OK, this question got me in a little trouble with people. Most people agreed that if you want a good bike, don’t go for the cheapest, but get what you need.

I think my best rule of thumb is if you want a decent commuter bike, get it at a local bike shop that you know and trust. Some good brands are Trek, Giant, Specialized and Electra.

That being said, the type of bike you want to buy, and how much you want to spend, also depends on how much you’ll need the bike and what you’ll need it for. I know there are many people who get a beater bike for winter biking and have a nicer bike for the warm months. That beater bike can be pretty cheap, as there are many available at Kiwanis and Recycle Ann Arbor.

Some comments from others:

For me, an old Schwinn three speed works great for a one to five mile
commute. I like having a chainguard to keep road dirt off the
trousers. An old bike can cost very little, but you need to be ready to
throw some money at it. A used bike fixed up for commuting will run
$100 or so, $200 at worst.

–Mark Chase, goloco.org

Other sites to check out

• Reviews of Commuter Bikes

You might wonder what kind of bike I use to commute. We’ll I’ll show you:

Click here to see my commuter bike and read all about it

And yes, I do commute all year round, except when it’s really, really snowy, icy or rainy.

I recently did a little research on bike commuting. I’ll be posting the answers in a series of entries to this blog. Please add your thoughts below.

What is the best bike for bike commuting?
I asked a bunch of people this question.
The bottom line: it really depends on you.

There are many types of bikes out there that can work for bike commuting. You can go for something like a hybrid bike (a combination mountain bike and road bike with road bike tires, this is what I have), a fixed-gear bicycle or one of the new and snazzy commuter bikes like the Breezer or Townie bike. One of the great advantages of commuter bikes is that they have internal gear hubs, which keep the chains cleaner. Also, many commuter bikes come with lights and racks already installed, which is nice because these are generally essential items for commuting.

All of these bike styles can be purchased at area bike stores, including Great Lakes Bicycling and Fitness and Two Wheel Tango.

Local shop Wheels in Motion even has a page that talks about How to Pick the Best Bike for You.

Here are some other thoughts:

The “best” bike choice depends on a lot of factors, such as: distance of commute, how hilly is the route, how secure is the workplace parking, fitness level and ability of the rider, their budget, and more. There are a lot of bikes that are classified as “commuter,” but in general any bike that has a relaxed riding position and can accommodate the installation of a rack will probably suit the needs of most commuters. Having a rack and panniers (a.k.a. saddlebags) makes hauling paperwork and a change of clothing simple.

A quick Google search on “commuter bicycle reviews” yielded a good starting point for someone doing bike research (see link below). But the best thing is for a person to go to a number of bike shops, talk to salespeople about their needs and ride a few bikes to find one that will work for their individual needs. A bike should fit the rider’s needs, so there isn’t one specific “best” bike out there. And, I’m not sure you want to steer people to the cheapest option, being that you get what you pay for and putting people on a ill-fitting, crummy bike just because it’s cheap is a good way to turn someone off of bike commuting altogether.
http://www.epinions.com/bike-Bicycles-All-city_commuter

–Dan Kaempff
Regional Travel Options Program, Portland OR

The best bike is one that’s fun for the rider. Other considerations are
something that won’t get stolen. If you have secure parking, then you
can ride a fancier bike. If you have to park out where theft might be
a problem, then you look for an “ugly” bike that functions well. Also
important is the length of the commute. If it’s just a few miles,
comfort isn’t such a big deal. Luggage is a consideration, too.

–Eric Holeman, www.wilbursmith.com

For further reading on bikes to buy and bike commuting in general. Man oh man is there a lot writing on this subject!

• Paul Dorn’s Bike Commuting Tips

• Commute by Bike

• Jennifer’s Bicycle Commuting Suggestions

• Bicycling Life Bike Commute Guide

• League of American Bicyclists Tips for Commuters

• Another great bike commute guide

• Reviews on commuter bikes
• Another page with extensive information on bike commuting, commuter bikes, and the like.

FYI:

Hello all,

Here is a summary of the results from the Ear to the Street Reception survey from this last Weds. I hope to put this survey out to others on our e-newsletter this Monday so we can get even more info.

And just one caveat about the results. There were a lot of Bike Ambassadors and Bike Advocates at this event, which is probably why there are so many comments related to biking. But maybe that’s also because so many people love biking.

Please comment with any of your thoughts:

Question 1: What is the most challenging thing about commuting to downtown Ann Arbor?

• 6 people said Parking. Some additional comments related to this issue were that parking is costly and not as close as it could be.
• There were 6 comments related to bike commuting, specifically, the challenge of dressing for the weather as well as issues with maintenance and prevalence of bike lanes and challenges around bikes and cars following the rules of the road.
• There were 3 comments related to drivers, specifically that some drivers are too fast and careless and not kind to bikers.
• Other challenges include
  • the expense of gas vs. the time it takes to ride the bus from Ypsi
  • no alternatives further out of the area
  • automotive traffic density
• One kind person wrote that there were no challenges.
• In total 20 people responded to this question.

