450R83101
February 1983
Facilitator's Packet
"Bicycling to Work
15 minute videotape (3/4")
by
N. Dianne Rowe
Bicycle Coordinator
S. Environmental Protection Agency
ANR-445
Special Projects
Office of Policy and Evaluation
Air, Noise and Radiation
401 M Street, S. W.
Washington, 0. C. 20460
Room 2702 Mall
202-382-7756
Credits: Use of Information from Bicycle Commuting Seminar matsrials
by Leslie Baldwin of the Washington Area Bicyclists Association.
and North Carolina Department of Transportation News Feature
April 21, 1982 by Bill Jones.
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Purpose/Introduction:
The videotape, "Bicycling to Work" is designed to inspire people to
commute to work by bicycle. "Authentic" bike commuters ride to work and
discuss parking, routes, professional appearance, and maintenance. Bike/car
and bike/bus commuting options are demonstrated.
A 45 minute bicycle commuting seminar given by local bicycle commuters
telling of good routes, available bike maps, clubs, and bicycle training
courses should follow the showing of the videotape. Personal contact with
an experienced, enthusiastic bicycle commuter is very important to the new
commuter. Seminar facilitators can reiterate the tape's message that bike
commuting is fun, doable, inexpensive and provides great exercise.
Employment centers are prime target locations for showing the tape.
One hour lunch time seminars, where experienced commuters can give specific
information on bike parking and routes to the employment center is ideal.
Other possible audiences for the tape are university students, bike club
members, civic organizations, television, and community fairs.
Early spring is the best time of year for bike commuting seminars.
These seminars can help to get lots of people out for bike-to-work
rallies. There were 7,000 people who hiked to work in Washington, D. C.,
for earth day, 1980.
This package is designed for lunch time - one hour seminars at employ-
ment centers. It can be easily adapted for other audiences. Included is:
(1) steps for planning the seminar and a sample notice, (2) outline for
presenting the seminar, and a sample notice, (3) suggested ideas and facts
to be included in your seminar, (4) list of bicycle commuting materials
available and a sample contact list, and (5) two pamphlets. One person
needs to coordinate the seminar, but needs not present the entire seminar.
A diversity of speakers with individual expertise to divide up the outline
makes for a more interesting seminar. It's not only more fun for the
speakers, but the audience can then see a variety of people with which to
identify when developing their own commuting strategy and image.
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Steps for Planning a "Bicycling to Work" Seminar
1. Determine location of the seminar, (employment center, civic
association etc.).
2. Give yourself at least a month lead time to plan the seminar - start
early before the commuting season.
3. Read Facilitator's Packet.
4. Contact resources in Facilitator's Packet for materials to hand out
at seminar.
5. Make contact with bicycle commuters in the organization where seminar
is to be given. Solicit their help in setting up the seminar and
find out their expertise.
6. Check out room and videotape machine where seminar can be held.
7. Contact bike clubs in area to see if there are any volunteers who
would help with the seminar. Arrange to have their free handouts, or
brochures sent to you for giving to those who attend.
8. Determine expertise of volunteers and decide who should present the
different parts of the outline: bicycle equipment, maintenance,
riding techniques, routes/maps, parking and available resources.
(One person can do more than one part of the outline).
9. Call people and ask if they would help in giving the seminar, and
invite them to a meeting to discuss the presentation.
10. Reserve room preferably several weeks in advance at lunch time in
employment center and determine who will run the videotape machine.
11. Hold meeting for seminar participants. Give them photo copies of the
suggested ideas from "this" package for their part of the outline.
Tell them their time limit. Give them any other information that
you have available. Determine the order of presentation, who will
be the time keeper and who will introduce the speakers if necessary.
Discuss what each participant will present.
12. Draw up a notice and put in employee newsletter. (See Bike Commuters
of Environmental Protection Agency, example.) Post in hallways,
preferably one or 2 weeks before the seminar. Two or three days
before seminar post in men's and ladies' room. Notices can be put
in a gym, recreational facility, credit union and health facility
also. Seminar participants can help to post
notices.
