds of acrylic. The mirrored one is my favorite, though.

Comments

[unaffiliatedperson]

i do, most of my friends do to.

[seedlingproject]

Ed, I love ya.

[fungus amungus]

Thanks, Andrea. We gotta do dinner again soon! Adam's been talking about pizza too long. The time to act is now... or very very soon.

[JowSithm]

I live in Calgary, Alberta. We have oil. Every day, I see pickup after monstrous pickup following parades of SUV's. Each one has one occupant. The driver. Talking on a cell phone. All stuck, unmoving in traffic. Angry. It is sad. I live for my bike(s). I make a living with my bike. I refuse to own a car. Why work to drive to work? The logic is illogical. I tell people, "Just think, never go to a gas station again ('cept to pee). Free parking (in downtown Cowtown parking is more than my rent). No traffic jams. You get to point and laugh. Just ride the damn thing!

[jstoner]

I recommend a U-lock. Here in Chicago a cable lock is an invitation for thieves. If you want space get a bigger one. Also, be careful--it's surprisingly easy to miss the rack and lock your bike to itself. If you do that, either you will get lucky and see that's what happened, or nnot and assume someone defeated the lock. I plaster my gray bike with duct tape. It's a decent bike, it just looks crappy. I've ridden it for 11 years in Chicago, parked in the street all over the city, from Lincoln Park (ritzy neighborhood) to Back of the Yards (rough neighborhood). I also have locking skewers, which means my quick release lever lives on my keychain.

[JowSithm]

U-locks can be a handy deterrent against road raging drivers as well. If an angry driver stops and gets out of the car, grab you're (closed) U-lock by the curved end, and make sure the driver sees that you have it, and are repaired to DEFEND yourself with it. (for God's sake DO NOT attack first (we want to come out as the classy ones)). If shiat hits the fan, what ever you do, DO NOT LET GO OF IT!!! You may want to suck it up and run if this happens. I've been a bike messenger for over 10 years, and it's this has saved my butt on more than one occasion. (Never had to use it though). People three times your size are quite likely to think twice if they think you've snapped and are likely to wail on them with the business end of one of those things. I, in NO WAY am advocating violence, in ANY WAY, but by the time the driver steps out of his (yes, it is usually guys) car, reason and logic are useless. I'd highly recommend doing what you can to exit the situation before it gets that far, as anger and violence make us all look stupid. But there are situations.... and a cracked road rager WILL pray on your defenselessness. I take no responsibility, and use your own discretion. Keep your eyes (and ears) open, and do what you can to avoid the drivers that want to 'play' (they are easy to spot: lead foot, (usually) larger (compensatory) vehicles, tailgaters, in a hurry to get to the next red light, and so on). Use you're head when you ride, and for God's sake, PAY ATTENTION to EVERYTHING that is going on around you.

[JowSithm]

(lol, I filled that with typos. Sorry.)

[andygreen]

Hey, I ride to work (20 miles round trip) and ride for fun on weekends, but avoid riding to the grocery store or any place where I have to leave my bike unattended (destroyed, stolen). Any tips? Thanks!

[JowSithm]

That's awesome! I love hearing that people ride to work! There are a few things that you can do to decrease the risk of some one walking off with your bike: One thing that I'd highly suggest is not riding a flashy bike when you have to leave it locked up. (most thieves know little about bikes, and go for eye candy). I'd recommend buying a 'commuter' bike. If you hunt around (pawn shops, ebay, friends, etc) you can find a decent one for under $300. Short of that, you can "crapify" your bike, with stickers or paint etc (but it's hard to do that to a beautiful bike). The second thing is to properly lock your bike with a GOOD lock. Use a good cable lock (U-locks don't have enough room and can cause damage). Avoid the locks with round keys, they're easy to pick. Lock your bike in a public area, and away from parking cars, doors, driveways and places that people are likely to knock it as they walk by. Always (always, always) lock your bike to something solid (sign, light post, tree, parking meter etc. Unfortunately, most bike racks are crap). Put the lock through the back wheel, and around the seat tube so it locks the wheel and the frame. If you want to, take off the front wheel, seat, and seatpoast clamp, and lock them in there as well, or better yet, take them with you (bikes are harder to ride without a front wheel and seat). If you leave your front wheel on, and if your wheels are the quick release, you can use the bolt on skewers, or use a zip tie to tie the skewer to the fork to keep someone from opening it easily. Take a glance around for shifty lookin dudes (probably best to do before you lock it up). If you're paranoid, and/or leaving it for a long time, you can use two locks.

[Tommyhzy]

You know... I just release my brakes, and use a really skimpy lock... Thinnest lock ever, but when someone tries to ride away, "OMGOMG NO BRAKES ON THIS BIKE AAAHHH A POLE!!!" *Crash*

(: But seriously, your comment was epic.

[A good name]

Well, it's not exactly convienient for farther distance things, but I do agree that if you live close to wherever you have to go, it's better to go there (IE, I can ride up to a store near my house that sells milk and some other things, but my mom normally will go to the grocery store, though I haven't really ever considered that too bad, because we can't get much more than milk and candy at that store)

[JowSithm]

Although I see where you're coming from, I see not having to spend $1000 a month on a car as being pretty convenient. I see being able to eat what I want to and not getting fat as being pretty convenient. I see the stress relieving qualities of bike riding pretty convenient. Most places in the city can be reached within half an hour, and a large portion of them can be reached without hitting a single red light (even through the heart of the city). Cargo capacity can be increased with a decent backpack, rack, panniers, or B.O.B. trailerB.O.B. trailer (I can carry a weeks worth of groceries).

