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Enjoy A Fall Biking Commute
Our best tips for a Fall bike to work in the New England Autumn air
Commuting by bike is a fabulous way to get or stay in shape, enjoy the outdoors, have a less stressful commute. Fall is a great season to start riding
in the Boston area since the temperatures are generally cool and crisp. But remember, as the days get shorter the temperature drops after sunset, be prepared in order to enjoy a nice bike ride, both to and from work.
Help Your Morning, The Night Before
Evidence
shows that in order to create a new habit, you need to tailor your routine around it. If you want to begin eating healthier, toss the brownies and ice cream and stock your refrigerator with healthy options like Greek yogurt and vegetables. Stop binge-watching Netflix and take a walk instead of planting yourself in front of the TV after dinner. Similar steps are required to get started biking to and from work.
For starters, planning ahead is a must. Many people like to bring a change of clothes along with work shoes, a drink, a safety helmet, and bike lock. If you plan to bring your lunch, or you’re transporting your laptop make sure you have a backpack, bag, or basket to pack them in. Built
makes great sturdy lunch carriers that can be molded to jam into any backpack. They can also be thrown into the wash, for those times you just may hit a pothole with your bike on the way to work.
Set time aside the night before to get everything ready, rather than running around frantic in the morning. The easier you make it, the more likely you will stick to a new habit.
Here is a checklist to help you get started:
- Put your helmet by the door, so it’s easy to grab on your way out.
- Drink! Drink! Drink! You will feel better on your bike ride to and from work and it will help balance your body temp. Fill that water bottle up to the top and drink it! If coffee is your thing then check out this travel mug holder—you can take a sip at each stop (while looking both ways before you cross, of course).
- Dress in comfortable clothing. Remember that the Fall mornings can be a bit chilly, so layering is the best idea so you can adjust as you get warmer. Aim for clothing that is windproof and lightweight, like a windbreaker and maybe a pair of thin gloves if you think your hands might get cold. It’s best to try and be as aerodynamic as possible on your bike in order to brave the Autumn winds.
- Pack a versatile bike lock makes a world of difference. This one just snaps into its holster that you put right onto the frame of your bike, easy on and off. And you know that your bike will be safe while you are at work.
- Light it up and be prepared for the earlier sunset. The Fall season brings with it darkness sooner than you were used to in the summer, (especially with Day Light Saving’s “Fall Back” creeping up quickly).
- ALWAYS remember your lights! At a minimum, a red rear light and a front white headlight are required by law in Massachusetts. Reflective gear and extra lights on your backpack will help you be extra visible, once darkness sets in.
- Check the Direction of the Wind. If you find that you are struggling on your bike ride to work, headwinds may be the culprit. On windy days, add 10-15 minutes for your ride so you arrive at work on time. This useful site will help you with the speed and direction of the wind.
- Carry an Emergency Kit. Always keep an Emergency Kit on hand to be prepared for the “what ifs”. Some important items to have with you are hand warmers, a flashlight, a portable phone charger (make sure to keep it charged), clean socks and a healthy snack.
- Remember to have fun. On your day off, try a few different routes, maybe some quieter streets, or a more scenic route than you usually take. You may find that it’s worth your while to add a few minutes to your cycling ride to work when you aren’t fighting for road space with the cars on the road. Check out Boston’s Bike Lane Map and you can see some alternative routes.
Find Your Local Bike Shops & Gurus
Before you get started, find a good, local bike shop and make sure to schedule regular maintenance on your bike. This will give you peace of mind while you commute to and from work. Some shops or local groups even give lessons on how to maintain your bike on your own or make minor emergency repairs.
Some of our favorite local bike shops include:
61 Galen St, Watertown, MA 02472
(617) 926-1717
1048 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, MA 02215
(617) 232-0446
103 Atlantic Ave, Boston, MA 02110
https://www.urbanadventours.com/
(617) 670-0637
TMA Members, Register for eCommuter & Emergency Ride Home
Want to see how many emissions you’re saving by biking to work? Or find a bike buddy that you can share your ride with? See if your employer or residential location is a member of the Watertown TMA that offers eCommuter.org. If so, you can register online and find helpful biking information like route planning assistance, bike partner matching, a cost-saving calculator, as well as a way to track your trips to see your pollution savings impact and monies saved.
