#PDXbizbikes

Breakout Session #1 – North Room

Don't Sweat the Commute As the number of people pedaling to work continues to grow, bike gear and

worksites are evolving to accommodate the bike commuter. This session covers both tips for biking to work while dressing for success, as well as

policies and facilities that employers are offering to support bike commuting by their employees. Presentation includes sample gear from local bike shops

and special attention on common concerns of women bike commuters.

Presented by:

Tips for bike commuting

and dressing professional

for the office.

Don’t Sweat the Commute

Portland Employers

Bike Summit

2014

Bike to Work (But Look Like You Didn't)

Amy Long, Cambia Health Solutions Hannah Dondy-Kaplan, Bonneville Power Admin. Grace Cho, Oregon Metro

Martina Fahrner Leah Benson

Excuses, Excuses…

“I'd like to bike to work but…” • I’ll get too sweaty

• I don’t want helmet hair

• I have to dress professionally for the office

“It takes me hours to make my hair look this good!”

• Short or long bike commute, there are strategies and tools to make certain you’ll be presentable at the office.

• Also, it’s nice when people ask, incredulously, “You biked today?” You might even inspire them to try it themselves.

• Even a short ride can often wake you up and get your blood pumping for that “healthy glow.”

Biking. Looking Nice. Not Mutually Exclusive.

What do we have in store for you?

Short Ride or Long – Bike Commute Tips for Everyone

Amy Long of Cambia Health Solutions

Hey Ladies! – Common Concerns & Solutions for Women Bike Commuters Grace Cho of Metro

Bike Here Please! – Bike Commuter Friendly Offices

Hannah Dondy-Kaplan of Bonneville Power Administration

Gear that Makes the Commute a Breeze, Rain or

Shine Martina Fahrner of Clever Cycles

Leah Benson of Gladys Bikes

Short Ride or Long – Bike Commute Tips for Everyone

Amy Long – Cambia Health Solutions

• 5 mile or less commute? Probably can bike in work clothes

Shorter Ride

Longer than five miles to work? • Probably need to change clothes

• A shower at the office is very helpful

• Requires some preparation

– Pack clothes or store at the office

– Shower bag (don’t forget the flip flops and towel)

Longer Ride

• No Shower at the office? – Consider a shower-only or full gym membership at nearby health clubs

– A nearby office building with showers available to employees

– Packing necessities to freshen up (towel, face wash)

• Or, what about biking from work only?

Longer Ride

One-Way Ride

• Store clothes at work • Several dry cleaners

pick-up and deliver from office towers. Have all your shirts and slacks laundered and ready for you at work.

• If you must bring your stuff each day, carefully fold and roll to minimize wrinkles

• TransIt Garment Bag Pannier

• Pack ahead of time (day-of packing leads to forgotten items)

Pack Well

Pack Well • Store clothes at work • Several dry cleaners

pick-up and deliver from office towers. Have all your shirts and slacks laundered and ready for you at work.

• If you must bring your stuff each day, carefully fold and roll to minimize wrinkles

• TransIt Garment Bag Pannier

• Pack ahead of time (day-of packing leads to forgotten items)

• Merino wool (how not to smell bad)

• Packable clothing (think REI, not Nordstrom)

• How my heated footrest has saved my life

Amy’s Checklist

Hey Ladies! - Common Concerns & Solutions for Women Bike

Commuters Grace Cho – Metro

Common Concerns • Huge variety of women’s style, level of interest in and interpretation of what it means to look feminine.

• Common roadblocks we’ve heard from women: – Hair

– Clothes

– Trip chaining and errands

• Shower at the office • Wear a well-ventilated

helmet • Ride with wet hair or

slightly dampen and blow-dry your hair at work

• Dry shampoo • Use hair products that

can be “reworked” • For longer hair, wear it

in a braid or low bun that won’t interfere with helmet

• Let the helmet set your hair

Fight Helmet Hair

• Step-through frames are convenient, but you can modestly dismount with other frames

• Wear tights in the fall or buy a couple pairs of shorts to wear with your summer dresses

• Tight fitting skirts are more challenging. Flowy skirts can flow up. Skorts are perfect.

• Need heels with that outfit?

• Seeing more bike specific clothing (mostly for the guys) but some specifically for women

Skirts, Dresses, and Heels

Iva Jean Pencil Skirt

Skirt Garter/Bird Industries (Etsy)

Grace’s Checklist Pack the night before:

• small (or large towel) for drying off at the office

• blow dryer • wet wipes (insta-shower)

For the longer-haul commuters (5 miles +): • Think of your morning being inverted • Save time and get exercise by commuting and working out all in one go

Bike Here Please! – Bike Commuter Friendly Offices

Hannah Dondy-Kaplan – Bonneville Power Administration

• Bikes are good for business

• Welcoming bike commuters:

• Supportive Policies

• Excellent Facilities

Bike-Friendly Office Space

• Dress code • Incentives • Commute Options • Management

Supportive Policies

• Quality bike parking

– Secure

– Weather-protected

– Well-located

• Shower Facilities

• Clothing lockers

• Bike Repair Stations & Basic Tools

Excellent Facilities

Hannah’s Checklist

• Leave enough time for your ride (you actually get MORE sweaty once you’ve stopped riding sometimes)

• Panniers may be dorky but they are more comfortable and cooler (temperature) than a backpack or messenger bag.

• Leave office shoes and blazers at work for easy dress-up.

The Gear You Want Martina Fahrner & Leah Benson

The Gear You Want

A few tools and strategies can be helpful regardless of your bike commute length

• Chain guard, belt drive bike, or ankle straps (regular chain maintenance also helps)

• Fenders

• Bike rack with panniers or basket

• Spare bike tube, tools, & a rag (and/or a TriMet ticket)

• “Dopp Kit” stored at the office

• Step through frames are more skirt/dress-friendly but not essential

The Gear You Want

• Exposed seam commuter cuff (great idea for rainy ride)

• PoCampo Bags

• Levi’s Commuter Collection (Men)

• Lightweights Silver Flex Tape (DIY reflectivity)

The Gear You Want

Portland Area Transportation Management Associations:

• Go Lloyd

• Westside Transportation

Alliance

• Swan Island

• Washington Park

• South Waterfront

Your Friendly, Local TMA

Lindsay Walker

Rae-Leigh Stark