Advocacy & Safety - Bike to Work Day - News Article

For the first time stopped and got a coffee and some snacks, last few years I forgot and just did my usual.
Al
http://www.azcentral.com/community/tempe/articles/0421tr-fiscuscol0421Z10.html
Biking to work a real eye-opener

Apr. 21, 2006 12:00 AM

For the record, I'm a big fan of car stereos, air-conditioning and effortlessly going 45 mph.

But I left the gas-guzzler at home Wednesday and rode my bike to work. It wasn't a statement against the rising price of gas, though the timing was nice. If you missed it, Wednesday was Bike to Work and School Day in Tempe.

And if you did miss it, circle the calendar for next year.

By about 7 a.m., I was at one of the meeting places for bikers, the Wildflower Bread Co. in south Tempe. Sturgis, this wasn't, but there was a nice collection of riders: casual ones, others with fancy bike jerseys, children on the way to school, people like me on the way to work.

The perks were nice: free bagels and muffins and coffee, and free T-shirts. But there were some other less obvious perks, too.

It was a chance for the city to distribute maps of bike lanes and routes and educate casual riders about just how much of a bike community Tempe is. The city touts more than 160 miles of bikeways, and the League of American Bicyclists has honored Tempe as a bicycle-friendly community.

It was a chance for some exercise on a pleasant morning. And while I usually find myself thinking about work on the drive in, I wasn't thinking about work on the ride in. That probably had a lot to do with heading into the wind the whole way, and riding next to high school drivers and those darting around a freeway.

There was another plus. The gathering of riders at the restaurant, like the bike sitting all day by my desk, got some at least thinking about tossing on a helmet. I overheard a few people at Wildflower tell riders that maybe they'd join them next time. And at work, a handful said they should have done it this year and just might next year.

As for the ride?

I have a new appreciation for the bike lanes. About nine of the 11 or so roundtrip miles were on bike lanes - and I definitely could tell the difference once the bike lanes stopped. I actually went out of my way to ride on Guadalupe Road rather than Baseline Road because of the dedicated lanes.

I also realized that riders face many of the same frustrations that drivers do: cars pulling out in front of you, people not watching where they're going, the knack of hitting every single red light on the way to work. All of those, though, are magnified by 10 on a bike.

On Thursday, the bike was hanging back in the garage, and the car keys were back in hand. It was nice to get to work without needing a shower, and the drive home promised to be much cooler than a late-afternoon ride.

Yet I kind of missed that bike . . .

This piece wasn't quite as bad as most I've read, but it still wasn't great. The usual problem with these articles: take a reporter who knows little or nothing about bike commuting and throw him on a bike for one day. Then let him rant about how hard it is, and how glad he is to get back in his car. Reading this dreck, it's no wonder so few newbies try to bike commute. Why do these reporters never bother to interview an experienced commuter to see how it really works?

If anybody reading this has never ridden to work, but is thinking about it:

Yes it can be difficult for the first few days or even weeks, but then it gets easy...and FUN! For every problem you run across, there will be a solution. And oh yeah, you don't HAVE to have bike lanes to ride to work. And wind isn't that bad once you develop a little strength.

I overheard a few people at Wildflower tell riders that maybe they'd join them next time. And at work, a handful said they should have done it this year and just might next year.

Why wait a year? If they were serious they wouldn't wait a year. It's nice that they have taken a day to help educate people. They should make it monthly & that would encourage more people. Even if for just a day I bet some have become really interested in commuting more often. I'll have to check & see if Maryland has something similar, maybe that could help me get 1 or 2 co-workers to commute for at least a day. (then the brain washing begins, muhahahahahahahha)

Why wait a year? If they were serious they wouldn't wait a year. It's nice that they have taken a day to help educate people. They should make it monthly & that would encourage more people. Even if for just a day I bet some have become really interested in commuting more often. I'll have to check & see if Maryland has something similar, maybe that could help me get 1 or 2 co-workers to commute for at least a day. (then the brain washing begins, muhahahahahahahha)

Al has pointed out before that Arizona does it's Bike To Work Day in April as opposed to May (like most other places) due to the heat. I keep throwing friendly reminders at co-workers although I'm sure most of them are falling on deaf ears. Since Wilmington has no meeting place, I've offered my house as a meeting place and that I'll ride in with them (a good chance to do some show and tell). I'll be shocked if anyone takes me up on the offer but it's worth a try.