13. Get permission to bring a bike into the building.
14. Bring your fully equipped bike to the seminar.
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15. All seminar participants should arrive 15-30 minutes early to set
up the room. Put out available free hand-outs. Seminar participants
can sit at a table facing the audience.
16. Start on time. Do not go over 1 hour, otherwise, people will have
to leave to go back to work, which will be distracting.
17. Pass around a sign-up sheet so that you can invite people to any
followup seminars on bicycle activities.
18. Prior to the seminar develop a contact sheet of where people can
get local bike maps and materials, the local agency and person
responsible, their phone number and address and any other pertinent
information like cost of map. (See sample copy for D. C.) Make
copies and distribute at the seminar.
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CONTACTS
April 1980
Bike Route/Maps Resources for Bike Commuting in the Washing Metropolitan Area
AREA MAP
D.C.
Metro
Area
D.C. COG Bike Map
Metro 8 Routes of Va. ,
Area D.C. & Md.
D.C. Bike Routes
Existing &
Planned —
Preferential
Street Map in
Devel opment
Arlington, Bikeway
VA. Map
Montgomery Bicycling
County, MD Routes in Lower
Montgomery
County
Bike Recreation/Touring/Longer
In and Greater
Around Washington
the Area Bicycle
Washington Atlas
Area
Along East Coast
East Bicycle Trail
Coast
Bike Trips
Southeastern
PA. Regional
Map of Bicycle
Opportunities
N.C.
Boston
Oregon
and others
ORGANIZATION/CONTACT COST
Pedal Pool for contacts in your Free
area to help you scout out a route
Washington Area Bicyclists Assoc.
1332 Eye Street, N.W.
Washington, D. C. 20005
Chris Newman $1.00
Council of Governments
1825 Eye Street, N. W.
Washington, D. C. 20006
D.C. Dept. of Transportation Free
Bicycle Office
Eileen Kadesh
Washington, D. C. 20004
Department of Public Works Free
c/o Warren Goodlet
1400 Court House Road North
Arlington, VA. 22201
Chips Johnson Free
Office of Transportation Planning
Montgomery County DOT
Rockville, MD 20850
Rides
Washington Area Bicyclists Assoc. $3.50
1332 Eye Street, N.W .
Washington, D. C. 20005
East Coast Bicycle Congress $4.00
626 S. 4th Street
Philadelphia, PA 19147
Mr. William H. Wilcox, Secretary
Department of Consumer Affairs
South Office Building Rm. 216
Harrisburg, PA 17120
Nina Rowe, Bicycle Coordinator
- ^*cMBV
PHONE NUMBER
393-2555
223-6800
727-5906
558-2941
468-406 c'
393-2555
755-057;-
Tues.
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Information that can be used for Bicycle Commuting Seminars
I. Brief Introduction to Seminar 2 mlns.
The purpose of this seminar is to introduce bicycle commuting. A 15
minute videotape showing people biking to work and telling how and why
they commute by bicycle will be shown. Following the tape, we will discuss
all aspects of bike commuting and answer questions.
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II. Show Videotape 15 mins.
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III. Personal Testimony 5 mins.
- Tell why you commute and how you got started.
- Benefits of Bike Commuting:
- Health, exercise - don't have to take extra time to exercise -
can do it easily.
- Speed - for distances under 4 miles, bike can usually beat
car or transit.
- Fun - enjoy being outside.
- Recreation - see other bikers, enjoyment on way home
from work instead of being caught in traffic jams.
- Save money - can save $15.00 a week if you would have to pay
for car parking. Otherwise you can save between $300 - $1000 per
year.
- Parking space - easy to find, takes up little space, easy
to park.
- Flexibility/convenience no waiting for carpools or buses.
- Mental Break - good outlet for frustration.
- Status.
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IV. Bicycle Equipment 5 mins.
The Bicycle: Any bicycle is O.K. as long as it is in good
working condition and fits you. Buy bikes from bike shops
because they will make adjustments for you and help you
with maintenance.
Saddle height: Saddle should be positioned so that your
knee is slightly flexed when the crank reaches its lower
position and the ball of your foot is on the pedal.
Handlebar height: Same height as seat.
Distance from saddle to handlebars: With elbow touching the
nose of the saddle the tips of your fingers should touch the
handlebar where it is connected to the bicycle.
