You know what’s crazy? This really nice weather in February. It’s nonsense. Furthermore, it doesn’t give me an excuse to not ride my bike to work, even if I’m feeling lazy. I’m trying to stay with my resolution this year to work out, and making biking apart of my work day means it’s inevitable that I have to stick to it.

I usually don’t see very many people riding their bikes in the bike lanes, so imagine my surprise at running into another rider on their way home from work yesterday! I’m not going to lie, it made my whole day better. It can be pretty scary riding the roads, but I think there is strength in numbers. The more people ride their bikes, the safer it becomes to ride on the streets. I know I have a pretty routine bike ride, I’m sure a few people see me every day, and they know that I am going to be there. That routine keeps drivers aware of me and my cycling, and it seems to be working since I haven’t been in an accident (knock on wood).

If you work far away from home, it’s not fair to expect you to ride your bike to work. I find it easier to work out if I don’t go home first, which is why I commute. Once I’m home I immediately want to get into bed.

A good solution may be to take time during your lunch break to walk around the block, or down the hallways at work. If you are looking to get a work out, consider taking gym shoes to work with you and taking a walk on one of the many trails in Spartanburg. You can also consider getting a Bcycle membership to ride around Downtown, or to Harvest Park on Saturdays for the Farmer’s Market.

There are many ways for us to live actively, but you may need to plan ahead—leaving a pair of gym shoes in your car may be just enough motivation to get moving! I hope you all enjoy this warm February.