The Ask
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.
Problem-Solving
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.