Equipment:
- Small tool kit with air pump for road flats.
- Toe clips help position foot properly and allow push and
pull.
- Helmet - your head is the most vulnerable part of
your body.
- Rack over back tire.
- Pack for carrying clothes, lunches, papers - (backpack,
front basket, panniers, or front handlebar bag).
- Shock cords for holding things to rack.
- Optional: Water bottle, bell or whistle, fenders, rear
view mirror.
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V.
Maintenance
Check for:
5 mins.
- Properly inflated tires: (danger of flats if
too low)
- Proper gear adjustment.
- Brake adjustment.
Get a bike maintenance
manual or take to bike
shop. If improperly
adjusted, gears will
slip and shifting may
be difficult. Brakes
will not stop adequately
if not adjusted.
- Lights - make sure generator or batteries work.
Flat tires: carry tire irons, and an extra tube. To change
a flat, remove wheel, than remove tire with irons, remove tube,
check for glass, replace with new tube and pump tire.
Oil chain after riding in rain and once every few weeks.
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Useful Bicycle Equipment to show at Seminar.
a 10-speed bicycle equipped with the following:
- toe clips
- rear rack
- front and/or rear panniers and/or backpacks and/or handlebar bags
- reflectors
- lights, including leg lights
- water bottle
- horn, bell, whistle
- fenders
- basket
- "grab-ons"
- kick stand or "flick stand"
- helmets
- rear view mirror
- bungy cords (shock cords)
- gym bag or canvas bag in lieu of panniers
- pump
- tire changing kit including tire irons, patches, glue, and spare tube
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VI. Bike Route
If possible make available a list of people who commute by bicycle
to the employment center and their departure point. Distribute to the
new commuters so they can contact those people directly about their
routes.
- Tell of bike maps available and bike clubs to contact.
- Route depends on type of commute. If it is for speed - a direct
route in traffic will be best. If it is for relaxation, away
from noise, stress, cars, air pollution, a more peaceful way
may be along bike paths and side streets.
- Map out the route.
- Scout out the route on the weekend with a friend.
- Allow extra time the first couple of commutes.
- Experiment and refine your route.
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VII. Bike Parking 5 mins.
- Tell of any available bike parking facilities and who
to contact.
- Park in well lit public places, where many people walk
by, or near guards.
- Register your bike. Record serial number at home and
keep it with bill of sale and description of bike.
- Always lock bike when leaving it.
- Lock both front and rear wheels with frame to a stationary object.
- Place all locking devices high off ground with no slack.
- U-lock, shaped like a horseshoe is the most theft resis-
tant lock.
- Good padlock, chain or cable is relatively secure. Padlock
should have case hardened steel body, these resist sawing
or cutting and make the lock shatter proof. Use short
shackled locks.
- Steel cables are lighter than chains. One piece lock
and cable are not recommended. (They can be easily picked
or shattered).
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VIII. Clothing and Clean-up 5 mins,
- Personal preference options: Bike in work clothes;
bike in bike clothes, change at office; or bike in
bike clothes and leave professional clothes at Office.
- Tips for dressing
- Don't over dress.
- In winter, wear loose layers, and as little as
possible to avoid sweating.
- Be visible, wear light colored clothing, preferably
white. Safety vests, and flags also help visibility.
- Wear leg bands to keep pants out of chain.
- Winter dress options.
- Sweatshirts/pants/long underwear/wind breaker.
- Shorts with leg warmers or knee socks, down vest,
down coat for under 25°, accompanied by head band,
wool hat, wool mittens or gloves.
- Summer dress: Shorts, T-shirt, bike gloves, sneakers
or bike shoes, wind breaker for cold mornings.
- Rain gear: Ponchos, shoe guards.
- Packing clothes: roll between plastic bags, put heavy items,
(shoes, purse) on bottom.
- lay out clothes the night before.
- use plastic bottles for deoderant, alcohol, cologne etc.
pack in separate pockets if possible.
- Optional: lip protection, sun glasses or visors.
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(Con't)
VIII. Clothing and Clean-up 5 mlns.
For items easy to forget (ties, belts) leave extra
at office or always leave in bottom of bike bag.