Oh, and I agree on this article being the standard issue. The bike lane reference is really annoying as it just gives people one more excuse not to try commuting ("I have no bike lanes"). The article's title makes you think that this guy was going to talk about some revelation he had while biking to work but most of it just says how driving is easier so that's what he'll continue to do.

For 2006 Phx-metro changed from "Bike Week" to "Bike Month" which runs for the entire month of April and 1wk in May, with a number of associated events in that long month: http://www.valleymetro.org/Rideshare3/5Bike/3VBW.html
Bike to Work and School day was April 19 as part of "Bike Week" which was April 15-23. In Tempe, AZ there were several location in the city to get coffee and snacks: http://www.tempe.gov/contentcontrol/display.aspx?id=694b907a-0a92-430e-be44-52bd2e191779

It was nice to see all the different commuters and kids with parents on the way to school that morning, some looked like they did it every day and some looked like it was the first time on a bike in years ;) .

Al

Al, you have one of the first Bike to Work programs in the nation so every year it's a preview of how great these programs are. I love Bike to Work! It's just the stupid boilerplate news pieces that make me want to choke.

Al, you have one of the first Bike to Work programs in the nation so every year it's a preview of how great these programs are. I love Bike to Work! It's just the stupid boilerplate news pieces that make me want to choke.
Its funny that this is the first one I've participated in, the few past years I still rode to work on BTWD, but unofficially ;) This year to get the coffee (and t-shirt) I had to sign a log and waiver that the city was not reponsible for my safety (or some such language)
On one hand its nice to see others when stopping to get coffee, on the other its just getting coffee. The benefit of the program is of course to encourage new folks to try it out, in this regard news articles are best done pre-BTW day, perhaps about last years event and reporters should suck it up and put a positive spin on it. (I'm not saying mis-report the facts, but they have a choice to be positive or cynical based on their preconceptions and they can be more encoraging if they want and still sell newpapers)

Al

They say that if you do anything for 21 days in a row you'll be hoooked. While that isn't exact science, it does make our local Team Bike Challenge possibly better than a single bike to work day or week. The whole month of June we'll have teams of 5 competing with each other to see who can replace the most number of trips that would have been done by car with a bike instead. Newbies earn double-points, so you try to get as many newbies on your team as possible.

Last year when they did it I didn't think it would work because the rules and everything were way too complicated plus it lasted for such a long time. But it actually turned out to be a huge success. So this year I'm going to try to do it myself. I've already got 3 people for my team. I doubt we'll win but it should be fun logging in all those trips on their web site.

And I agree that article sucked.

yeah, that was a disappointing article. the guy pretty much gave people all the reasons NOT to ride a bike to work, without really mentioning the good parts. What could have been a great advocate/promotional piece turned into the exact opposite! Oh, well, I guess those were the guy's honest reactions, though. sounds like he didn't find the whole thing too fun. he should give some ink to an actual commuter or other regular rider who can give another perspective.... Al? :)

A succinct letter to the editor can be submitted here:

Submit a letter to the editor (http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/eastvalleyopinions/sendaletter.html)

Does Bike-to-Work Day effectively promote bicycle commuting or marginalize it?

Does Bike-to-Work Day effectively promote bicycle commuting or marginalize it?

Yes.

Does Bike-to-Work Day effectively promote bicycle commuting or marginalize it?
Interesting question, John. What are you getting at?

Here the mayor and other dignitaries are scheduled to honor the people who tried bike commuting. That doesn't sound like marginalization, but maybe I'm missing something?

Listening to the title "Bike to Work Day/Week" gives the impression that cycling to work is something that only gets done at one point in time during the year. There's no national Drive to Work Week. At the same time, it does call attention to the fact that cycling is a viable means of transport which most people neglect to realize.

