Kit by: Lucas Hamren
Student Studying Environmental Economics, NYU

Alright, so you find yourself wanting to start riding a bike in a rather city-like setting — perhaps because you want to espouse a healthier lifestyle or maybe simply because you want an easy way to lower your environmental impact. This was me about a year ago, now I ride a bike everywhere I go.

For this kit, I put together a few biking essentials that I stand by (like a solid helmet and LED, rechargeable set of bike lights for the front and bike of your ride). Additionally, I’ve included my very own bike model that has proven to be a great companion, since the beginning of my biking days. Of course, too, when you ride, you should stay hydrated and carry a reusable water bottle. The one I’ve included in this kit is built with an internal filtration system and is BPA-free; plus, in my experience, it’s easy to wash, which is a quality that is often over-looked.

Lastly, I wanted to include a new brand of chewing gum that I recently found that I like to chew while I ride.

Discover great gifts for bikers, reviewed by a cyclist.

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Everyday Carry for the Urban, NYC Biker

Great, Everyday Finds for the Low-Impact Biker

Hard Sided, Water Filter Bottle – BPA-Free
By: Brita

Available on Amazon

A Better Alternative

The decision to stop buying bottled water is many people’s first step in living greener. There are now several garbage gyres polluting our oceans (some the size of Texas!) filled with various forms of plastic, including many bottles. What with all the controversy surrounding the safety of America’s tap water over the past months, reluctance to completely give up bottled water is pretty understandable. However, with Brita’s Water Bottle, you’re out of excuses! The bottle is BPA-free and the filters are easy to change.

Men’s Wayfarer Hybrid Bike
By: Schwinn

Available on Amazon

A Better Alternative

Another lifestyle choice that might have a massive impact on your carbon footprint is the decision to ride a bike. While taking public transportation greatly reduces your contribution to fossil fuel use, riding a bike to work/school virtually lowers it to zero. Schwinn has a long history of making beautiful bikes for both women and men and they have plenty of great options on their Amazon page.

Classic Commuter Bike Helmet – US CPSC Safety Standard Tested & Approved
By: Critical Cycles

Available on Amazon

A Better Alternative

I hate to sound like your parents, but if you’re gonna ride a bike, wear a freakin’ helmet! It’s such a simple way to potentially save your own life and you can look really cool while you’re doing it. Check out these elegant options from Critical Cycles. Orange is a good color because it’s bright and will help you stand out – but this helmet comes in multiple colors.

Nicotine Gum Fresh Mint
By: Nicorette

Available on Amazon

A Better Alternative

It seems like every day smoking gets less and less cool, especially when one considers their environmental impact. Cigarette butts are highly toxic and, given their size, can find their way almost anywhere given a gust of wind in the right direction. Cigarettes are also bad for you! No moral superiority or judgment (I’m a low-life smoker too), but we should all try to quit. Nicorette gum has been a classic way to quit for decades, but if it doesn’t work for you, try an electronic cigarette (not sold on Amazon).

Biodegradable, Vegan, Gluten-Free 100% Natural Fennel/Licorice Chewing Gum – No Aspartame, No Plastic, No Synthetics
By: Simply Gum

Available on Amazon

A Better Alternative

If you’re not trying to quit smoking and are simply looking for a more eco-friendly, natural chewing gum (like I was just about two weeks ago), then try out gum flavors by Simply Gum. Their gum is all natural, vegan, and contains no plastics. Moreover, it’s biodegradable. If you weren’t aware, conventional chewing gum contains plastic by products that are not only unhealthy, but also cause chewing gum to stick around in the environment for a long time (pun intended), which can then pollute water streams and harm nearby animals.

Ultra-Bright, USB Rechargeable Bike Light with LED Lights – Tail Light Included – Fits ALL Bikes
By: Cycle Torch

Available on Amazon

A Better Alternative

Every biker, regardless of if you’re riding in a city or not, needs a front light and a back light. If you want to be sustainable, and a relatively safe rider, opt for LED lights that are rechargeable. I swear by these lights — you can charge them simply via USB (no batteries needed), and because they’re LED, they last much longer and are much brighter. This set of lights is also made to fit any size bike, and it was pretty easy for me to clip em’ on and get going.

