Today is the last day of Bike Month. It’s a good reminder that biking to work is a great way to fit exercise into your regular schedule while saving money on gas/transit fares. You can start biking to work with these tips:

• Wear a helmet. Secure it squarely on top, covering your forehead.
• Dress as comfortably as you can, with loose clothing and full-coverage shoes (no sandals or flip-flops).
• Wear reflective gear to help keep motorists aware of you, even in daylight.
• Follow the rules of the road: ride in the direction of traffic, obey signs and signals, and use hand-signals when turning.
• Map a route on wider, less-traveled roads (or roads with dedicated bicycle lanes) and with as few left turns as possible.
• If it’s been a while since you’ve ridden your bike, get a tune-up first. While you’re at the bike shop, try on a helmet if you don’t have a good-condition model already.
• As you may well break a sweat, pack some toiletries to freshen up after you arrive. Be sure to include any products for your hair, which will probably get flattened by the helmet that you wouldn’t dream of cycling without.