Did you know that the average motorist (in normal circumstances) wastes almost one week and spends around £1,000 while just sitting in traffic alone each year? (Telegraph). 

During the lockdown, we saw so many essential and key workers turn to their bikes to get to work safely with public transport not suitable for social distancing, not to mention the endless benefits of cycling to work for those people. It has also been great to see so many more people out cycling in general - including the young, the old (and the in-between) the key worker commuters, the shoppers and more road cyclists getting out on their bikes and enjoying the freedom of two wheels.

So with more and more people taking up cycling in general and reaping the benefits, something tells us after the pandemic, cycle commuting will be taking off more than ever. So whether you are already a converted cycle commuter, or if you are thinking about starting, here are 6 quick tips on having a seamless commute on two wheels:

1. DO THE PREP

Our number one piece of advice would be to be prepared the night before. Have your bike, what you will be wearing in the morning and pack your work back before going to bed. It makes getting ready to head out in the morning a lot easier! It can also help with motivation - and once you get into work you'll feel so much better for cycling in!

2. BREAKFAST IS KEY

3. HAVE THE KIT

The good news is you don't need a lot of kit other than your bike to get started in cycling to work, but a good quality lock is important, especially if you work in the city centre. You also might need a lightweight raincoat and puncture repair kit for obvious reasons (even in Summer).

Bike lights are required by law from sunset, but we recommend using them during the day too, and all year around, for improved visibility. Our award winning See.Sense lights (The Independents Best Buy), will help keep you more visible by flashing brighter and faster at riskier moments on the road, with a long-run time. If you are concerned about bike theft, check out our accurate and long-lasting bike tracker See.Sense AIR (available now on pre-order for delivery in September/October). It sends an alert if your bike is being tampered with and also can track your bike in case of theft on a single charge that lasts for months.. 

4. HAVE CONFIDENCE

If you are new to commuting, then do a bit of research on the technique of riding in traffic. Keep out of the gutter and give yourself the space you need on the road (usually 1 metre from the kerb). After a few commutes, you’ll soon learn the routes that you prefer.

5. REPORT IT!

If you experience something on your ride that could be improved, like a pothole, a close pass, or some kind of obstruction such as cars parked in bike lanes, it's a great idea to report it so that other cyclists and even your city and council can be informed. Check out the #SeeSenseReport feature in the free See.Sense app that allows any cyclist to make reports.

6. ENJOY IT

Most of all, enjoy your rides - go at your own pace, take in your surroundings and make the most of your commutes.

When you cycle to work, you’ll feel better, happier, save money, and you might even make it into the office even quicker than you would by your car. There’s also research that proves that at the very least - cycling to work will make you better at your job, which will keep the boss happy, too.

Do you think more people will take up cycling to work after the pandemic, too?