If you have an Emergency Ride Home (ERH)
program available to you, like the one offered through eCommuter, it provides peace of mind for commuters who choose to carpool, vanpool, walk, bike, or use public transportation to get to work. In the event of an emergency, transportation is provided by Lyft™, taxi or rental car – usually within thirty minutes — and at no cost to the participant.
Happy Fall Biking!
This blog post originally appeared on the TransAction Associates
blog, Driven. This content has been customized for Watertown TMA and is redistributed here with permission [source: https://transactionassoc.com/enjoy-a-fall-biking-commute/].
It's officially winter! Are you ready for the snow and ice? Is your car ready? Join Luis Mejia, Fleet Mechanic at TransAction Associates & Corporate Shuttles, as he shares some winter car maintenance and safety tips.
World Car-Free Day 2023 was a huge success! Organized in a variety of ways around the globe, every event shared the unifying goal of reducing the number of cars on the road. The Watertown TMA participated in MassCommute 's 2023 Car-Free Day, the Commonwealth’s Coalition of 15 TMAs to promote and celebrate Car-Free Day in Massachusetts. Commuters who participated helped to make a positive impact on the environment and contributed to a greener Bay State!
The WatConnector launched on September 7, 2021, with hourly service between Watertown Mews on Pleasant Street and Harvard Square. Starting February 13, 2023, the WatConnector will go electric and will run every half hour. Thanks to a grant from MassDOT, along with other public and private funds, two new electric shuttle buses were purchased and will replace the existing gas shuttles.
This past November, Watertown Transportation Management Association (WTMA) commuters were challenged to express their gratitude for the commutes that bring them safely to-and-from the workplace.
Also known as the WATConnector, passengers along Pleasant Street can now get to and from Watertown Square as well as Harvard Square during the AM and PM commutes. The WATConnector Pleasant Street shuttle services are available to participating corporate and residential partners and the public.
As a green commuter, you’ve done your part to help the environment. You found a carpool partner, coordinated schedules, made the trip in together. But what if you arrive at work and find that all of the good parking spots are taken? Many organizations have good intentions when they designate special preferred carpool parking spots in a prime location near an entrance. One carpool space reduces the need for at least one other parking spot. Promoting carpooling is a great way to reduce your parking demand and encourage commuters to share the ride. However, without the proper enforcement and program management in place, the positive impact of the preferential parking incentive can lose its effectiveness. That’s where having a partner like the Watertown Transportation Management Association (WTMA) to manage the program can help.
Everyone knows biking is good for you and good for the planet. Incorporating biking to work and during the workday has its advantages on the business side of things too. Studies have repeatedly shown people who bike are healthier (and therefore take fewer sick days), arrive to work less stressed, and are more productive. Need even more reasons? Below are just a few more of the benefits of biking for your commute: Avoids unhealthy traffic congestion Helps to improve air quality Saves on gas Avoids parking costs Increases your physical activity Reduces your stress Be a member of the bike commuting community Feel the thrill you get from bike riding
The Watertown Connector transports passengers to and from Harvard Square during the AM and PM commutes. There are two services available to participating corporate and residential partners (listed below).
The MBTA Forging-Ahead service cuts were approved by the MBTA's Fiscal Management and Control Board (FMCB) on December 14, 2020. These reductions are being made based on an overall 80% drop in ridership due to the pandemic. Although these cuts are not as severe as originally proposed by the MBTA in early November, they are significant and will impact the Watertown commuter community. According to the MBTA, by focusing on the reductions to service frequency, this allows for better preparation to increase service when ridership returns, after the widespread vaccine distribution.
Walking is something most of us do every day, it is our default transportation mode. By incorporating more regular walking habits into our routines, it can lead to some incredible physical and mental benefits. You're More Creative & Productive "A study done at Stanford showed that walking made participants more creative than their sedentary counterparts. They found that creative output increased 60 percent when a person was walking." source: Medium It's Healthier Than Running According to research reported in the American Heart Association journal Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis and Vascular Biology , "Calorie for calorie, walking also had a stronger impact on heart disease risk factors. The risk of first-time high blood pressure was reduced by 4.2% by running and 7.2% by walking." source: The Guardian Make Your Walk Fun! Plan multiple walks throughout your day. Take a break from the work day and go for a quick 10-minute walk Walk to an errand Create a destination Set out to just enjoy the beauty of nature