10 Bike Commuting Myths That Stop People From Trying (Updated 2025)
This list was originally published in 2009 based on League of American Bicyclists research, and the comment section immediately exploded into a 50-comment argument about whether cycling is actually safe. That debate captures exactly why these myths persist. People have legitimate concerns, and dismissing them with cheerful statistics doesn’t work.
In 2025, I’m rewriting this with a different approach. These myths aren’t stupid. They’re reasonable concerns that deserve honest answers, not just reassurance. Some turn out to be overblown. Others are real tradeoffs you need to understand before committing to bike commuting.
Here’s what actually stops people from trying bike commuting, and what the reality looks like once you’re doing it.
DIY & General Cycling Advice Note
This article shares general cycling information for educational purposes. Cycling activities involve inherent risks. If you choose to follow or apply any information discussed here, you do so at your own discretion and responsibility.
Always use appropriate safety gear, follow traffic laws, inspect equipment regularly, and discontinue riding if you notice unsafe conditions. When in doubt, consult a qualified bike mechanic or cycling professional.
toc
Myth 1: I’m Too Out of Shape to Bike Commute
The concern: You’ll arrive at work exhausted and sweaty, unable to function for the first two hours.
The reality: Start slowly on weekends to find an easy route. Ride at conversation pace. In three months, the same route feels effortless. Your fitness improves whether you’re trying to train or just trying to get to work without dying.
The tradeoff: The first two weeks are legitimately hard if you’re starting from zero fitness. You will be tired. You will need more sleep. Your body adapts faster than you expect, but that adaptation period is real.
What changed since 2009: E-bikes eliminated this barrier entirely for people who can afford them. A $1,500 e-bike lets you arrive completely fresh while still getting moderate exercise. The fitness benefits are smaller but the consistency benefits are huge.
Myth 2: Bike Commuting Takes Too Long
The concern: Your 15-minute car commute will become a 45-minute bike slog.
The reality: For trips under 3 miles, bikes are often faster than cars once you account for parking and walking. For 5-7 mile urban commutes, the time difference is smaller than you think. Average bike commute speed is 10-12 mph for casual riders, 15-18 mph for regular commuters.
The tradeoff: Yes, it takes longer than driving on most routes. A 7-mile commute that’s 15 minutes by car becomes 30-40 minutes by bike. But you’re combining your commute with your workout, which saves the hour you’d spend at the gym.
The math that matters: If you value your time at $50/hour, a 25-minute time penalty costs you $20/day. If that bothers you, don’t bike commute. If you’re eliminating a separate workout and a gym membership, the time equation flips positive.
Myth 3: My Commute Is Too Far
The concern: 15+ miles each way is beyond what normal humans can sustain daily.
The reality: Combine biking with transit. Ride to the train station, take transit for the long stretch, bike the last mile to work. Or bike one direction and transit the other. Or bike three days per week and drive two.
The tradeoff: You’re not going to bike 20 miles each way five days a week unless you’re training for something. Accept that and design a realistic system that reduces car dependency without demanding superhuman commitment.
What changed since 2009: E-bikes again. A 15-mile commute on an e-bike takes 45-60 minutes and arrives you fresh. Still a significant time investment, but accessible to normal fitness levels.
Myth 4: My Workplace Has No Bike Parking
The concern: Expensive bikes locked outside get stolen. You can’t bring a dirty bike into your office building.
The reality: Ask your employer for bike parking. Many companies provide it once someone requests it. If not, find a storage closet, utility room, or unused corner. Bring your bike to your actual office if you have to.
The tradeoff: Some workplaces genuinely won’t accommodate bikes, and outdoor parking in high-theft areas means you’re riding a beater bike or accepting theft risk. This is a legitimate barrier for people in certain jobs and locations.
What changed since 2009: Folding bikes. A Brompton folds small enough to stash under your desk or in a closet without asking permission. Costs $1,200-2,000 but solves the parking problem permanently.
Myth 5: My Bike Is Too Beat Up
The concern: Your ancient mountain bike with the broken shifter isn’t reliable enough for daily commuting.
The reality: Take it to a bike shop and spend $100-150 on a tune-up. Most bikes just need adjustment, lubrication, and maybe new brake pads. If the shop says it needs more than $200 in repairs, buy a used bike instead.
The tradeoff: Bike maintenance is ongoing. Chains wear out. Tires get punctures. Cables stretch. Budget $100-200/year for upkeep or learn to do basic repairs yourself.
What changed since 2009: The used bike market got better and worse simultaneously. More bikes available on Facebook Marketplace and Craigslist, but also more theft and more junk. Expect to spend $200-400 for a decent used commuter.
Myth 6: I Can’t Shower at Work
The concern: Arriving sweaty and smelly makes you the office pariah.
The reality: Most bike commuters don’t shower at work. Ride at easy pace to minimize sweat. Leave earlier to avoid rushing. Use baby wipes for a quick cleanup. Keep deodorant at your desk.
