Several CHoR team members hit the road by bike to get to work each day. In recognition of National Bike Safety Month, hear from some of them about why they started and what they’d recommend to others who may be considering commuting on two wheels.
It’s a great way to not have to worry about how long the commute will be and just be outside and get my body moving.
I’ve been biking to work the last 13 years.
I spent four years in Portland, Maine where I did my residency. We then moved to Durham, North Carolina for my fellowship. I still remember the first time I rode home after working a 24-hour shift. It was the middle of July. It was so hot that it felt like someone was blowing a hair dryer in my face the whole way home! I had to convince myself I would get used to the heat. We’re fortunate to have the weather we do. It allows me to ride year-round!
Biking to work is a great way to get your day started. I always make sure to remember that despite cyclists having the right of way, it’s important to ride defensively and always be aware of your surroundings. I never ride with headphones in. I have multiple blinking lights and a headlight, which are imperative!
I really like to ride around Richmond. It may be to a lunch spot or an event. It’s a great way to get to social events as well. The James River Park System has some fantastic trails for mountain biking too
I enjoy the extra time outside, especially to decompress after work and get a little bit of exercise. I also think it's important that we do our part to limit our carbon footprint, and commuting can be a great way to do that!
I’ve been riding to CHoR since I moved to Richmond in 2019. That said, I walked to school from first grade all the way through medical school.
It's fun seeing other people from CHoR on the commute down Franklin Street. I've embarrassingly fallen off the bike a few times on my commute and lost things, but nothing too crazy!
Invest in bike lights and a good pair of gloves for colder months. I had this conversation with some PICU nurses a few months ago who felt uncomfortable riding on Broad Street, but you can ride in the bus lanes on Broad Street! They are now commuting and feel safe doing so.
My favorite place is in Charlottesville/the mountains, but in town I like riding on the south side of the James River.
I work on the MCV campus and my son attends the VCU Family Care Center, so we commute together. Biking is a great way to spend time together, be outdoors, reduce my car use and work exercise into my daily routine. Another benefit I discovered is it helps me transition from work to home; I can pedal out some stress and arrive home more centered and ready for family time. And, since I can park my bike right at my building it takes about as long to bike as it would to drive, park and then shuttle in!
Just over a year – I bought an electric bike last year and that was a game changer. I can handle the hills or longer distances easier (and don’t sweat as much).
We bike over the T-Pot pedestrian bridge so have met a lot of wildlife. Sometimes you’ll see us stopped on the bridge as we count turtles or look for woodchucks.
Try your route out on a weekend or a time when traffic will be less to see how it works for you. Search out the bike lanes, but if you have to ride on the street don’t be afraid to take the whole lane (it’s safer and cars will see you more easily). Just try it!
Belle Isle, along the river or to a bakery
I live in the Church Hill neighborhood, less than two miles from MCV campus. The Leigh Street bridge that connects the two areas is fantastic – there is a double-wide bike lane going each direction and also a buffer area. It feels safe and biking is so much easier and faster than driving and parking and walking – not to mention the cost savings and the light cardio and leg workout.
I’ve been riding my bike to work every day since we moved to Church Hill a little over two years ago – although rarely during the heyday of the pandemic when I worked from home.
I’m on the older end of bike commuters so I like to think that when people see me they think, well, if she can do it, I can too.
Try your ride to work the first time during low traffic times (non-rush hour) and try different routes once you’re riding in the normal time frame to find what’s most comfortable. It may be different from your car commute and may not be the most direct route. You have to learn how to map your route from a different perspective – safety, hills, bike lanes, etc.
My husband and I love to ride from Church Hill to our favorite lunch spot, Goatacado. We go through Monroe Park campus. The residential streets are quiet and I love looking at the architecture all over Richmond. Biking gives you a chance to slow down and connect with your surroundings in a way that driving doesn’t.
In no particular order: cost, efficiency, environment, joy and exercise. I really wouldn’t consider going to work any other way for all those reasons. I estimate I’ve saved $40,000 over time by biking rather than driving to work. A decent bike costs money, but nothing like traveling by car.
I’ve been bike commuting to essentially every job I’ve had since I was 14 years old.
I worked at a pool concession stand for a summer job when I was 17. One day when I left, I found out that someone stole my bike seat. I had to bike home three miles with no seat. I would not recommend that experience.
I think there are several keys to staying safe while biking in a city like Richmond.
I strongly prefer mountain biking but will road bike if the trails are wet. For mountain biking in the area, I think both Pocahontas and JRPS are great for different reasons. Pocahontas is ideal because there are trails only for mountain bikes (no hikers) and they’re mostly one way only, which avoids the stop and go that happens with shared bi-directional trails. But, it’s also a bit far from the city. JRPS is relatively difficult and can get a bit busy, but it’s incredibly convenient and a rarity to find such a great trail in a major city. For road biking, I prefer low-traffic country roads. There are great ones both east and west of Richmond. Bike Route 1 is a good option locally and not hilly for those who don’t want too much of a climb. The traffic dies down about five miles north of the city. The Capital Trail is a good place to start for road biking, but it can get congested.
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