I was asked to write an article for Bicycling.com that would provide a first-hand look at starting a bike commute routine: what it’s truly like to foster the habit from the beginning. The goal was to demystify some of the more common objections, while illustrating one of the most counter-intuitive benefits of a bike commute: yes, there are going to be a few logistical hangups, but you’re riding, so those hangups will no longer matter to you. Ideal readers would be new or recreational riders who were curious about how to start a commuting routine, but had not yet tried it out.
The brand voice of Bicycling.com was that of enthusiasm, not just speaking to those with professional expertise. To orient the article according to this direction, I commuted by bike every day for a week along a 10-mile stretch of road to relate enough personal experiences to be helpful to the chosen audience. I used a bike I commonly brought out for weekend rides, presuming that’s how readers would likely begin with their own commutes. I kept a notebook to record events and anecdotes, focusing on the differences between commuting by bike and by car. To demystify the process, I outlined the specifics involved when creating a new bike commuting routine, and used my own mistakes and discoveries as a platform to introduce general tips and ideal practices.
My editor and I worked together closely to ensure the article had the right balance between narrative, service to the audience and personal interest. A “Takeaways” section was added to each day to separate the actionable items from the story to appeal to skimmers.
