Why bike to work

• Riding to work costs less than driving or taking transit, especially if you already own a bike.
• Cycling allows you to stay in shape while you commute. A five-mile, one-way commute burns 300 calories round trip for a 130-pound woman.
• People who bike to work arrive invigorated and work off the day' s stress on the way home.
• Biking to work means less traffic congestion and pollution for the

How to get started
Here are some suggestions to help you ease into bicycle commuting:

• Try a practice run on a weekend to find a good route and see how long it takes.
• Find a co-worker or friend who bikes and commute with them.
• Start by trying just one day a week (try it on casual Friday. )
• If you live far from work, try bicycling to the nearest Metro or commuter rail station, or put your bike on a Ride On bus in Montgomery County, or drive part of the way and bike the rest.
• Contact WABA. The Washington Area Bicyclist Association' s commuter mentor program will put you in touch with other people in your neighborhood who bike to work and help you find the most comfortable route. Call 202/518-0524 and "Log on to"   www.waba.org