Meet our February Bike Hero… Erin Vanderberg!

Would you be able to give up your car in exchange for a bike for a whole year? Well that’s exactly what our February Bike Hero Erin Vanderberg did.

A native to Colorado, Erin went away to the East Coast after college but returned this past June. And in mid-September, she became car-free thanks to the New Belgium Brewing Company’s Tour de Fat. She traded in her Ford Explorer for a custom-made Black Sheep Bicycle. Although the cold weather and snow can sometimes slow her down, Erin loves biking around Denver: “I was excited to get to know Denver again… you see so much more when you’re not in a car.”

Aside from reconnecting with Denver, Erin’s experienced numerous other benefits from going carless. The first, and biggest, is that her car was not only traded in for a bike, but donated to Vehicles for Charity where they auctioned her car for money for charity. Erin has also gotten into better physical shape, she enjoys the great outdoors more, she buys less, and buys locally. But perhaps the best benefit? She had really great tan this summer.

Giving up her car for bike? Erin Vanderberg is without a doubt a true BikeDenver Bike Hero. And if you’re every wondering what it would be like without a car, just check out Erin’s blog, B(IKE)LOG.

[Submitted by Courtney Burkett]

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Bike Hero of the Month Awards highlight different people each month, and help encourage other people to bike by telling the Hero’s personal story. The goal of the Bike Hero Awards Program is to showcase the diversity of citizen-cyclists and the people who support them in Denver.

BikeDenver’s Executive Director Piep van Heuven says: “We introduced the Bike Hero awards because we want to encourage a friendly environment for and public image of bicyclists in Denver. One of the ways we can do this is to showcase the different faces of and great stories about people in our community, like Chris, who ride bikes or help others get out there and ride. Through the Bike Hero awards, BikeDenver honors bicyclists of all ages and walks of life, from the first time bicyclist to the rain or shine bicyclist!  We all know people (our neighbors, co-workers, family members or community leaders) who inspire us to reach for the handlebars instead of the car keys. Take a moment to look around you and help BikeDenver recognize the people in our community who are making a difference for Denver, one ride at a time!”