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July 26, 2006
By JOHN CHARLES ROBBINS
Staff writer
Riding your bike to work is like taking a little vacation every day.
That's how die-hard commuter Bruce Bos of Park Township describes the non-motorized practice.
And on top of the obvious benefits, biking to work will save you money -- increasingly more important in these days when
one gallon of gasoline sets you back more than $3.00.
"I want to exercise to stay in shape and be healthy, but I cannot stand to do it in a workout room," said Bos,
explaining his motivation for two-wheeled mobility.
"And the utility of riding a bike to work makes the exercise serve a real need to get to work -- it is a double plus,"
said Bos, 56. He commutes 6.5 miles from home to office, which takes about 30 minutes.
On average, every time Bos chooses to ride his Mongoose dual suspension mountain bike to work instead of driving his 1995
Honda, he saves about $1.50. That doesn't include costs for car maintenance and insurance.
Bos has been an active bike-to-work rider for about seven years.
He is not alone. More and more people are hanging up the car keys and opting for bicycling as a way to get back and forth.
A national survey conducted in 2002, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Transportation, shows more than 57 million people
ride bikes, just over a quarter of the population age 16 and older.
About 5 percent of respondents said they bike to work or school.
The U.S. Census found that 488,497 people rode a bicycle to work in 2000, up from the 466,856 people who biked to work
in 1990.
"I know of several other people who ride to work," said Bos, who is community development coordinator for the
city of Holland.
"At work here in Holland's City Hall there are three others who ride to work. ... They all work in the Community
and Neighborhood Services Department," Bos said.
Every day the average adult American drives almost 40 miles and spends an hour in the car. Forty percent of these trips
are within two miles of home. More than half the nation's working population lives within five miles of the workplace.
Just imagine if more people dusted off the Schwinn instead of turning the ignition.
"I do it for the enjoyment," said Rachel Baber, 25, of Grand Rapids. She works at Velo City Cycles in Holland.
Baber is serious about her fun. Her commute from downtown Grand Rapids is 33 miles one way, and can take up to two hours.
"It takes a good chunk of time, there and back is 4 hours total ... if it's windy, maybe a little longer.
"I love the morning, that's definitely an enjoyment. In the evening it's more of a wind-down type of thing,"
said Baber.
Bos has a similar view.
"The ride home is perfect to relieve stress and be in a great place by the time you get home ... and the boost in
metabolism also helps to keep you awake and motivated to do more at night after a tough day at work," Bos said.
Steve Bulthuis, 38, of Holland's south side, started riding his bike to work in May 1993.
"I was working in Ann Arbor and there is a strong bike-to-work culture there, as well as a good non-motorized network
(bike paths)," Bulthuis said.
Bulthuis is transportation program manager for the Macatawa Area Coordinating Council, a regional government organization
that handles transportation matters, from public transit and big road construction projects to promoting growth of the area's
bike path network.
"We have a good network here in the MACC area, now we need to work on strengthening the culture.
"That is why we have the 'practical cycling' section on the HollandTrails.org Web site, and I am proposing in our
next work program the Smart Commute/Bike to Work Week task," said Bulthuis.
The MACC staff is currently working to promote the Holland area's first Bike-to-Work event next May, during national bike
month.
Bulthuis is quick to promote non-motorized modes of transportation, so in short, when he hops on his 2004 Specialized
Crossroads Elite, hybrid/crossover bike, he's practicing what he preaches -- although the preaching is closer to gentle encouragement.
He said he bikes to work for the exercise and "to promote non-motorized transportation through example."
Bulthuis doesn't just talk the talk, he walks the walk -- or more precisely, he rides the walk.
Another reason to bike cited by Bulthuis: "To reduce congestion -- hey, one less car!"
Launched this spring by the MACC, HollandTrails.org is geared toward promoting the vast and growing non-motorized trail
system here.
The Web site is for residents and visitors who are interested in getting around the area on foot, bicycle, in-line skates
or other human-powered means. It features interactive maps with special points of interest in Ottawa and Allegan counties.
The MACC office on 136th Avenue is 3.2 miles from Bulthuis' home. The commute on two wheels takes about 17 minutes.
"Spring and fall riding are my favorites," said Bulthuis.
There aren't many drawbacks, according to area cyclists, but the traditional mode of transportation -- those fuel-guzzling
cars and SUVs whizzing by -- pose some challenges.
"The only drawback that I think about is the safety issue," Bos said.
"Crossing big intersections, like Howard and River Avenue, is scary and you need to use the safest method to get
across," he said.
Baber agrees that uncooperative or inattentive motorists are frustrating for the bicycle commuter.
The bike rider has to pay attention, be a proactive cyclist, she said.
"I want to make sure when I cross the street I have eye contact with the person (in a car) ... to make sure they
won't hit me," said Baber.
Bulthuis said making eye contact is good advice, especially along busy streets.
"Bike paths that cross many commercial driveways can be challenging, like north River between Douglas and Lakewood.
I have had my rear tire bumped there," he said.
If you can't make eye contact with motorists, Bulthuis advises "slow down and be ready to stop."
He also suggests an alert for your bike. "Get a bell or other device to warn people -- that's especially helpful
when coming up behind somebody," he said.
Baber encourages others to lose the motor and ride a bike instead.
"It's good for the environment and good for your health. You're getting out there -- outside. There are tons of benefits
and perks to riding a bicycle," said Baber.
Contact John Charles Robbins at (616) 546-4269 or john.robbins@hollandsentinel.com.
FOR THE WEB
For more information on biking check out these Web sites:
* League of American Bicyclists at www.bikeleague.org. A nine-page booklet on biking to work can be downloaded from http://www.bikeleague.org/programs/bikemonth/pdf/BTWW_Booklet.pdf
* Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center at www.bicyclingoinfo.org
* Better Environmentally Sound Transportation at www.best.bc.ca/
* Coalition for Appropriate Transportation at www.car-free.org/
Also, the Federal Highway Administration maintains a Web site loaded with bicycle safety information that can be found
at: http://safety.fhwa.dot.gov/ped_bike/bike/index.htm
Bike-to-work sidebar
Reasons to ride a bike to work, according to the International Bicycling Fund:
* You get exercise from bicycling
* The exercise increases your productivity at work
* Your commute will be the best part of your day instead of the worst part of your day
* Save travel money by biking
* Reduce stress
* Cycling is therapeutic for the mind and spirit
* Cycling is low impact on the environment
* Cycling improves self-esteem
* Bicycling in your neighborhood is a great way to meet your neighbors
* Reduce energy consumption and air pollution
* Reduce need for additional asphalt and concrete
* Bicycling improves cardiovascular health
* Cycling is fun
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