The tradeoff: On hot days or long commutes, you will sweat. Some people handle this with gym memberships for shower access. Others ride home fast for the workout and shower there. Some just accept being slightly sweaty.
The practical solution: Ride slowly. Seriously. The difference between 12 mph and 16 mph is enormous for sweat production but minimal for commute time. Save the hard riding for the way home.
Myth 7: I Have to Dress Up for Work
The concern: Professional clothing doesn’t work with cycling.
The reality: Keep multiple changes of clothes at work. Rotate them on days you drive. Use a pannier or messenger bag to carry fresh clothes. Roll clothing instead of folding to minimize wrinkles.
The tradeoff: This requires planning and organization. You need to think about your clothing situation on Sunday night for the whole week. Some people find this annoying enough to quit bike commuting.
What changed since 2009: More companies went business casual or remote, which reduced the dress-up barrier. But plenty of jobs still require professional attire, and that genuinely complicates bike commuting.
Myth 8: What If It Rains
The concern: Getting soaked on the way to work ruins your day.
The reality: Fenders and rain gear keep you dry. A $30 rain jacket and $40 rain pants work fine. Fenders cost $30-60 and prevent wheel spray from soaking your back and legs.
The tradeoff: You still need to change out of wet gear when you arrive. Rain gear takes up space in your bag. Heavy rain with lightning is legitimately dangerous. Most bike commuters drive or take transit on severe weather days.
The perspective shift: You’re not made of sugar. Getting rained on occasionally is fine. The aversion to rain is mostly psychological, not practical.
Myth 9: The Roads Aren’t Safe
This myth generated more argument than all the others combined, so I’m addressing it differently.
The concern: Bikes have no protection in crashes. Drivers don’t see cyclists. One mistake or one inattentive driver can kill you.
The statistics: Roughly 850 cyclists die annually in the US from crashes. About 42,000 people die in motor vehicle crashes. Per hour of exposure, cycling is somewhat more dangerous than driving, but the absolute numbers are small.
The perception versus reality gap: Cycling feels more dangerous than it actually is because you’re exposed and vulnerable. Driving feels safer than it actually is because you’re protected and in control. Both perceptions are partly wrong.
The honest assessment: Yes, cycling has real risks. No, following traffic laws and being visible doesn’t eliminate those risks. Defensive riding reduces your risk significantly, but you cannot control driver behavior completely. Anyone who tells you cycling is perfectly safe is lying. Anyone who tells you it’s suicidally dangerous is also lying.
The decision framework: If the perceived danger bothers you enough that you’d ride stressed and anxious, don’t bike commute. If you can accept the statistical risk and ride confidently, the actual danger level is manageable for most routes.
What actually helps: Rearview mirrors give you constant awareness of approaching vehicles. Bright clothing and lights make you more visible. Choosing routes with bike lanes or low traffic reduces conflict points. Experience teaches you to predict driver behavior and position yourself defensively.
What doesn’t help as much as people think: Helmets reduce head injury severity in crashes but don’t prevent crashes. Hi-viz clothing helps but doesn’t make you invincible. Following all traffic laws perfectly still leaves you vulnerable to inattentive drivers.
The fundamental tradeoff: Cycling trades the crash protection of a car for the health benefits of exercise and the cost savings of not driving. You cannot have both simultaneously. Make the choice that fits your risk tolerance.
Myth 10: I Have to Run Errands
The concern: You can’t carry groceries, pick up dry cleaning, or handle other errands on a bike.
The reality: A rear rack costs $40-80 and adds massive carrying capacity. Panniers hold groceries easily. A good U-lock secures your bike while you’re inside buildings. Most errands work fine on bikes with basic cargo equipment.
The tradeoff: Some errands genuinely don’t work. Costco runs. Picking up large furniture. Transporting multiple kids. You need backup transportation options or you need to combine bike commuting with strategic car trips.
What changed since 2009: Cargo bikes became mainstream. E-cargo bikes can replace cars entirely for families willing to spend $3,000-6,000. Regular people now haul two kids and a week’s groceries on bikes without thinking twice.
The Myths That Weren’t on the List
After 16 years of bike commuting and reading thousands of comments, here are the real barriers that don’t fit into neat myth-busting categories.
Winter: Cold is manageable with proper clothing. Ice is legitimately dangerous. Snow depth above 4-6 inches stops most commuters. Studded tires help but don’t eliminate risk.
Kids: Transporting children requires trailers, cargo bikes, or trail-a-bikes. All cost $200-3,000. Logistics get complicated with multiple children or school age differences.
Physical limitations: Some injuries, conditions, and disabilities make cycling impossible or inadvisable. Dismissing these concerns with “anyone can bike” is insulting and wrong.
Infrastructure: Some routes have no safe cycling option. Highways with no shoulder, high-speed arterials with no bike lanes, areas with demonstrated driver hostility toward cyclists. These barriers are real.
