With the price of gas consistently above $3 a gallon and the National Naval Medical Center’s parking arrangements continuing to change due to Base Realignment and Closure, people are looking for other ways to get to work. One staff member has found that riding his bike is a good solution to the many commuting headaches we all face.
Lt. Cmdr. Matthew Marcuson has been biking to NNMC for more than three years. Marcuson has found this method of commuting to be beneficial on three fronts: it allows him to exercise while also getting to and from work, helps him financially by saving money on gas, and protects the environment by reducing pollution.
Marcuson lives about 10 miles from the hospital. Compared to driving, ‘‘it takes 20 minutes to drive in the morning and 30 minutes to ride my bike,” Marcuson said. ‘‘Going home there is more traffic and it’s uphill, so it takes about 45 minutes to ride my bike and about 35 minutes to drive.”
Another factor to consider in time calculations is the need to shower before work when biking in.
‘‘I do have to take a shower after riding, which does extend the time of my commute,” said Marcuson.
However, the exercise is good.
‘‘I figure I burn about 1,000 calories a day biking,” said Marcuson. ‘‘That could easily cover someone’s cardio portion of their exercise program.”
For those interested in biking to work, Marcuson provides some advice on how to choose the best type of bike to suit your needs.
‘‘For short commutes, three to five miles, a mountain bike would be fine,” said Marcuson. ‘‘For longer commutes, I would recommend a road or cross bike. I wouldn’t recommend a recumbent bike to a new user,” said Marcuson.
If it’s not feasible to bike all the way to work, then it may be possible to split-up the commute by driving or taking the metro for part of the distance.
‘‘Fold-up bikes are good for taking them on the metro or throwing in the back of your car,” Marcuson said.
While there is an initial expense of purchasing a new bike, it can be outweighed by the long-term savings.
‘‘I figure I save about $4 a day just on gas,” said Marcuson. ‘‘And that doesn’t include the money I save on car maintenance.”
Before taking to the streets, however, the safety issues involved should be considered.
‘‘I don’t have any bike lanes on my route and I do ride on the road, which can be slightly dangerous,” said Marcuson.
‘‘To aid in visibility, I wear a reflective vest, have a bright headlight and a blinking taillight,” continued Marcuson. ‘‘About once a week someone will honk for no good reason or yell out their window at me.”
Also, weather conditions particularly affect bike riders because they are more exposed to the elements than drivers.
Marcuson, though, is generally not dismayed by rain.
‘‘Sometimes I have to drive in, if it is raining too hard in the morning,” said Marcuson. ‘‘If the rain is torrential in the afternoon, I still ride; otherwise I would be stuck at work. I don’t care if I get wet.”
Marcuson deals with colder temperatures by dressing appropriately.
‘‘I wear long tights, two shirts, two pairs of socks and a jacket,” said Marcuson.
Therefore, Marcuson is able to make his commute all year long.
‘‘I do ride in the snow. Unless there is ice on the road,” said Marcuson.
Once at work, Marcuson does have to lock his bike up, but doesn’t have to spend time searching for a parking space.
Marcuson hopes that more people will consider biking to be a viable commuting option.
‘‘I am very excited to get people riding their bikes to work,” Marcuson said.
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