Arriving at work by bike
Find the calm way to ride there.
Shift maps low-stress bike routes and the nearest Bluebikes. Ride more and you can unlock gift cards from local shops. Free.
See how Shift worksThe ride is easy to picture. The arrival is what most people wonder about: where the bike goes, and how to walk into the office ready for the day. A little setup in your first week answers both.
1. Find out where the bike goes.
Ask your building's front desk or facilities team whether there's a bike room, a cage in the garage or racks by the entrance, and whether you need a key card to get in. Indoor or covered parking keeps the seat dry and the bike out of sight. Racks by the door work well too; lock the frame and a wheel to the rack (see Where and how to lock your bike).
2. Ease off for the last few minutes.
Ride the last five minutes at an easy pace and you'll arrive cooled down. On an e-bike, turn the assist up for the final hill.
3. Keep a small kit at your desk.
- A small towel and some wipes
- Deodorant
- A spare shirt and socks
- A comb, or a hat for helmet hair
For an easy-paced ride, a quick wipe-down and a fresh shirt are all most people need.
4. Bring clothes in ahead.
Drop off a week's work clothes on a day you take the bus or train, and keep them at your desk or in a locker. Riding with them? Roll them instead of folding them; rolled clothes come out of a pannier with fewer wrinkles.
5. Ask what your workplace has.
Showers, lockers, a hook for your helmet and a place to hang a wet jacket all make the arrival easier. Ask facilities or HR what's there. If something's missing, saying so is often how it gets added.
On rainy days
Pack a plastic bag in your pannier for wet rain gear, and hang it somewhere it can dry before the ride home.
Try it
Shift finds the calmest way to wherever you're headed, by bike, on foot or on transit, and gives you credit for every trip you shift.
Not ready for the app? Plan a route on the Nearby page in your browser.
Related guides
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Where (and how) to lock your bike
Most stolen bikes weren't unlocked — they were locked badly. Six rules that make the difference.
The gear that actually matters for bike commuting
What's worth spending on for daily bike commuting, what isn't, and which two purchases matter most.
