The biggest barriers to bike commuting and tips for overcoming them

I started this channel to help more people make the bike a bigger part of their lives. But it can be difficult to start bike commuting, especially in those cities that have yet to see the benefits of a proper network of safe bike routes. There can be barriers, both internal and external, to bicycle commuting. This video is my attempt to help overcome those barriers. I’ve collected a list of barriers and I’m sharing the tips I’ve picked up over the year to overcome those barriers. I suffered so you don’t have to. ━━━ ABOUT THIS CHANNEL ━━━ Shifter is about urban cycling, bike commuting, and the ways we get around our cities. Hosted by Tom Babin, author of Frostbike: The Joy, Pain and Numbness of Winter Cycling. ▶ Support the channel + get bonus content: https://www.patreon.com/Shifter632?ut... ▶ YouTube channel memberships:    / @shifter_cycling   ▶ Frostbike (the book): https://amzn.to/42EBzO6 ━━━ BIKES I RIDE ━━━ I rode Priority bikes for years before they sponsored the channel. Low-maintenance belt drives, honest value. 🚲 Priority Eight - My daily summer ride: https://alnk.to/1XWoxFO 🚲 Priority Continuum Onyx - My Canadian winter commuter bike, with hub dynamo lights and Enviolo internal gearing: https://alnk.to/gKS5Jlw 🚲 Priority Gemini - Super-fun gravel bike with Pinion Smart-Shift gearbox for longer adventures: https://alnk.to/44ZOsvc ━━━ NEW TO BIKE COMMUTING? ━━━ ▶ My course: The Ultimate Guide to Bike Commuting and Urban Cycling. Check out the new Starter Pack: https://shiftercourses.thinkific.com/... ━━━ GEAR I ACTUALLY USE ━━━ Some are affiliate links — they support the channel at no cost to you. ▶ Light-up pedals (Redshift): https://redshiftsports.com/collection... ▶ Turn your clip-in pedals into flats for quick errands: https://redshiftsports.com/products/m... ▶ Phone mount (Peak Design Universal Bar Mount): https://peak-design.pxf.io/c/5749368/... ▶ Bike lights (Lumos Firefly): https://collabs.shop/3uodbz ▶ Pannier-backpack (Two Wheel Gear Convertible 2.0): https://twowheelgear.com/collections/... ▶ Saddle (Brooks): https://amzn.to/4ulz1Ba ▶ Bell (Crane Bells): https://amzn.to/4tABohW ━━━ REGISTER YOUR BIKE TO STOP BIKE THEFT ━━━ 529 Garage: https://project529.com/garage Bike Index: https://bikeindex.org/ Instagram:   / tombabin   Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/tombabin.bsk... Threads: https://www.threads.net/@tombabin #cycling #bike #commuting #bikecommuting #urbancycling 0:00 Introduction 0:55 Barrier 1: I don't have the right kind of bike 1:29 Things to look for in a good commuter bike 2:00 My bike recommendation for a short commute 2:26 My bike recommendation for a medium-length commute 2:50 My bike recommendation for a longer commute 3:30 Barrier 2: I don't know what to wear on my bike commute 4:39 Barrier 3: I don't want to get sweaty on the way to work 6:25 Barrier 4: I have too much stuff to carry 7:44 Barrier 5: My commute is too long/too hilly 9:30 Barrier 6: The weather is too bad in my city 10:37 Barrier 7: My city's automobile traffic is too dangerous 12:45 Final tip: Don't forget that bike commuting is amazing