We all know being in in college is pretty tough; there’s lot of stress with deadlines and getting to school on time. Living in New York and traveling into the city is also pretty difficult when we have to rely on the not-so-reliable MTA. It’s either a sick passenger or police activity or a signal malfunction- it's always something!
Personally, I’ve always been one of those people who’d bash the MTA constantly, but I’d never actually considered any other modes of transportation because the train just seemed so much easier to take. Driving was out of the question because of AM and PM rush hours. Walking from Queens to Manhattan on a daily basis sounded like a sentence to death and biking sounded like too much of a stretch for me. So imagine my surprise when I actually decided to make a change in my life.Upon realization of how much money I was spending on ONLY metro cards, I figured I needed a change, and quick. If I couldn’t drive, take the train, or walk, I was left with one option: biking.
I figured, in the long run, I’d be:
1. Saving money
2. Saving the Earth by reducing my carbon footprint
3. Saving time by avoiding traffic on the streets as well as on trains
4. Saving money I could use on food- I love food
5. The owner of a brolic set of legs by the end of the semester
6. Getting some form of exercise into my daily life
I mean who wouldn’t want to have all of those things at the price of F-R-E-E?
Having this list as my motivation, I hopped onto Google Maps and was ready for my estimated travel of 50 minutes. Taking the train to school would take me around the same amount of time on a good day with no delays, so a 50-minute bike ride didn’t sound bad at all. I figured if I was paying to be on a cramped, delayed, and smelly train I could bike for free and have my body pay the price later.
Sadly I’m in no way, shape, or form an athletic person and considering I don’t normally exercise because gym memberships are also pretty expensive, this was going to be a challenge for me. The first day was pretty tough and by the time I got to school I was admittedly sweaty and exhausted, but I felt great! I did make a wrong turn at some point that set me back a few minutes, but I had gotten to school in about an hour and twenty minutes.
My only true enemy on my route was the Ed Koch Queensboro Bridge, which after riding for 30 minutes is such a hassle to ride over. The first day was very difficult for me and I had to pull over and catch my breath once or twice. (Yes I’m very out of shape- no pain, no gain!) But once I got past the incline, it was all downhill and I was flying past alongside the other bikers.
On the way back into Queens, the ride up the bridge wasn’t as difficult. Only at the very beginning is there a steep incline but then it’s pretty doable. I was definitely very glad to get home and shower that day though.
I’m now on week 2 of biking to work and to school, and it’s going great. I’ve been using the time I would have spent sitting in a cramped train, outside exercising my way to my destination. My commute usually begins around 7 a.m. and I get to school right on time for my 8 a.m class which is great. I’m slowly getting better at crossing the bridge and I don’t have to stop for water or to catch my breath unless I want to enjoy the views from the bridge for a minute.
I can now make it to Hunter in just under an hour which feels great to say considering I haven't been biking for very long. I'd hope to get there a lot faster by the end of the semester but alas, one can only dream.
I'd highly recommend biking to anyone who has a bike just laying around. If you don't have the motivation to get to the gym, bike to your next class that you need to be on time for and you'll see how fast you pedal your way through the streets. Just think of the money you'll be saving and the positive impacts on your life and the Earth it can have. You'll also be able to familiarize yourself with local neighborhoods. (I've passed by at least a dozen restaurants that looked and smelled delicious that I would have never come across otherwise). Find your motivation and get going!
You'll feel great doing it too, after you get over your achey body that is.