So you got the bike out of the garage, pumped up the tires, took it for a test drive and researched your route to work or school. You were ready to try your first bike commute and then they call of the strike. Well take your bike anyway. It will be a good chance to finally cross off that perennial resolution off your list, 'I should ride my bike to work'. The following article was written to help new bike commuters figure out how to get prepared for the TTC Strike. That is not necessary now but you can still use the information below to plan your first bike commute.

The City of Toronto has posted a web page with information for residents thinking of taking their bike to work. No, not the car…the BIKE!. Many Toronto residents ride recreationally but don't ride to work. They may just need a little more info to get them started. This page is intended to help them prepare and includes a links to bike commuting tips and some other cycling info. The city will also set up a bicycle hotline (416) 392-7592 will will be operated from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm Monday to Friday. There people can ask questions regarding bike safety and other cycling info and request that bike maps be mailed to their home.

You can get copies of the Toronto 2004 Bike Map online. They are in PDF format. You can also go to the following link www.toronto.ca/cycling/map/cyclingmap.htm to download sections of it.

The Bike Map shows the designated bike lanes and signed routes as red and blue lines. There are also suggested routes that are represented as dashed yellow lines. The off road paths are shown as green lines. These can help you plan your route. If there isn't a bike route in your area, or even if there is, it may be a good idea to test ride your route. That way you can see if there are any difficult sections of road that can be avoided. The off road paths such as the Martin Goodman Trail, which are quite crowded on the weekends, are relatively free of bike traffic in the weekday mornings and afternoons. These may be a good option for commuters.

It is also a good idea to test ride your bike if it has been sitting in the garage for a while. Check if the tires are properly inflated, the gears are adjusted and the brakes work.

Traffic will be congested If the TTC is not running so it is important to ride safely and defensively. Stop at stop signs and red lights. Signal your turns and stops so that other cyclists and drivers know what you plan to do. Don't ride on sidewalks. You can find more information on how to bike safely at the City of Toronto's web page: Tips for avoiding car-bike collisions

You may have often felt you should ride your bike to work but never have had the occasion to. Monday may be the day you get to try it for the first time. Luckily you have the weekend to get well prepared.