Flagship Free Program - The Art & Science of Bike Commuting

Wednesday, August 02, 2006 7:00 PM-8:30 PM

REI Denver Flagship-Small (West) Meeting Space/1416 Platte Street/303-756-3100

The benefits of riding a bicycle for transportation may be obvious: exercise, saving money, reducing traffic congestion and conserving the environment. Nevertheless, bicycle riders as commuters (while growing in number) are few and far between.

Become a part of this movement.

Learn how to safely ride a bicycle anywhere in the greater Denver area. Don’t be intimidated by cars and SUVs. Discover the art of wardrobe management and how to clean up without a shower. Learn how to ride safely and effectively in traffic.

Tracy Halasinski, with BikeDenver (www.BikeDenver.org), is a League Certified Cycling Instructor with the League of American Bicyclists. She rides her bike to work (13 miles round trip) 3-4 days per week year-round.

Contact: Tracy Halasinski

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My career path has been as a mechanic, welder, & fabricator. For the first several years as a fleet mechanic, people would ask me what kind of a car I owned. I replied “I don’t”. I enjoyed the machinery, maintained it, and yet chose not to own a car. Work wasn’t more than 10 miles away and was also close to a bus line. Bicycling was an easy option to choose. After a particularly stressful day, I hadn’t pedaled too far toward home before I realized that the incident was no longer of any importance. My work is now 17 miles away. On a good day, I can make it in an hour; realistically it’s closer to 80 minutes, even longer in the winter. It doesn’t take too many consecutive days of driving in heavy traffic before I’m eager to be on the bike again.

Gary Rossmiller

For some, Bike to Work Day is the summer’s version of our New Years’ resolutions, a promise towards self improvement. I’ve been the BTWD coordinator at work for 5 years. I’m hoping to double our participation this year. I was trying to coerce a friend into riding, when the lady across the aisle commented she would enjoy joining her on the ride. Asking a friend for suggestions or to join you part way on the route are both ways to make your ride more successful. BikeDenver, Bicycle Colorado, and the DRCOG BTWD websites feature suggestions on how to make your bike commuting more comfortable and successful. With gas prices putting a crunch on our finances and the longer summer daylight hours, we have fewer excuses not to try commuting by bicycle.

Bike selection is less important this time of year, with infrequent rain and the longer daylight hours. Make the most of the bike you have, adding equipment to it as you are able. On the days you do drive or take the bus, take a few additional days of office dress to work. Keep some standard food items stashed in the fridge or desk drawer for your commuting days. You’ll have less to carry on the bike. Consider adding a rack and a bag to the back of the bike to help carry items. Panniers are great, detach them from the bike, and take them in the store with you. When they ask “paper or plastic,” tell them you’ll use what you brought. Heavily laden backpacks are cumbersome and become hot and sweaty even in cooler weather. Helmets are essential, a red flashy light attached to the helmet or the bike make you much more visible.

If my schedule is busy, I drive to work with the bike attached, and then ride home. The next morning I can carpool or take the bus. Not having the car around for one day is a nice option. A few days a week without driving will drastically reduce your gasoline bill. Marvel at the enjoyable features of the neighborhoods while on your bike. Any increase in commuting time will easily be offset by your improved attitude and health.

If you missed the chance to participate in BTWD, don’t despair. Any day is as valid as BTWD to give bike commuting that first try.

www.bicyclecolorado.org

www.drcog.org/btwd2006/

by Gary Rossmiller, BikeDenver

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