Kicking the [Oil] Habit

With the price of oil going through the roof, it seems that riding a bicycle has become an increasingly better alternative to driving. Riding a bike to and from work is hard work. Starting after a mile, one generally begins to sweat, and it can be quite an arduous trek getting from home to the office. You may have to do it in the snow, or on 100 degree days. It's rewarding in its own right, however people typically ask themselves how practical it is to bike to work.

Now, granted, biking to work doesn't work for all people. If you live too far away from your office, then biking is out of the question. Even if you don't live that far away (5+ miles), you may still find yourself worrying about not being able to respond quickly enough should you get a call from the school nurse about your kid being sick. A number of "life" criteria, essentially, must be met in order for biking to become a viable alternative to driving. Hence, with respect to this phenomenon, the following list has been compiled.

1) One must have a bicycle to ride. Generally, a newer than older bike is better, mainly for reliability's sake.

2) One must carry a lock with them wherever they go. As a result of the risk of theft, the bike commuter must always bring with him/her a lock of moderate quality. A cheap cable lock won't do- it's almost asking to have one's bike ripped off. A heavier lock, for example a chain w/ padlock, is the best way to go. Once one obtains a quality lock however, the weight of the lock can become an issue.

3) One mustn't have kids. Quick response is necessary when dealing with kids... and quick response, while the wind may feel quick on one's face whilst riding, cannot generally be achieved with a bicycle.

4) One must have changes of clothes at their workplace, and have a place to change into those clothes. Invariably, there are 5 months of the year where one is guaranteed to sweat on his/her jaunt to work. Unless one showing up to work smelly and sweaty is an appeal or is necessary for one's job, having a change of clothes there will probably be necessary.

5) One must get to know their local bike shop professionals by first name (for the following reason).

6) One needs accessories. Starting with a floor pump, one will also inevitably need a tire gauge, a helmet, a lock, a chain of sorts to accompany the high-quality lock, a bell, front and rear lights/reflectors, and lubricants. After one's got all that, he/she guaranteed at some point to face either a blown tube or a busted tire/wheel. To repair a flat, one will need to visit his/her friend(s) at the bike shop again. Beyond all this, a rear rack with panniers should also be a consideration.

7) One may be safer in one's car than on one's bike...given the tendency for bicycle accidents, particularly in cities.

Add additional points in the comments section.

As you can see, there are a number of criteria to consider when you're looking to become a bike commuter. Namely, the finances and the sweating are to be remembered when deciding. Affording a bike and its accessories, however, is still a pretty minuscule investment compared to an automobile. In fact, everything above would probably cost less in an entire year than car insurance for just six months. Consider it. Even then, you can calculate the gas you'd save by riding rather than driving- the gas savings alone should be enough of a convincer to switch.