I'm a bikeaholic, I admit it.

[Teriaki]

How much Would one of those trailers cost. I love biking and I'm actuallt pretty scared of rising gas prices. i love the idea of biking from place to place. Its great exercise and an awesome way to hang out.

[JowSithm]

It warms my heart, and restores a little of my faith in humanity to hear people considering bicycles as a viable alternative!! I KNOW that people will be happier when they give it a whirl. I've seen it happen over and over again! Unfortunately, a band new one can be fairly expensive ($200-$450 depending on model, and where you buy). If you keep your eyes open, you can find a good used one for about $100. If you plan on packing on the cargo, or carry heavy things, it is a worthwhile investment as they don't cause the balance anomalies that racks and panniers do, they aren't back breaking like backpacks, and they are nice to your bike. They're remarkably stable, and durable (The trailer of choice for most bike messengers that use trailers). They're expensive to buy, but still faaaaaaar cheaper than cars and gas in the long run.

[Mcblugi]

so if your looking for a bike..... CRAIGSLIST! this is a great place to get a used bike. bikes need to be tuned up so either learn how to do it yourself, find a neighbor or go the expensive way

[jstoner]

some friends of mine have a business building bike trailers... not sure if it's still active: http://bikecargo.com/

They probably should do an 'ible about making these. They are awesome.

[Teriaki]

OK, I have saved up a decent amount of money to buy a new bike and trailer. I have around $300 dollars now. I'm going to buy a new bike and I'm starting to work on a homemade bike trailer.

[killerjackalope]

This I like, one of those making things better 'ibles, on a random note I got stopped by police again, Slipstreaming a bus along the dual caraigeway, which apparently is not for bicycles, they had no idea how I was going that fast, neither understood basic aerodynamics...

[leebryuk]

I was doing the same thing on my road bike in a rural area behind a large van. He was going pretty fast. He came around a corner where I fell behind and I pumped pretty hard when he suddenly came to a stop. I have NEVER handled a bike so deftly at that moment. It was a combination of a hard turn, front tire washout that was corrected and a move into the shoulder between a prominent ditch and the passenger side of the van. I'm sure the driver didn't do it on purpose. He looked lost. But I learned that lesson. It took me a while for my heart to drop below 200 bpm. My hands shaked all the way home.

[killerjackalope]

I watch for it and stay at a good distance, however when I'm scuppered I just stick my legs out and use them to stop the bike hitting the vehicle... My best on was being behind a bus when someone turning on to the road cut it really fine, shoot over towards the outside lane, dodge the car swinging in between the now braking bus and a van and somehow ending up alive...

[threecheersfornick]

My dad hit a shard of glass while slipstreaming a bus. That was bad.

[killerjackalope]

Uhoh, what happened? I've always rode MTB so it's not much of a worry to me...

[threecheersfornick]

Flat tire. Had to keep riding on his rims. Nasty for the bike. On another note, MTB? Mountain bike? (I ride a mountain bike, but my dad rides a road bike. I've never gotten a flat. He gets one monthly.)

[killerjackalope]

yeah, makes a difference doesn't it...

[A good name]

What's slipstreaming?

[killerjackalope]

getting in behind something to take advantage of the already moved air... Like the sameprinciple as hiding behind someone in the wind, except they're moving...

[freakmonkey]

it's often referred to as drafting in racing

[killerjackalope]

Aye one of the two usually, I've heard some wierd things for it but drafting and slipstreaming are th most common terms...

[Brennn10]

In Providence, Rhode Island today, I saw a huge sign for Bike to Work Day. It was so neat. I immediately thought of this Instructable.

[leebryuk]

Man, this makes me want to live in San Francisco. I live in Tampa and we deal with 4-6 lane roads, 60+ mph traffic and burning sun and killing lightning. I will say that the traffic has become more polite over the years. But that sun is a killer. My jobs range from 12 to 38 miles one way and neither has a shower so sadly it is largely impractical. The volume of cars is deafening and frightening during rush hours (7-9 AM and 4 till 6:30PM). I've biked here most of my life and am use to very heavy traffic and know every short cut. It just turns into diminshed returns after a while.

[GorillazMiko]

Cool! We do that here too, my teacher told me this the other day, like 2 weeks ago. :P But I didn't ride by bike to work because I'm gangsta like dat. +5/5 stars.

[natnie]

You know that thing they say about never forgetting how to ride a bike? Not true. I bought a bike last year so I could ride to the bus stop which was about a mile away (I lived for 3 months in the middle of nowhere). But I never once rode it there, because I couldn't stay on the bike for very long without having to stop because I was losing control. :-(

[skeptikool]

I recall an older cruiser-type bicycle that the owner had dressed out in tassels, wheel decorations and all sorts of colorful bric-a-brac. None of it seemed to serve any function other than to serve the whim of the owner. It was a fabulous visual experience and, I'm sure, raised a smile and brightened the day of all who saw it.

[Brennn10]

This is great. I really love the city environment because biking is so much more convenient than living in a more suburban environment. It is awesome that so many people use bikes to ride to work.