Time poverty: If you’re working two jobs and raising kids alone, spending an extra hour daily on bike commuting might be physically impossible regardless of your enthusiasm.
The Honest Cost-Benefit Calculation
Bike commuting works best for people who:
- Live 2-8 miles from work
- Have reasonably safe route options
- Can adjust their schedule to allow extra commute time
- Don’t need to transport large items or multiple kids daily
- Have weather that’s rideable 70%+ of the year
- Enjoy or at least tolerate physical activity
Bike commuting works poorly for people who:
- Have commutes over 15 miles on non-e-bikes
- Face genuinely dangerous routes with no alternatives
- Need professional appearance and have no shower access
- Carry tools, equipment, or children that exceed bike cargo capacity
- Live in climates with severe winter conditions
Most people fall somewhere in between these extremes. The myths that stop them aren’t stupidity or laziness. They’re reasonable risk assessments that might be slightly miscalibrated.
The goal isn’t converting everyone to full-time bike commuting. The goal is helping people accurately assess whether bike commuting fits their situation, then supporting them if they decide to try.
FAQs Bike Commuting Myths
Question: Is bike commuting actually safer than driving, or is that a myth to encourage cycling?
Short answer: The statistics are complicated, but cycling is somewhat more dangerous per hour of exposure than driving.
Expanded answer: Approximately 850 cyclists die annually in US traffic crashes versus 42,000 motor vehicle deaths, but far more people drive than bike. Per mile traveled, cycling shows higher fatality rates than driving. However, cycling’s health benefits from regular exercise offset the increased crash risk for most people.
The League of American Bicyclists research shows experienced cyclists following traffic laws have significantly lower crash rates than casual riders. The real answer depends on your route, skill level, and local infrastructure. Anyone claiming cycling is perfectly safe or suicidally dangerous is oversimplifying complex risk calculations.
Question: How long does it actually take to get comfortable bike commuting?
Short answer: Two to three months of regular riding to feel confident with traffic, fitness, and route knowledge.
Expanded answer: The first two weeks are the hardest physically as your body adapts to daily cycling. Fitness improves noticeably by week three. Route familiarity and traffic confidence develop over the first month as you learn driver behavior patterns and optimal lane positioning for your specific roads. By month two, the mental load decreases significantly and bike commuting becomes automatic rather than stressful.
By month three, most riders report feeling genuinely comfortable and competent. Start with one or two days per week rather than immediately committing to daily riding. Weekend practice runs help build skills without work deadline pressure.
Question: What’s the minimum investment to start bike commuting safely?
Short answer: $400-600 total including a functional bike, basic safety equipment, and weather gear.
Expanded answer: A used commuter bike costs $200-400 if you shop carefully. Add $40-60 for front and rear lights that actually work. A decent U-lock runs $40-70. Basic rain jacket and pants cost $30-60 combined. Fenders add $30-60.
A rear rack for carrying items costs $40-80. Panniers or a messenger bag add another $40-100. This gets you functional and safe without buying premium gear. E-bikes start around $1,200 and eliminate fitness concerns but require significant upfront investment. Many people start with less by using bikes they already own and gradually adding equipment as they identify what they actually need.
Question: Can you bike commute year-round, or do you need a car for winter?
Short answer: Year-round bike commuting is possible in moderate climates but impractical in areas with severe winter conditions.
Expanded answer: Consistent winter bike commuting works in climates where temperatures rarely drop below 20°F and snow accumulation stays under 4-6 inches. Cold alone is manageable with layered clothing and pogies for your hands. Ice is the real barrier. Studded tires provide traction on ice but cost $70-150 per tire and slow you down on clear pavement.
Most year-round bike commuters in northern climates accept driving or transit on severe weather days rather than attempting 100% bike consistency. Cities with good winter infrastructure like Minneapolis and Montreal support year-round cycling better than cities that ignore winter maintenance on bike facilities.
Question: How do you deal with arriving at work sweaty from bike commuting?
Short answer: Ride slower, leave earlier, or embrace creative cooling strategies that work without showers.
Expanded answer: The single biggest mistake new bike commuters make is riding too hard. Slow down to conversational pace and sweat production drops dramatically. Leave 10 minutes earlier to eliminate rushing pressure. Use baby wipes or a washcloth for a quick cleanup in the bathroom. Apply deodorant at your desk. Keep a small fan to cool down for the first 15 minutes after arrival.
Some riders shower before leaving home and ride slowly to stay fresh. Others save hard efforts for the ride home and shower there. The gym membership for shower access solution works but adds expense and logistics. Most experienced bike commuters eventually find that riding at moderate pace eliminates the sweat problem for all but the hottest days.
<!– INSERT INTERNAL LINKS –>
The post 10 Bike Commuting Myths That Stop People From Trying (Updated 2025) appeared first on bikecommuters.com.