All News
Tips for Beginner Cyclists Who Want to Ride All Year Long
May is Bike Month may be over, but with more than 260 sunny days per year in the Sacramento region, there are still plenty of opportunities to hop on your bike and enjoy. SACOG interviewed five regional leaders who are working to build safer streets and active transportation infrastructure -- who ride their own bikes as a way to get around and connect with their communities.
These leaders have a lot of experience riding to work, the grocery store, and with their kids (and dogs) to places across the region. With so much knowledge, we asked them to share: “What advice would you give to someone curious about riding their bike more?”
Here’s what they each had to say:
Ali Doerr Westbrook, Active Transportation Resource Center Project Manager, Caltrans, encourages new riders to check out resources available at the Sacramento Area Bicycle Advocates and the League of American Bicyclists for tips and guides to get started.
“There’s so many great organizations in Sacramento. I’m really connected with the Sacramento Area Bicycle Advocates. On their website, they have tips and tricks for people who are getting started biking, also different bike rides that you can go on depending on your level and comfortability being on a bike, so they’re a great resource. The League of American Bicyclists has lots of tools and guides for folks who are new to biking.”
Alex Cole-Weiss, external relations analyst, SACOG, advises that riders start with fun destinations, and don’t forget a helmet!
“Get a helmet you love and wear it. Get a bell and ring it when you see other people biking. For getting started, you can pick a fun place to bike to -- think ice cream, coffee, any special treat -- or even just do a loop in your neighborhood to experience something familiar in a new way. Confidence is a habit!”
Alyssa Lee, program manager, 50 Corridor Transportation Management Association, says don’t be afraid to ask for help from fellow cyclists. The community wants to help you feel safe and comfortable and is willing to share what they’ve learned.
“I’d say, ask for help and don’t be afraid to do one step at a time... Everyone can have a bad interaction, but overall, everyone in the biking community really wants you to feel comfortable biking. They're really happy to like give you tips. In fact, they might just give you too many tips.”
David Pape, Principal Planner of Grants and Funding, SACOG, explains that getting started is one of the hardest parts. But asking others about their experience and finding a route you feel comfortable on can be good first steps to getting out and starting your ride.
“I think getting out there and trying it is often the hardest part. Look for routes that have the infrastructure available and start there. Maybe connect with folks who already ride and ask about their experiences. Once you've taken that first ride, it can feel a lot less intimidating.”
Sabrina Bradbury, Deputy Director, California Association of Councils of Governments (CALCOG), says aiming to replace one or two trips a week or month can make a big difference. Riders should choose their bike when it makes the most sense for them and their schedules.
“For those who maybe are nervous about biking to work or feel like ‘Oh, that doesn’t work for me because I have kids,’ or ‘I have to worry about being dressed professional right when I walk in the building’ – I think it’s about finding those one or two days a week or a month. Because there are plenty of days where – because I have kids’ activities – I’m like, yeah, biking doesn’t really work for me well today. But if everybody is looking for those few days to leave the car at come, it can make a big difference for air quality... You can bike to work when it works for you, and when it doesn’t, that’s okay.”