Picking a Route: You've got enough to worry about already!

Riding a bike through the city can be easy, fun, and relaxing- but it can also be stressful and difficult. That's why simple steps like planning a route can make a huge difference. You've got enough to pay attention to when you're riding in the city without worrying about where you're going. Or whether your route will be safe for cycling. Try taking a quick look at a bicycle map before you leave for your destination. Like the bicycle map embedded in this article, which has bike lanes and street directions.

Adding an extra 5 or 10 minutes to your ride to take a calmer route can make you safer, and less stressed. In fact, going a little out of your way to be in a bike lane or a less traffic-filled street can actually make your commute faster. It's also important for safety- a calmer route will decrease your chances of getting into a high-speed accident.


View Philadelphia Bike Lanes in a larger map

Some tips for picking a route:

1. Increase time on safe bike lanes, and decrease time on busy streets. As we all know, certain streets get a lot crazier than on others, which increases your stress and the chance of a crash. Take bike lanes where possible, but not if the road is too crazy, motorists ignore the bike lane, or there are so many stopped cars that you're weaving in and out all the time.

2. Riding on streets without bike lanes can be calmer and safer, when you position yourself safely and assertively on the road to keep cars from pushing you around. Click the link for our helpful article on how to use assertive lane positioning to stay safe and calm.

3. Use different routes for different situations. It can be helpful to know how to avoid traffic when rush hour it's rush hour, or minimize hills if you're feeling tired. Your morning and afternoon commutes don't have to be the same. Afternoons are a great time to explore new routes!

4. Think about bad pavement, road conditions, and crime. If you find yourself bumping around a lot, try a different street next time. Plus, you only have to forget to notice a pothole once for it to throw you off your bike. As for crime, make sure you're taking a route where you feel comfortable.

5. Ask other cyclists. The Bicycle Coalition's Maps Webpage has interactive commuter recommended routes, a bike-map wiki, and a user-updated bike hazards map.


If you're looking for more ideas or information, Ride Safely: Rule #1 Build a Safe Route is an article where I got a lot for this post!