The Rideshare Company is always looking for sustainable and smart commute options. One that we love to talk about is biking to and from work to maintain a healthy lifestyle and minimize the number of cars on the road.
It comes as a surprise to many how physically demanding it is to ride a bicycle as your means of transportation.
It is an obstacle that keeps people from seeing this as a reasonable way to commute. We have had our eye on an emerging sector of the bicycle industry that may solve a majority of the problems revolving around biking to work. Many have heard of them, but few have ridden one for themselves… E-Bikes!
Electric Bikes are quickly making their way to the top of bike culture, and even replacing cars in countries around the world.
What is an E-Bike?
E-Bikes are unique bicycles with a small electric motor that makes pedaling easier and can propel you up hills and terrain like no bike has done before. This mechanic takes away many of the inconveniences that keep people from riding bikes.
A huge plus-side to E-Bikes is the way they reduce the barrier to bike riding. Not every average person is conditioned to ride 5-10 miles to and from work. E-Bikes make it easy to cover these distances with the electric assist, building strength, endurance and confidence of riders.
While E-Bikes sell for high prices, people weigh the cost in comparison to owning a second car. It becomes well worth the investment when you take out monthly car payments, gas prices, and basic car maintenance.
If you’ve been weighing the pros and cons of getting a bicycle, add E-Bikes to your research. You will likely begin to see more of them as time goes on, along with an increase in safe bike lanes and routes all over cities around the country.
Now that we all have facemask tan lines to worry about, it is at the front of our personal care priorities to wear sunscreen on our faces and bodies every day.
Broad-spectrum to protect against UVA and UVB rays
SPF 30 or higher
Water resistance to stand up to sweat
What is the Difference Between UVA and UVB?
UVA is known as Ultraviolet A. These wavelengths are present all year and in any weather. UVA penetrates deep into the skin and causes long-term skin damage, wrinkling, and aging.
UVB is Ultraviolet B. This is the wavelength that plays a major role in burning, tanning, accelerating skin aging, and the development of skin cancer.
Why SPF 30 or Higher?
Any sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30 blocks 97% of the sun’s UVB rays. As you go higher than 30 SPF, the level of protection only increases very minimally. Unfortunately, no sunscreen can block 100% of harmful rays from the sun.
Be Kind to Your Skin!
If you bike, walk, take public transit, or drive solo or in a car/vanpool to work, remember to apply sunscreen before you head out for the day. You’d be surprised at the sun’s power. Even through the car windshield, UVA rays can penetrate the skin.
Beautiful, healthy skin loves vitamin D from the sun. Make sure you are always wearing sunscreen so that you can nourish your body and mind with fresh air and sunlight in the safest way possible!
The Center for TDM and Association for Commuter Transportation (ACT) are conducting a nationwide survey of commuters to collect feedback on how COVID-19 may impact the mode split of commuters returning to worksites. There is great concern within the TDM industry that we may see a significant shift to driving alone when millions of employees return to their worksites as regions begin to reopen their economies.
Results from the survey will provide important information to our members, transportation providers, policy makers, and employers on how to meet the needs of commuters and help ensure their return to the worksite is safe, reliable, and sustainable.
This survey can be completed by all individuals currently working or planning to return to work in the coming months. The survey will take 2 minutes to complete.
As a commuter, we hope that you will share this survey with others to help us gather a deep understanding of how commute patterns may change nationwide.
As an added incentive, all participants can choose to be entered in a drawing for one of five (5) $100 Amazon gift cards. All submissions received by June 26, 2020 will qualify for the drawing.
June 5 is a day that offers a global platform for inspiring positive change across the world. Since established by the United Nations in 1972, this day is renowned for environmental action.
We can think of this day as the sister celebration to Earth Day—A chance to spread messages of respect and conservation for our shared home.
It’s easy to let the connection that binds us to our environment slip our minds. Having an international day to recognize our responsibility to protect it reminds us of this message, and allows us to view the world in terms of each individual nation as a global community.
