Pedal Power for Attorneys

~by Shannon Zee Cross, Columbus Bar Association

What can improve your fitness, reduce your expenses, help the environment, and get you to the office on time? Your bike.

Across the country people are leaving the car in the driveway and getting to work on their own power. The trend is growing so quickly that many cities are making capital investments in transportation infrastructure that makes getting to and from work easy for commuters. Columbus is one such city. With the formation of the Columbus Bikeways Advisory Committee, plans are in the works to expand and improve established bikeways, add new bicycle boulevards, and add traffic calming features such landscaped medians.

So how do we get from home to work and back (without ruining our suits or hitting other snags)? Remember MAGS: Mapping a route, Allowing enough time, Gearing up, and Safety.

Mapping: Visit Ohio’s Bicycle Transportation website to get maps and information about bikeways. The Google Maps® avoid highways feature is also excellent for creating city street routes. Look for the green bikeway signs throughout the city.

Allowing time: Make sure you leave home with enough time to enjoy the fresh air and get to work on time. Depending on traffic, a bike can get you to work faster than a car, but play it safe.

Gearing up: There are a great variety of accessories that you may need to commute comfortably and safely: helmets, bells, clothing, water bottles, panniers (bags that hang over a rack on the back of your bike), and baskets. There are even panniers specifically designed to carry our business attire. Every rider and route is different; consider your specific needs when gearing up.

Safety: Bike riders have the same rights and responsibilities as operators of motorized vehicles. Specific laws and regulations can be found on ODOT’s website. At a minimum, wear a helmet, have reflectors and lights on your bike, know how to signal a turn, and keep to the right side of a lane to allow car traffic to pass safely.

Columbus has bike racks all over the city; remember to lock up. Transportation Alternatives magazine has good tips on securing your bike.

Columbusites on bikes also take advantage of relatively flat terrain and a city small enough to get from Grove City to Clintonville in an hour and thirty minutes at a leisurely pace.

Enjoy your commute and see you on two-wheels!