While biking to the Lab might not be the best option for someone who commutes from Palo Alto or Stockton, it could be a convenient — and even enjoyable — transportation alternative for someone who lives in the East Bay, has easy access to a BART station, and is interested in incorporating some exercise into his or her commute.
To help you get ready for National Bike to Work Day, we put together a list of Do’s and Don’ts with the help of veteran bike commuters David Brown, Flavor Group Leader in the Physics Division (left), Martin Kunz, beamline scientist at the Advanced Light Source (center), and Annette Greiner, web applications developer at NERSC.
Why did you start riding your bike to the Lab?
Annette Greiner, bike commuting to the Lab since 1994: When I started working at the Lab, I had already been a bike commuter when I was in college at the University of Michigan. I feel safer on a bike than in a car. There’s something about being in a car that makes you feel insulated against the rest of the environment. I often see people texting while they’re driving! I feel more alert when I’m on a bike. I also enjoy the exercise and not having to worry about parking.
David Brown, bike commuting to the Lab since 1994: I have been a bike commuter since I was 15 years old! I biked to the Lab when my wife and I lived in Oakland. I biked to work when we had kids and lived in Berkeley. We live in Piedmont now, and I still ride my bike to the Lab almost every day. Bike commuting for me is faster than car commuting, given the time lost in traffic and finding parking.
Martin Kunz, bike commuting to the Lab since 2014: I was looking for a new car when my car was about to break down. A friend suggested that I get an e-bike. My e-bike cost about $5,000, but it is much cheaper than buying and maintaining a new car.
I’m worried about biking up the hills. What can I do to make it easier?
Kunz: Consider investing in an e-bike. It will flatten the hills! E-bikes open up the possibility of bike commuting for non-athletes. My e-bike has a pedal-assist system that measures the amount of power you are using to pedal. If it senses you are using more power to go up hill, it will increase the electric assist from the motor so you won’t have to pedal harder. The system also feeds electricity back to the battery to help recharge it when it senses you’re braking while riding down a steep hill.
I live in Lafayette, and I wouldn’t be able to commute every day on a regular bike. With my e-bike, I can get to the Lab through the hills of Tilden Park within 50 to 55 minutes, and my trip back home is 45 to 50 minutes. In a car, my commute back home is 45 minutes to an hour, depending on traffic.
Greiner: If you don’t feel like riding your bike all the way up Hearst, you can put your bike on a Lab shuttle bike rack, and take the shuttle up the hill. I live in Northwest Berkeley, so it’s pretty easy for me to get to one of the Lab shuttle stops by bike. I sometimes lock up my bike near a shuttle stop on the edge of the UC Berkeley campus and take the shuttle up. That could be an option for someone who’s not yet comfortable with using the shuttle’s bike racks.
I’m interested in riding my bike to work, but I’m afraid of getting hit by a car. How can I protect myself?
Brown: Being afraid to bike in traffic is understandable, but there are many things you can do to make it safer. Realize that drivers are often distracted, and learn how to anticipate what a driver might do. When you’re riding past cars parked on the side of the road, be sure to stay clear of car doors!
When you’re mapping out your trip, take side streets that are parallel to main streets. Traffic barriers are great for bicyclists, because cars can’t get through them.
Greiner: Try to bike with someone who has practiced biking on the roads you’re worried about. Look for a route that’s off of the main streets. And try it one day at a time. Also consider learning about bike rules of the road and hand signals.
Kunz: To avoid traffic during the first three miles of my commute to the Lab, I leave half an hour earlier than I would if I had to drive. I find that most drivers respect bike lanes, so find a route with the most bike lanes. I also use a lot of lights, especially during the winter months.
How should I dress? What should I bring?
Greiner: Wearing padded shorts is good for long rides. Depending on how far you’re riding and whether you’re riding up hills, consider bringing work clothes with you. I like to use a waterproof messenger bag to transport my laptop. And don’t forget to wear a bike helmet!
Brown: I have an emergency rain poncho, and I always have lights. I like to ride up the hills to work, so I wear bike clothes and bike cleats and arrange for showering when I get to the Lab. I bring work clothes with me every day, but I keep my work shoes, toiletries, and extra pairs of the basics in my office in case I forget something.
Kunz: I like to bring office clothes for the week since I bike commute daily. Once a week, I also like to go to the climbing gym in Emeryville. With my lunch and climbing equipment, my backpack weighs about 20 pounds. That’s something I wouldn’t bother transporting without a car if it weren’t for my e-bike.
How can I plan a bike route from my house to the Lab?
Greiner: If you live in Berkeley, check out the City of Berkeley’s Bicycle Boulevard page. Bike East Bay also has wonderful printed bike maps of the Bay Area that show the grades of hills and points of interest to cyclists (like bike shops).
(Note from the TABL editors: You can also try planning your route around the 130 Bike East Bay Energizer Stations located throughout Alameda and Contra Costa Counties the morning of May 12. Some Energizer Stations will offer coffee, snacks, and free bike tune-ups. Check out the Energizer Station map for more information.)
Bike to Work Day is coming up soon, but I’m still not ready…what should I do?
You can start biking to the Lab any day. A couple of major events are coming up soon: The Lab will host a Bike to Work Day on May 19 to celebrate National Bike to Work Day. Check TABL and commute.lbl.gov during the week of May 16 for more information on the May 19th event.
— By Theresa Duque
Staff can provide input via commute.lbl.gov.
Looking for a shower facility near you? See the LBNL Showers page.
Not sure how to use the shuttle’s bike racks? See these instructions on the Lab’s Bus Services page. Or ask a friend or co-worker who’s familiar with using them to show you how.
Wondering where the Lab shuttle stops are located in Downtown Berkeley? See the Lab shuttle schedule here.