Name: Philip
Location: Bethlehem, PA
Started bike commuting: 1998 but much more so since 2007
Commute distance (one way): 11 km one way; 12 km return- typically put on about 1200 km per year

Describe your commute: I travel through mixed suburban and urban streets; South Bethlehem has high traffic density; thankfully, the traffic lights force people to slow down a little. There is a bicycle path being built between Hellertown and Bethlehem that would provide me with a much safer route with no car traffic; if only Norfolk Southern would cede the rights to an unused part of their rails, the bicycle path will be great for me. My ride is very hilly, so when the roads are wet, I have to be very careful with braking. I love looking at old buildings on the South side of Bethlehem that I would never notice if I was in my car.

Describe your bike and accessories: I ride a modified 1986 Schwinn Letour- Japanese made steel frame; triple chainwheel; Nitto moustache handlebars; mirror attached to left handlebar, which I consider very important for safety in high car traffic areas like South Bethlehem. I usually wear a share the road neon yellow vest. I have four lights on my bicycle and sometimes I use all of them (riding at dusk or in the rain, my wife won’t let me commute at night). I have a Blackburn rack for Bike Nashbar nylon paniers; I don’t like to use a backpack for commuting. The one thing that my bicycle really lacks is space for fenders; I commute in the rain and fenders would make my commute less wet and better. I also would like waterproof paniers.

What bit of advice would you like to share with new bike commuters?: Please ride safely- helmet, lights, neon clothing, caution, bicycle mirror, don’t rush, find a safe route even if it is a little longer. Plan for the ride the take longer than expected; a leisurely bicycle commute is wonderful; a rushed bicycle commute is a chore. Use panniers not a backpack; put the weight on your bicycle not your back. Keep a change of clothes at work.