ST Art Researcher Jeanette Wang updates readers on the progress of her car-free pledge. See its not because I do not want to cycle. Sometimes, there is just too much hassle. I will let her explain.
"IT WASN'T going to be easy from the start.
Who was I kidding? If it were that easy to just ditch the car and ride a bike everywhere instead, most people would be doing it. The reality is, the bike can't take you everywhere, especially in certain situations.
A week ago, I announced on this blog that I would try to commute by bike as much as possible, in an effort to make my carbon footprint smaller. Here's a breakdown of how I've fared so far:
* Tuesday, Dec 1 -- Success: Biked to work and back.
* Wednesday, Dec 2 -- Failed: Day off from work. Had to pick up four big bags of items (that required two pairs of hands to carry) on the other side of the island, so the two options were drive or cab. I drove.
* Thursday, Dec 3 -- Success!
* Friday, Dec 4 -- Success!
* Saturday, Dec 5 -- Failed: The Singapore Marathon was the next day, and I wanted to save my legs for the race. Drove to work instead.
* Sunday, Dec 6 -- Semi-success: Cabbed to the Singapore Marathon start line but took the bus home after the race.
* Monday, Dec 7 -- Failed: Legs too sore from the Singapore Marathon.
I have to say, the weather was pretty kind to me in the past week. On two evenings I cycled home from work on wet roads after a storm. That was the closest I got to getting drenched by the rain.
But though weather didn't prove to be a deterrent this week, some logistical issues did.
For one, bicycle commuting is not ideal when you have many items, especially heavy ones, to ferry around. You could equip your bicycle with panniers, but even so you could never carry as much as your car boot does. And carrying too much while cycling could also prove to be dangerous anyway.
Second, some days you just have to rest, out of necessity or exhaustion. Yes, I could have taken public transport to work and back on Saturday and Monday, but I was strapped for time then and a one-way bus journey to work would have taken nearly an hour. At least I succeeded with public transport on Sunday!
So, a couple of problems encountered so far in my quest to go car-less. But the key positive -- other than some money saved and calories burnt -- is the headache-free, jam-free journeys. Somehow, cycling home after work also helps clear my head. It's always nice to get some fresh air after a day cooped up in a cubicle.
Riding to work takes some planning, though. With Singapore's weather, you can't possibly commute more than a few kilometres without breaking a sweat. So that means you probably will not be commuting in your work clothes or shoes. What to do then? Well, I'm sure there are many ways to tackle this issue. But here's what I do.
1. Leave a couple of pairs of work shoes, toiletries and a towel at my work desk.
2. Use a 17-litre cycling-specific backpack to carry my gear. Its advantages over a normal backpack is that it's lighter, more ventilated, is waterproof and has reflective material to ensure I get seen in the dark. It also has an external removable webbing to hold a helmet or extra gear, and chest and waist straps so the bag wraps snugly around my body and doesn't bounce around when I ride.
3. Work clothes, a small hand towel, laptop and charger, notebooks, documents and other work-related items go into the backpack. A 17-litre backpack, I feel, is just right to fit all the necessities in.
4. Cycle in a pair of bike shorts and dri-fit top. Rinse these clothing in warm water when you get to work so they don't stink later -- you won't want to ride home in smelly clothing! Find a place to let them air-dry on a hanger. On your feet, either a pair of sports shoes (flip-flops are very dangerous to cycle in as they offer your feet no protection) or cycling shoes, if you use clip-in pedals.
5. Attach a saddle bag to your bike and put a spare tube, bike levers, a mini handpump and mini toolset in, just in case you get a puncture or a technical issue with the bike. Of course, ensure that you know how to use these tools first!
6. Don't forget your bike chain and lock. Get a good heavy chain and lock, unless you want your prized possession to be stolen! When locking your bike to a permanent fixture, ensure the chain loops through both the frame and the wheels, or at least one of the wheels.
7. Most importantly, safety comes first. Wear a helmet and sunglasses (to prevent dirt and debris from entering your eyes when travelling at speed), and have front and rear blinking lights and reflective ankle straps.
Finally, don't forget to factor in the extra time it takes to travel by bike. For me, it takes about 15 minutes to drive to work and 18 minutes to bike to work. (No, I don't ride that fast, but driving to work takes a longer route as I have to do a U-turn. The cycling route is about 3km shorter.) Also factor in the time spent showering after the ride -- about 10 minutes for me -- though it's not exactly extra time spent as you would have showered anyway before you drove to work. So, all things considered, I leave home 15 minutes earlier than I would if I were to drive to work.
To sum up a very long blog entry, bicycling commuting has its challenges, but once you get the hang of it, it is actually pretty practical and easy to do.
Lets see how long I can keep this up for!"
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