You’ve now been commuting for a while, experiencing all the conditions Auckland can throw at you. You have bought all the gear and developed the skills to navigate your way to work confidently. You can now consider yourself a commuting goddess, god or deity of your choice.
You’re probably either much better off financially too, or you’ve bought (yet) another bike.
You’ll probably have workmates who have seen your conversion from driver (or public transport user) to commuting cyclist and may be curious about trying it themselves. You can pass on your new found wisdom, experience and this article to help them. If a few of you start riding, you may be able to get your company to provide better, secure storage for your bikes, a shower and maybe hanging space to dry your stuff in winter. Some inner city businesses have seen the light and have a pool bike or two for getting around town quickly and cheaply without paying for taxis or fighting through traffic.
Become an advocate for safer, inclusive cycling infrastructure. Sign up to Bike Auckland (if you haven’t done so already) and get active with their campaigns. Join your local bike ‘burb to keep in touch with what’s happening locally. If you don’t have a ‘burb, start your own! Turn up or better still volunteer at bike “burb events, bike people are friendly people. If you’d like to put on a bike related event yourself, go for it.
Find out what local infrastructure is planned, and make submissions to your local board supporting or opposing them from a cycling standpoint. Advocate for more cycling infrastructure in your neighbourhood. Don’t think it will happen overnight, but if you don’t start the ball rolling, it’s never going to happen.
Maintain your commuting paths. Council budget cuts means many paths aren’t getting the attention they really deserve. Throw some secateurs in your panniers to trim back overhanging bushes or improve the sight-lines so you can see better around corners. You could pack a dustpan and brush in your pannier to sweep up broken glass.
Learn how to repair punctures so you can do it yourself or help others who are stuck with a flat.
Use your new found fitness to set yourself new challenges. Ride further afield, learn another discipline like mountain biking, gravel or road cycling, enter fun rides or races, give up your day job and become a bike courier, do a “Great Ride” or two, ride the Tour Aotearoa from Cape Reinga to Bluff, ride around the world! Cycling can take you almost anywhere if you’re willing to let it.
I hope you’ve enjoyed this series of articles, if you have any comments or additional thoughts, please let us know.
Roger
Check out the rest of the Commute by Bike series
- So you’re a bike commuter. What next?
- How to commute by bike: going electric or going alternative
- How to commute by bike: coping with road rage
- How to commute by bike: watch-outs for bike commuting
- How to commute by bike: maintaining your bike for commuting
- How to commute by bike: what clothes do you need for bike commuting?
- How to commute by bike: pimping your ride for a bike commute
- How to commute by bike: motivation when you start bike commuting
- How to commute by bike: safety tips for bike commuting
- How to commute by bike: route planning for bike commuting
- How to commute by bike: what stuff do you need?
- How to commute by bike: you and bike commuting
- How to commute by bike: choosing a bike
- How to commute by bike: a series to help start your bike commuting journey