Question 2: What is the best thing about commuting to downtown Ann Arbor?

These comments were a lot more varied. They included

• Presence of alternatives to driving alone
• Being downtown with the shops and the UM (2 comments)
• Amenities such as bike paths, bike parking (3 comments)
• Closeness of all of the shops
• getting exercise (2 comments)
• fresh air
• the environmental benefits of alternative modes of commuting
• It’s so easy
• 19 people provided responses to this question

Question 3: What programs and services would you like to see getDowntown Provide?

• The go!pass program (checked by 11 people)
• Curb Your Car Month/Commuter Challenge (11 people)
• Bike Lockers (6 people)
• Bikefest (5 people with some people also indicating they don’t know what this is)
• Individual presentations to employers on commuting (5 people)
• Workshops on issues relevant to commuting (4 people)
• Bike Winter (4 people, with some people indicating they don’t know what this is)
• The following were checked by 3 or less people
  • Info on walking
  • Info on telecommuting
  • Info on Biking
  • Bike Ambassador Program
  • Info on Busing
• 4 people checked “other”. Here were their thoughts:
  • bike law education for bikers and law enforcement
  • advocate for biking/walking paths (non-motorized)
  • commuter rail from Ypsi
  • Drivers and bikers education

Question 4: Other comments and suggestions

• To provide bus maps-downtown maps, local businesses-we could handout to new employees
• Keep up the great work and website informatio
• NoMo (nonmotorized transportation) is the future wave!
• Doing a good job
• Scooter parking and programs would be great. It’s a wonderful, fuel-efficient way to commute but no where to park
• more workable parking option for motor scooters like special smaller spaces, racks, make it free to encourage leaving cars at home

After I take some time to chew over these responses and also get more info I am sure I will post some more thoughts on this blog. Until that time, I’d love to hear what you think.

Thanks so much to everyone that attended getDowntown’s Ear to the Street Reception yesterday!  I am working on compiling the results of the survey presented at the reception and will post them soon.

Over all, the event went very well.  We had representatives from the City’s Energy Office and Transportation Program, as well as representatives from MichiVan, The DDA, the AATA, and the WBWC.  They all set up stations and handed out all sorts of materials.  It was a party just to have them there!

I also invited all of the Bike Ambassadors from getDowntown.  These are bicyclists interested in promoting and education people on bicycling.  They were definitely a presence and it was nice to have them around.

I passed out a survey to every employer who came to the event.  The survey had two simple questions: 1.  What is the most challenging thing about commuting to downtown Ann Arbor?  and 2. What is the best thing about commuting to downtown Ann Arbor?  I also asked people what programs and services they’d like to see getDowntown provide.  Like I said, I will publish the results soon.  I also hope to put these questions out in my next e-newsletter so others can comment.

All in all, about 45 people came to the event.  Among the businesses/organizations represented were:

–Arbor Networks
–Bellanina Day Spa
–Ecology Center
–Eastern Flame
–Hobbs and Black

and more!  So glad to see so many people at the first official event of the season.  As I said at the event, I am hoping this is the beginning of a long partnership between getDowntown and downtown businesses.  And thanks so much to the Metro Cafe for providing tons of great appetizers and a great location!

What about this?

FYI,

Beginning October 1, the Ann Arbor Transportation Authority (AATA) will modify its Route 36 – Wolverine Tower Shuttle to improve performance and to connect with the new Michigan Flyer service to Detroit Metropolitan Airport scheduled to begin the same day.

According to AATA Manager of Service Development Chris White, the route will be revised south of the State Street Park & Ride Lot.

“Northbound service on State Street between Eisenhower Parkway and Oakbrook Street will be discontinued, with the modified route traveling on Boardwalk and Oakbrook streets,” White said.

Three new bus stops will be added, two on Boardwalk and one on Oakbrook. Two bus stops will be eliminated on State Street north of Eisenhower. One bus stop will be relocated from the south side of Wolverine Tower to the north side. Stops on State, Eisenhower Parkway and the southeast corner of Wolverine Tower will no longer be served.

The Michigan Flyer service will board at the Four Points Sheraton hotel. Schedules, tickets and parking permits for the service are available at 888.643.5937.

Questions on the Route 36 changes may be directed to AATA at 734.996.0400 or www.TheRide.org.

Controversy Erupts Over Transportation Secretary’s Comments on Bike Paths

Although pedestrians and cyclists make 10 percent of all trips to work, school and stores nationally, and suffer 12 percent of annual traffic fatalities, Transportation Secretary Mary Peters thinks the 1.5 percent of federal transportation dollars invested in walking and biking paths takes too much gas-tax money away from highways and bridges long deteriorating under increasingly heavy auto traffic, reports Salon magazine writer Katherine Mieszkowski, quoting the secretary’s recently formed view that bike paths and trails ”are really not transportation.”

Read more 

I should hopefully be able to send out a notice about this soon, but just so you know . . .

If you ordered 2007-2008 go!passes by Weds. Otober 3rd, you should get the passes by the 3rd week in October. I will definitely notify you when they come in.

Hope this is helpful