Biking!

While working at National Wildlife Federation this summer, I commuted via bicycle once every other week or so; it was 10 miles each way (took an hour) and although it was a bit of a trek, it was a great experience! When I was at Duke I also often bike commuted although that was much shorter--a 10-min bike ride each way. What's so nice about is that not only are you reducing your carbon emissions by not driving, you're also getting exercise, getting time outside, and being out in the community and getting to know other like-minded people, so it covers many bases in one fell swoop. I found that I had a big smile on my face and really enjoyed the commute, whereas whenever I drove (especially in the DC area) I was stressed, felt lazy and felt easily annoyed by other drivers or by pedestrians and bikers. I felt much more in touch with the rhythm of nature by biking, as I got to observe close-up what the weather was like and got to observe nature along the way--I even almost hit a deer on my bicycle one day! Which is obviously much less dangerous on your bike; the worst that could happen is I would have bumped into it gently since I wasn't going very fast. I really hope that more people in the DC area will take up biking to work, as I think it will help greatly to reduce traffic problems and commuting frustrations in the area.

One word of caution to anyone who decides to take up bike commuting is to be a careful and considerate biker; I've observed many bikers on the W&OD trail who are quick to flick off drivers (even when the drivers weren't doing anything wrong) or not obey basic biking rules such as biking on the right side of the street, checking for cars before crossing the street, hand signaling or notifying pedestrians when they are passing. These are very important to implement for your own safety and for others' safety. And, even when drivers do something wrong, try not to get too irate about it, because that just further increases hostility between bikers and drivers that is already pretty bad. Flicking someone off doesn't solve anything!

You might make a driver more angry toward bikers which may make them more likely to be hostile toward bikers in the future, so consider that before acting too hastily.

Have fun out there and hope to hear your bike commuting stories!