There are only three things you need for bike commuting
- A job to commute to
- A bike to commute on
- Determination and willingness
Everything else are optional things that many of us find make commuting easier.
I believe above is the best advice. You can always just walk your bike to the nearest LBS or call a friend if you have a problem. Get good tires and you won't get punctures. Play it safe is the big deal. Don't get over-confident. On a bicycle you are unlikely to get special treatment from cars, buses, trucks - stay clear of them.