Hop on a Bike - It's Easier Than You Think

By Jessica Leitch, City in a Jar 

I’m more than halfway into the month of biking and I’ve hit a frustration wall. This was bound to happen - I’ve altered the way I travel entirely and it hasn’t been easy. All this rain makes riding a bike a lot more difficult, and not having a regular commute can complicate things.

Being freelance means my meetings are all over the city, so bike commuting is more than just riding into work in the morning and riding home in the evening - it involves riding to and from meetings during the day, and trying not to look like a sweaty mess upon arrival.

I’ve been using the Metro system quite a bit when it rains and for my commute twice a week out to Creve Coeur - which takes me an hour and a half. Though there have been plenty of frustrations in changing the way I commute, the benefits are plentiful.

I feel better because I’m constantly moving - whether it’s biking or walking. Using the transit system is getting easier, and I'm becoming more familiar with the navigating the city. Being exposed to the elements has it’s downfalls (see: waterproof vs water resistant), but I'm also exposed to the wonderful smell of fresh flowers when riding through the park or freshly cut grass as I ride past a lawn that’s just been mowed. And the sense of accomplishment I felt when I arrived home from grocery shopping without breaking a single egg was amazing.

It’s clear that in a city like St. Louis, bike commuting everyday may not a reasonable option for everyone, but biking to your local coffee shop or to run an errand is entirely doable. Hop on a bike - and discover things you didn’t know your city had!