On Thursday, the bike was hanging back in the garage, and the car keys were back in hand. It was nice to get to work without needing a shower, and the drive home promised to be much cooler than a late-afternoon ride.

Yet I kind of missed that bike . . .
I guess he's like many "non-cyclists". Just can't break free from the bonds.
There's a love affair between many drivers and their vehicles and the "freedom", speed, and comforts are things that most just can't give up. I suppose the vehicle is kind of like a mistress. It keeps him comfortable and takes care of any needs (A/C or heat, cupholder, radio or CD player, etc.).

Me, I enjoy the freedom of the bike -- the smells (except when following the garbage truck), the sounds, the sights, and the "looks" and comments I get. :D

Does Bike-to-Work Day effectively promote bicycle commuting or marginalize it?
I'm not sure. The last few yesrs, the participants all seemed, based upon their equipment, to be long-time commuters. Of course, there was a hard rain last year which may have discouraged non-commuters from participating. However, it seemed like the same crowd that was there a year earlier when weather was great.

My overwhelming reaction was, "Wow -- there are a lot of commuters here!" Normally, bike commuting is so dispersed that it is not obvious how prevalent it is here. When everyone rides some defined route segments and converges on a few refreshment stop areas, the result is dramatic. I think many new commuters and potential commuters would be struck by how mainstream cycling has become. That might help retain at least some of them.

Paul

I'm not sure. The last few yesrs, the participants all seemed, based upon their equipment, to be long-time commuters.
I purposely in this thread didn't make comments about about the other participants I saw as they would be based on appearances and behaviors, but if I had to I'd estimate a 2/3rds were long time commuters - including a family a two with a range of kid ages. The other third appeared to be families 'wandering' over on the sidewalk from nearby neighborhoods on bikes that had rarely been ridden, were ill sized, wobbly and no equipment of any kind, no water bottles, helmets, etc. All participants appeared to be financially comfortable.
Al

I guess I should be the last person to say this but I also see the other point of view when I see someone pressing the issue of bike commuting. A lot of people say bike commuting's not a big deal but I just want to say that before you get all over someone's back about it, consider what they're facing.

As a bike commuter, I have to deal with getting sweaty, cars, road debris, dirt, dirty air, pedestrians, physical exertion, locking up, etc.

Most people don't deal with all of the above, especially not the most uncomfortable or inconvenient ones such as getting sweaty or being passed by cars. To expect someone to go from sitting in traffic in a comfortable air conditioned car burning gas to burning their legs, dripping sweat, is pretty unreasonable for me.

I guess I should be the last person to say this but I also see the other point of view when I see someone pressing the issue of bike commuting. A lot of people say bike commuting's not a big deal but I just want to say that before you get all over someone's back about it, consider what they're facing.

As a bike commuter, I have to deal with getting sweaty, cars, road debris, dirt, dirty air, pedestrians, physical exertion, locking up, etc.

Most people don't deal with all of the above, especially not the most uncomfortable or inconvenient ones such as getting sweaty or being passed by cars. To expect someone to go from sitting in traffic in a comfortable air conditioned car burning gas to burning their legs, dripping sweat, is pretty unreasonable for me.
Exactly. Many, but not all or even most, bike commuters take great pride in it, partly I think because they know/feel like they have overcome or have learned how to deal with the challenges it involves.
But for many it can also be a relatively low challenge fun activity too. Sometime we overstate the challenge as bragging rights, other times we understate it in trying to get others to join the fun. The reality is it falls somewhere it between and on average is not as easy as driving a motor vehicle.
Al

The whole month of June we'll have teams of 5 competing with each other to see who can replace the most number of trips that would have been done by car with a bike instead. Newbies earn double-points, so you try to get as many newbies on your team as possible.

Last year when they did it I didn't think it would work because the rules and everything were way too complicated plus it lasted for such a long time. But it actually turned out to be a huge success. So this year I'm going to try to do it myself. I've already got 3 people for my team. I doubt we'll win but it should be fun logging in all those trips on their web site.
That sounds interesting. Can you post the URL, please?