Sweat, adrenaline, anxiety, satisfaction, clunkiness, and joy. These are just some of many words that describe my very first bike-to-work commute in July. Above all, the word that comes to mind is “peace”, as I’m finally able to practice a teeny bit of what I preach.
My name is Tiffany Orth, and I have served as the Executive Director of Move Minneapolis for the past three years. Some may be wondering why I’m just getting to my first bike commute, three years in — or how I even got the job with no bike commute credentials on my resume.
Well, I’m the first to say that I represent many individuals who care about our planet and community but are also balancing life circumstances that bring tradeoffs. This has helped me approach the job with empathy and a realistic lens to what the average person considers when making transportation choices. (I could go on a very long soap box moment about how our movement could be better served by suspending judgment and bringing empathy to each other’s individual circumstances and choices.)
How I got here
I recently moved from Saint Paul to the North Loop (technically in the downtown Minneapolis orbit). I will spare readers all the various factors that informed my decision to leave Saint Paul and jump straight to an exciting outcome of this move: being able to finally become a bike commuter.
Up until this point, I have mainly biked recreationally. Biking for transportation held deep-seated fear for me as my family has a history of getting hit by buses. I also have a dog with health issues and a schedule that is both unpredictable and ever-changing which makes biking even more difficult to integrate. Yet through both my job and personal relationships, I found myself slowly trying to bike more and more, particularly around downtown Minneapolis, and this helped to build my comfort and confidence over time.
Preparing for the commute
To prepare for my very first bike commute, I rode the route with my boyfriend in advance which greatly eased my mind and helped me plan out the timing. We identified the route based on his working knowledge of downtown Minneapolis bike infrastructure though I highly recommend using Google Maps to plan any bike trips. I invested in a stylish backpack to aid in hauling my laptop and beauty essentials while not encumbering any movement. (There is an embarrassing purse-flying-out-of-a-basket story that could be its own blog post). I planned an outfit that would be comfortable and flexible enough to ride in while also work appropriate (skirt, tee, and strappy sandals). With everything in place, I was ready to go!
The first ride
My first bike commute brought both the expected and unexpected. My planned route had to be adjusted to accommodate for some unexpected traffic congestion that made me feel unsafe. (I hopped over to a different street.) The ride and the aftermath of getting settled into the office took longer than expected, causing me to be slightly late to a meeting. My hair got in the way of everything, and the ride felt unnatural as I was constantly trying to keep various tips and steps in place in my head.
But, I also felt deep satisfaction at riding past cars stuck in traffic, and the inner peace I mentioned earlier that comes with being able to live by my values and do something good for myself and the environment. It also helps that I have such a beautiful place to ride through along West River Parkway by the Mississippi River.
I could go into all the various biking benefits and challenges that we frequently talk about at Move Minneapolis, but I’ll leave you with a simple note: you’ll never regret trying something, and don’t feel like you need to hold yourself to any ideal standard.
3 Weeks Later…
I’m happy to report that things do in fact get easier the more trips you take. After trial and error, I have identified a shorter, safer route, and more things have become routine. This makes it easier to not have the bike commute seem like such a big undertaking every day but rather something you can do without putting too much thought behind.
My bike commuting is fledgling, imperfect, and inconsistent. But I’m trying and getting better. Let’s give each other the space to tiptoe in and try.
Some tips that were particularly helpful for me:
- Always assume you’ll need more time than you plan for.
- If you’re ever not sure or something doesn’t look safe, feel free to get off your bike and walk or take a moment to get your bearings.
- Try biking first with people who are going to be patient and nonjudgmental.
- Pack what you need to make the transition from commuter to office-ready.
- Don’t feel like you need to go from zero to sixty. Try biking to work one day or once in a while and build from there.
Of course, I encourage you to explore Move Minneapolis resources on bike commuting as well!
- Schedule a no-cost 15-minute Customized Consultation to talk through your biking options and get support from a friendly face!
- Explore bike-share
- Check out our biking basics
- Have kids? Watch our Bike Commuting with a Family webinar recording