We are given a chance to think about the way we consume. Businesses can push to develop greener models. Manufacturers are encouraged to produce more sustainably on this day. Governments are urged to safeguard wild spaces. Educators use this day to inspire students to live in harmony with the earth. These students will be the fierce gatekeepers of a green future for generations to come.
The theme for World Environment Day 2020 is “Biodiversity”. The idea of biodiversity encompasses all the different species on the planet—all 8 million to be exact. From plants and animals to fungi and bacteria, we all share an ecosystem that can be looked at as an intricate web in which we all act as an interdependent part.
As we know, our world is in the midst of a global disease pandemic as COVID-19 spreads all around the globe. This creates the need for an urgent call to action when it comes to understanding and taking care to acknowledge biodiversity and how every separate part of the web affects the others.
World Environment Day is the perfect time to use this year’s hardships as a learning and teaching moment. To look upon the issues and see the big picture of biodiversity will help us to all underscore the fact that we are intimately connected with nature. To protect ourselves from the spread of pathogens like Coronavirus, we must protect the environment.
Every time you choose to turn off the lights when you leave the room, reduce food waste, recycle, make attempts to use less plastic, shop locally, plant your own herbs or vegetables, or decide to use eco-friendly alternatives in your everyday life, you are making a difference.
Every single positive change we make is one that pushes us toward a healthier, safer world. If everyone made one small effort every day, like switching to LED lightbulbs in our home, our environment would thank us in return. Maybe in ways we cannot see, but in ways that would benefit the intricate web that we all have a place in.
May is National Bike Month and also host to Bike to Work Day, always held on the third Friday of the month, May 15th. Since many of us may not be going back to work until after May 15th we can still find other ways to get in the spirit and bike essentially or non-essentially. Let’s explore!
Bike to Work Day was first introduced as a way to help commuters understand that they don't have to drive their cars to work. They can save money and the environment by biking to work instead. May is the perfect month to hold the event. It’s when the weather finally starts to get nice in many parts of our country. It's the first real sign of spring and people really want to get outside This year you may not be "commuting" to the office every day, but instead grabbing a cup of coffee and "telecommuting" from your home office due to the stay at home mandates. Or maybe you are an essential worker and you are going into work, but you no longer feel safe taking public transit so you are driving solo instead.
Let’s dust off the old bike and start off small if you have not been on your bike in a while. You will want to build up your endurance first. Right now, more than ever, exercise and getting outside is needed. It not only helps with your physical health, but your mental health as well. Studies show that people who exercise regularly show improved mental health, self-esteem and less physical pain because of the endorphins your body creates when you exercise. Ever notice how much better you feel after you get some exercise? You are almost always more positive and energized after a good workout. Below are some ideas to help you get started:
1: If you are still going to the office, go online before you get on your bike.
Search ‘bike to work’ or ‘bike routes’ and add your city or town. You’ll discover some great resources for everything there is to know about biking to work. Depending on the length of your commute, you may be able to bike the entire route. And if the mileage is in the double digits, remember start small. You can possibly drive your bike to a commuter lot and start with biking just a portion of it. Any small amount can make a difference.
2: Make sure you and your bike are good to go.
If you and your bike have had recent check-ups, then you’re all set. If not, remember the rule of thumb. Talk to your doctor before starting any exercise program. And make sure your bike is in good working order. Check the tires, brakes, and always make sure you ride with a good bike helmet. And don’t forget the water to stay hydrated, helmet and mask to stay safe!
3: If you are telecommuting, go online and find some virtual "bike to work" events.
Social media is great place to start with searching for virtual bike to work events. You can register for one or many of the events you find. Some examples are; virtual "Coffee And's..." where you share your commute story, what you're eating for breakfast, or just join to socialize with fellow bike commuters. Others offer ideas like if you’re still commuting daily to a place of business, ride and share the favorite part of your journey. If you are continuing to work at home, ride and share your favorite part of your neighborhood. Whatever it is that you find works and helps you to stay involved with the day will work for the many virtual events available out there.
Just realize, no matter what you decide to do to still participate in Bike to Work day in May, remember one thing, when you bike, you’re not just working out, you’re exercising your mind, your body plus your right to save money and the environment.
