As we are somewhat relieved by the recent decline in gas prices, there are still great reasons to ditch the car and start using alternate means of transportation. One of the more popular ways people are conserving energy and getting the health benefits of physical activity is by riding a bicycle to run errands, for recreation pleasure, or to get to and from work each day. It’s a great way to start a stressful day by cycling to work or to school but do you know how to do it the right way?

Here are 5 tips for safely commuting on your bicycle:

Learn the Rules of the Road

Since you are sharing the road with many other commuters – those in cars, on bikes and on feet – you need to treat everyone with respect and pay attention to what you are doing. The rules for riding a bike are much like the rules of driving a car. You need to rid on the right side of the road, with the flow of traffic.

Obey The Rules of the Road

Once you learn the rules for cycling, you need to make sure you follow them or you will wind up in trouble with the police. You could even find yourself seriously injured. Make sure you obey all traffic signals, signs, and stay in the marked lanes at all time. Make sure you focus on your ride. Being distracted by music and other things can lead to serious injury to you or others.

Be Safe

On the road, you want to remain safe. Wear clothing that identifies you to traffic, especially if you are leaving or returning home at dusk or later. Use hand signals to let others know your intentions. Don’t speed or swerve through traffic in a hurry. You can cause confusion which can cause unnecessary accidents. Also, depending in the length of your commute, you may want to wear more comfortable clothing and change into your work clothing later so your movement is not restrained. Wear a helmet and be prepared for a change in the weather.

Plan Your Way

If bicycling to work is not something you have done in the past, it will be worth your while to plan out a course in advance. Consider the streets and areas that may not safely accommodate a bike. Think about the easiest routes that will get you to work in a reasonable amount of time. Avoid highly congested areas even if it makes your route a little longer. Make sure you know how to take alternate routes in the event of an emergency. Spend time on the weekend checking out other routes that will get you to work that may be more scenic or more pleasant in the morning.

Make Parking a Priority

Before you change over to biking to work, talk to your employer or the building security folks an find out if and where you can safely park your bicycle during work hours. You will need to know if you will have to supply your own chain and lock. Make sure if you do chain your bike in a public area that it is secured and attached to an immovable object, preferably one out of the rain. If others in your office also ride, ask your boss about creating a safe space on the property for bike storage.

5 Tips for Commuting by Bicycle was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

Photo Credit: Yosemite National Park, as captured by a TripAdvisor traveler.

Regardless of the value of the “green back” or the United States’ “green currency”, green travel is on the rise. More than 18 million Americans can be classified as ecotourists, according to the International Ecotourism Society and a Geotourism Study by the Travel Industry Association and National Geographic Traveler reports nearly 55.1 million Americans express an interest in nature, culture and heritage tourism activities that protect and preserve the environment.

Consumers are more educated today than ever on “green” choices and their attitudes toward eco-tourism have graduated past a hotel’s linen or towel reuse program or because of an airline’s offering of voluntary carbon offsets.

“They (travelers) want to know a company is committed to sustainable travel and tourism,” Brian T. Mullis, president of Sustainable Travel International (STI) adds. “They’re more interested in hearing about a hotel’s energy conservation and renewable energy systems or an airlines’ holistic approach to reducing greenhouse gas emissions.”

The American Ecotourism Association defines eco-tourism as “pleasure travel to nature and culture based areas which minimizes ecological impact and supports the well-being of the local community.” Whereas, geotourism is defined as “tourism that sustains or enhances the geographic character of a place – it’s environment, culture, aesthetics, heritage and well-being of its residents,” as outlined by National Geographic Society.

TripAdvisor® annual travel trends survey of more than 3,000 U.S. travelers reveals travelers leaning toward green travel options. “The primary trends identified are that travelers appear to be going lean and green by visiting national parks, hiking, and engaging in adventure activities,” as stated in TripAdvisor’s release. “A greater amount of Americans said they will be environmentally conscious in their travel decisions in 2009, and more plan to visit eco-friendly hotels in the coming year.”

Following are two of the TripAdvisor survey findings:

Park is the Place: Seventy-three percent of U.S. respondents said they plan to visit a national park in 2009, up from 62 percent one year ago. Fifty-three percent will go hiking in the coming year, up from 50 percent last year. Forty-seven percent of those surveyed plan to engage in an adventure activity, an increase from 40 percent in 2008. Thirty-three percent of travelers will go cycling and biking, up from 28 percent, and 11 percent of travelers are likely to participate in an extreme sports activity, compared to eight percent one year ago.

Easy Being Green: Thirty-four percent of U.S. respondents said they will visit an environmentally-friendly hotel or resort in the coming year, up from 30 percent in 2008. Thirty-two percent of those surveyed said they will be more environmentally conscious in their travel decisions this year, than they were the year before. Last year, 26 percent said they would be more environmentally conscious.

“An emerging trend is travelers getting greener. They plan to be more environmentally-conscious, and will be more active outdoors this year, taking advantage of some of the outstanding resources in the U.S., such as our beautiful national parks,” said Michele Perry, vice president of global communications for TripAdvisor.

Travel Trends for 2009: Going Green was created by and is property of American Consumer News.