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Socially Responsible (purple triangle):
+ Does the company abide by Fair Trade Practices, or is it Fair Trade Certified;
+ Is there a commitment to Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR);
+ Is the company philanthropic – does it donate goods or services to environmental or humanitarian efforts;
+ Does the brand promote corporate transparency;
+ Are there any community engagement initiatives set in place;
+ Does the company communicate healthy and equitable working conditions along the supply chain;
+ Does the brand abide by fair and honorable employment values;
+ Is there a disclosure of sourcing methods, and are such materials or ingredients sourced responsibly;
+ Does the brand have a cause-driven mission towards human & environmental health & well-being.
*We do not conduct in-person audits. Oftentimes we will consult the language and standards set by third-party certifications and seals such as Fair Trade Certified, B Corp Certified, Rainforest Alliance Certified, Green America Certified, etc. We will, however, do independent research with respect to certain badges and utilize peer-reviewed articles. Also, please note that according to the Journal of Economics and the EPA, “social responsibility” does include practices and commitments that support environmental health and well-being; thus, the qualities of this badge may overlap with our other badges.

Eco-Conscious (red triangle):
+ Does the company practice sustainable modes of production;
+ Is the product composed of materials and/or ingredients that are biodegradable;
+ Are the materials and/or ingredients compostable;
+ Does the company have carbon reduction or mitigation strategies set in place;
+ Do the involved materials and/or ingredients have a relatively low environmentally impact;
+ Does the company utilize reduce or reuse principles in their facilities;
+ Does the company use renewable or efficient energy technologies in the production of their good(s);
+ Are there practices in place that work to maintain ecosystem biodiversity;
+ Is environmental stewardship a part of their business model.
*We aim to be transparent and objective when it comes to labeling a product as “Eco-Conscious”, and reject “greenwashing”. According to marketing and advertising standards set by The Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) Green Guides, it is most accurate to communicate not that a product is necessarily “good” for the environment, but that it is a “better environmental alternative”. This is the message we aim to communicate in labeling a product as “Eco-Conscious”.

Quality Materials/Ingredients (M/I) (green triangle):
+ Does the product contain organic or certified organic m/i;
+ Is there a significant degree of m/i ‘naturalness’;
+ Is the product non-GMO or Verified Non-GMO;
+ Are the m/i biodegradable;
+ Are the m/i compostable;
+ Do the m/i raise little to no concern in terms of m/i toxicity;
+ Is the product treated with harsh chemicals;
+ Is there a healthy ratio of synthetic or artificial m/i to natural m/i;
*For select “Pantry” products, we may look into health and nutritional value.
*For select products, we may consult reviews to assess m/i effectiveness.
*Generally, these are the ingredients that we try to steer clear of: Acesulfame-K (acesulfame potassium), Acetylated ester of mono- and diglycerides, Ammonium chloride, Antibiotics, Artificial colors (Synthetic and FD&C Certified), Artificial flavors, Aspartame, Astaxanthin, Azodicarbonamide, Bentonite, Benzoates, BHA (butylated hydroxyanisole), BHT (butylated hydroxytoluene), Bisulfites, Bromated flour, Brominated vegetable oil (BVO), Calcium bromate, Calcium disodium, EDTA, Calcium peroxide, Calcium propionate, Calcium stearoyl-2-lactylate, Calcium sorbate, Caprocaprylobehenin Carmine, DATEM (diacetyl tartaric and fatty acid esters of mono and diglycerides), Diglycerides (acceptable in supplements), Dimethylpolysiloxane, Dioctyl sodium sulfosuccinate (DSS), Disodium calcium EDTA, Disodium dihydrogen, Disodium guanylate (GMP), Disodium succinate, Dimethylamylamine (DMAA)… Read more at Free From 101.

To see the rest of our badges and read our full list of indicators, please visit our “About” page.

Hello there, I’m Lucas Hamren. I will soon be graduating from NYU’s Gallatin School of Individualized Study with a concentration in Environmental Economics and minors in Environmental Studies and French. As a “dodgy pseudo-economist”, I’m primarily interested in the mismatch between the inherent and ascribed value of environmental capital in the modern economy, as well as other various fields of ecology. Currently I’m living in Paris, and am trying to provide a certain je ne sais what to the findings I bring to Agreeable & Co.

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