Do quick "bottom to top check" before leaving house,
or make a list and check over list.
When you know you can't ride in, wear hard to transport
outfits.
Cleaning up: Tell of available showers.
- If none available, clean-up with alcohol, cold water,
or "wet ones" in restroom.
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B1cycle Clothing and Accessories to Demonstrate
- summer dress such as cycling shorts, cycling jersey, windbreaker.
- cycling gloves.
- cycling shoes.
- sunglasses/visors.
- winter dress such as wool mittens, sweatpants/sweatshirts,
long-sleeved jerseys, down vest, down coat, wool headband,
wool hat.
- safety vests for visibility/
- rain poncho.
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IX. Riding Techniques 5 mins.
- Ride in good position, sit with your back at
45° angle with elbows slightly flexed.
- Use proper gears so neither lungs or legs wear
out too fast. (If gearing is too low - your lungs
tire, if too high, legs tire).
- Become part of traffic flow, ride with traffic on
the right side of traffic lane, not curb or gutter.
- When passing parked cars allow distance for opening
car doors.
- Ride predictably, signal all moves, and obey traffic
laws.
- Left turns - tell about dog leg or changing lanes
using hand signals.
- Watch for hazards: grates, being cut off by cars or
buses, etc.
- Practice a few simple maneuvers in a near parking lot
to avoid dangerous situations:
- Ride a straight line while looking behind you,
over left shoulder or use your rear view mirror,
and ride one handed so you can
execute proper hand signals.
- Practice obstacle avoidance by laying out irregularly
spaced objects. Ride through them keeping center
of gravity low on the pedals.
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IX. Riding Techniques 5 mlns.
- Ride in good position, sit with your back at
45° angle with elbows slightly flexed.
- Use proper gears so neither lungs or legs wear
out too fast. (If gearing is too low - your lungs
tire, if too high, legs tire).
- Become part of traffic flow, ride with traffic on
the right side of traffic lane, not curb or gutter.
- When passing parked cars allow distance for opening
car doors.
- Ride predictably, signal all moves, and obey traffic
laws.
- Left turns - tell about dog leg or changing lanes
using hand signals.
- Watch for hazards: grates, being cut off by cars or
buses, etc.
- Practice a few simple maneuvers in a near parking lot
to avoid dangerous situations:
- Ride a straight line while looking behind you,
over left shoulder or use your rear view mirror,
and ride one handed so you can
execute proper hand signals.
- Practice obstacle avoidance by laying out irregularly
spaced objects. Ride through them keeping center
of gravity low on the cirttor pedal5 while in a turn.
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X. Resources and Contacts. 5 mins.
Tell about the local and national bicycle clubs,
(see next page). Give out any free brochures and
tell of available effective cycling courses or
bike maintenance curses.
XI. Questions
Allow some time for questions and dialogue between
experienced commuters and novice/potential commuters.
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Resources and Materials Available
Local
1. Address and phone number of local bicycle clubs, bike coordinator
and other places where maps and bike materials can be obtained.
(see sample for the Washington Metropolitan area - page 5).
2. List of names, phone numbers and addresses of commuters in the
employment center.
Mailing address:
P.O. Box 988
Baltimore, MD 21203
Handout Membership
brochures
National
1. League of American Wheelmen
10 East Read Street
Baltimore, MD
301 727-2022
2. Bicycle Federation
Suite 309
1101 Fifteenth Street, N.W.
Washington, D. C. 20005
(202) 659-5540
3. Bicycling Magazine, Inc.
33 E. Minor Street
Emmaus, PA 18049
(215) 967-5171
4. Bicycling Commuter's Service
2690 Laurel Lindale Road
Hog Hollow
New Richmond, Ohio 45157
(513) 553-4015
Materials
1. Any brochures from bike clubs, maps or hand outs you can get
locally.
2. Copies of Bi cy c 1 e Comrnut i n g and Cycling in Traffic (one of each
enclosed). For copies to distribute at your seminar write to:
Ray Lauer
Bicycling Magazine
Cycling Tips
33 Minor Street
Emmaus, PA 18049
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