The COVID pandemic really changed our daily lives. Bike commuting became even more popular and so did working from home (WFH). However, the lockdowns didn’t last forever and society eventually opened up.

Return To Office (RTO). These are probably the three words that employees dreaded the most going out of the pandemic. After all, who’d want to relive Carmaggedon, spending countless hours on the road just to go to work and back?

Thankfully, I never had to experience any of these. I already began bike commuting shortly before my first job. And until later this year, my work had been remote and flexible. There was no need for me to go out except for events and meetings. This changed in September.

I had to report on-site at Promenade Greenhills, eight hours a day from Monday to Friday. I wasn’t thrilled about it. But looking back, I was grateful for the experience because bike commuting to San Juan taught me some valuable lessons.

Routes to Take When Bike Commuting to San Juan

There were a couple of challenges when I was regularly bike commuting to San Juan. The first one was figuring out how to get there.

The shortest distance between two points is a straight line, but taking the most direct route isn’t always what’s best. The key is maximizing secondary roads and residential streets to find the right balance between efficiency and comfort.

At first, I’d pass through Meralco Avenue and Ortigas Avenue because that was the most straightforward route. However, it felt like walking on a tight rope, squeezing in between cars on the bike lane and the deep gutter on Ortigas Avenue. Eventually, I tried passing the other way through Shaw Boulevard and Wilson Street.

What I liked about this route was that it wasn’t as congested, and I got to relax and breathe when passing through the quiet, residential streets near Wack-Wack. The biggest downside was having to climb the EDSA-Shaw flyover, but that’s much more pleasant than the congested service road below.

Going home was a different story.

I’d normally pass through Connecticut Street before turning right to Florida Street, which leads out to EDSA. The southbound lanes don’t have to deal with mall traffic unlike the other side, so I could bike hassle-free until Shaw Boulevard where I do a two-point left. To avoid the chaos of Shaw, I’d turn right to Greenfield and enter Kapitolyo through United Street.

There were a few times when I’d turn left from EDSA to Ortigas Avenue, and pass through ADB Avenue and Barangay San Antonio. But that was just a detour that extended my travel time to 30 minutes. It also isn’t healthy with all the exhaust fumes I’d inhale while waiting at the many stoplights.

Bike Commuting to San Juan as the Ultimate Time-Management Hack

Kapitolyo and Greenhills are only roughly 6km apart, yet traveling between them is such a hassle by car. Getting to EDSA via Greenfield already consumed 30 minutes and that’s before dealing with the congestion the rest of the way.

However, when I started bike commuting to San Juan, my travel time was 20-25 minutes. This was consistent even with heavy rain. Going home felt much more stressful because of the rush-hour traffic, but the travel time was still consistent at 25 minutes.

All of this means I spend no more than five hours on the road during the work week. And the time that I save can be spent on more important things such as sleeping and resting. I’d lose my sanity if I had to join the traffic that I’d zoom past on my bicycle.

There’s also no denying how much money you save by bike commuting. In a Facebook post, I calculated that I saved at least P2,650 per week by choosing to ride my bicycle. That’s a big deal when you have other things to spend on such as food.

Splurging on Food Isn’t Sustainable

Figuring out where to eat was the next challenge after I started bike commuting to San Juan. Eating out is expensive, regardless if I’m in Kapitolyo or not. But at least I used to have the option of eating at home if I didn’t want to spend.

P200 isn’t a lot if you only pay once. But multiply it by five days a week, four weeks a month, and you’ll realize that the expenses stack up. Take note that this is equivalent to a single order of specialty coffee at 1C Coffee.

If I wanted my paycheck to be worthwhile, I’d have to spend as little of it as possible. Biking already helped a great deal, but I wanted to see how much more I could save when it came to food.

I’d normally go to B.R.T.O. in Promenade and order the Chipotle Chicken Burrito (P240) for lunch or a cheese quesadilla (P160) for merienda. The food was good, but the price was not sustainable. Spending at least P800 per week on quesadillas didn’t make sense, especially when it isn’t even filling.

I didn’t want to spend a decent chunk of my salary on mall food. That’s why I explored the Maranao vendors by the tiangge. Apparently, I could get a packed lunch for as low as P80. Thanks to carinderias, eateries, and food stalls, I realized that I don’t have to depend fast-food chains for “cheap” meals.

But to save even more, I’d bring baon when bike commuting to San Juan. Packing a lunch box in a bike bag isn’t exactly convenient. But this meant I’d only have to spend for merienda, which was as low as P39 for lugaw at Goto Pilipinas.

Bike Commuting to San Juan as Stress Relief

Work can be tiring, especially when things get hectic. The advantage of bike commuting to San Juan was that it gives me ample time to get some exercise and clear my head before and after my shift. Although biking in Metro Manila isn’t exactly a walk in the park, the act of cycling is inherently enjoyable and relaxing.

In my opinion, health and wellness are the most intangible, yet underrated, benefits of bike commuting. While those can’t be measured the same way as time and money, the difference in my quality of life is night-and-day compared to the days when I was still car-dependent.

Some people think I’m more prone to sickness because of my cycling, but I believe it’s the other way around. Being active and mobile seems to actually protect me against falling ill. It also lets me get exercise without having to spend time at the gym.

Back in October, I got hit by an influenza-like disease just like everyone else. By the time I had to go back to work, I thought I was still unwell to be biking. Turns out that bike commuting to San Juan with the Fiido C11 was the medicine my body needed after spending more than a week stuck at home.

Should You Be Bike Commuting to San Juan?

Although my points here are applicable for many places, they are especially true for bike commuting to San Juan. The city is a good example of how Metro Manila wasn’t designed for cars. There will never be an easy way for motorists because the streets are tight, narrow, and busy. And no amount of traffic management is going to get rid of the congestion.

Traffic is horrible and it isn’t going to disappear anytime soon. The good news is that there is a way out. Although bike commuting has its challenges, the benefits outweigh the inconveniences. As a working adult, the time, money, and energy I save are priceless. If you live in San Juan or travel there regularly, you owe it to yourself to try bike commuting at least once.