Home > Fit City > Archives > 2010 > May > 21 > Entry
A week of bike commutes
I rode my bike to work all five days this week, a new personal record.
This Austin Commuter Challenge has really lit a fire under my (bike) seat, inspiring me to take trips I’d normally take by car on my bicycle.
Besides pedaling to work, I’ve biked to happy hour, the hair salon, dinner with a friend, the grocery store, the pharmacy, REI, lunch and a couple of interviews.
I even transported a carton of eggs 8 miles without cracking a one!
My only snafu? Last night, I broke the chain on my bike grinding up a hill. Luckily I was less than a mile from home. I picked up the greasy chain and walked it in. This morning I borrowed my husband’s bike as a replacement until I get mine mended.
Today is Bike to Work Day. I zipped by the free breakfast station at Far West and Shoal Creek Boulevard for a free breakfast burrito (thanks!) on my way to swim practice this morning and took a couple of snaps with my iPhone.
This afternoon, the fun continues. One of the members of the Team Circle C, that commuting team that logs quarter- and half-mile trips to nearby destinations like the mailbox, has promised to deliver me iced coffee — so I don’t have to make the trip (and log the points) myself!
Those sneaky cyclists!
I fear instead of shaming them, I’ve inspired them to log even more trips. In fact, I know I have.
Here’s what Bill, today’s coffee delivery guy, wrote me: “Thanks for lighting a fire under the already diligent CCRCC teams butt.”
Team Captain Wes Robinson even offered to hand deliver my mail to me.
Stay tuned for delivery photos if it happens …
Cyclists enjoying free burritos at Bike to Work station.
Permalink | Comments (3) | Post your comment Categories: cycling
Comments
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By Aaron Dalton
May 21, 2010 11:38 AM | Link to this
It’s great to see cities around the country like Austin do more to encourage cycling.
I’ve compiled a list of U.S. and International cycling maps and advocacy resources on my blog, Bikeway Central
The blog also offers updates on the most exciting bike-related developments in the country, like Denver’s new bike share program.
Happy (bike) trails…
Aaron
By jobmurph
May 21, 2010 1:52 PM | Link to this
Sure some purest (moi?) might question equity or cardio benefits of a design that rewards sand-baggin bike trips to the mail box . I still think the challenge surpasses by far a “more good than harm” standard. YET, methinks the design misses an opportunity to engage a much larger audience . A Modest Proposal from this not-so -swift-Jonathan: One valuable data set and impact NOT tracked in the Challenge design are the number of Vehicles Miles Travelled (VMT) saved by converting cars to bikes. Methinks the impact of the Austin challenge measured in fewer cars on MoPac or I-35 just might earn attention and on-going support of folks outside the bike and fitness enthusiasts
By John Day
May 22, 2010 11:37 AM | Link to this
I’m an urban bicycle commuter, every day, rain or shine, since 2006. I think I’m gradually seeing more people bike commuting in central Austin. It seems like the Central is expanding outward a little, as far as bicycling goes. I ride fairly far afield sometimes,and I notice that it gets notably scarier for bikes South of Ben White/290 and North of Research/183.
It has been good to see central Austin getting incrementally more bike-friendly, but it is time to spread that same forethought North and South. The main thing is to get out and bea bicyclist sometimes. People who are exclusively motorists see us as sub-humans, like stray dogs. If those folks get on a bike sometimes, they will understand the situation better. Even if they don’t get on a bike, seeing more cyclistsevery day will normalize it for them. Pump up those tires, oil that chain and get pedaling!