Comments on: Bike To Work Week

By: Frank J. Witt

Frank J. Witt — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 12:56:21 +0000

Reading thru the Hburg ordinances and found this rather amusing…

http://www.harrisonburgpolice.com/CityOrd.htm#Bicycle%20Reg

Guess I better find 50 cents to register my bike…

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By: Frank J Witt

Frank J Witt — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 14:31:05 +0000

Whewwwww, first bike ride in a while and although it was only 3 miles, it sure is warm out. I am happy about how soaked my shirt got though…now we will see if I can make it home without drowning in the late afternoon showers…

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By: ilse

ilse — Mon, 26 May 2008 00:20:31 +0000

Rosetta Stone encouraged Bike to Work day this year….

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By: hburgnews.com » stuck in a rut

hburgnews.com » stuck in a rut — Mon, 19 May 2008 12:45:12 +0000

[...] week Thanh wrote about Bike to Work Week. Today there’s a story in the DNR about cyclists crashing at city [...]

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By: Justin C

Justin C — Thu, 15 May 2008 19:00:51 +0000

I started the week off with the intention of biking every day.

In reality I’ve done it twice so far.

It really is a life style change and takes time, so if I sleep in a little it can force me to drive.

That said, the days I do I really enjoy it. I arrive at the office much more awake and in a better mood. Also, to echo Heidi and Thanh’s statement, I’ve talked more with my neighbors this week then I did last month.

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By: Thanh

Thanh — Mon, 12 May 2008 22:51:10 +0000

I think that being comfortable on any bike ride is really important. Having a comfortable bike especially. Before I got my bike I remember thinking about how expensive a “good” bike is. I’m glad I didn’t skimp this time. I spent about $450 on my bike, I think. Of course you can always spend more. But I had to look at the cost as an investment, just like an investment on a car, but way cheaper. Anyway, once I got myself a comfortable bike I found myself wanting to ride around more. Most, if not all bike shops, will let you test bikes around their parking lot, and I know of some that will let you borrow the bike – sometimes with a rental which the cost of can be applied to the bike end up purchasing.

And I definately agree with Heidi’s observation: “interact more with my friends and neighbors.” I also find myself interacting more with people when I’m walking or biking around town. Its because I’m not in a box that shuts me off from the world (a car), and I am able to stop pretty much anytime to have a good, even if brief, conversation. I also notice more things like ducks, people on their front porches, etc.

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By: Hlestyan

Hlestyan — Mon, 12 May 2008 21:44:03 +0000

I’ve been biking to work pretty much every day since January, when I started working downtown. I admit that it’s a lot more fun now that the weather has warmed up! The coolest thing about my commute was watching the days get longer- a few minutes more light each day was very noticeable and gave me hope that Spring was coming. I also got to see the plants popping up, and interact more with my friends and neighbors on the way home each day.

It takes me about 8 to 10 minutes to get to work, and like Thanh, I prefer riding through the neighborhoods to riding along the roads like 42. My office is very business casual, so I usually just ride in whatever I am wearing to work that day, or bring something to chance into if something dressier is required. During the winter, I dressed like I was going on an arctic expedition, so that I wouldn’t be completely frozen by the time I got to the office.

I have a messenger bag that I use to carry everything I need for the day: papers, computer, and sometimes lunch. If I need to run errands during the day, I try and go by bike. I can’t wait until the Friendly City Food Co-op gets going, because then I can do my grocery shopping by bike as well.

I will suggest to anyone who is riding after dark is to make sure you have lights on your bike; you can get them at the local bike shops, and they are very easy to attach to your handlebars or seat post. And a helmet is a very good idea.

The people I run into in the elevator always comment on my bike- and my two other co-workers who ride- and think it looks like a great, fun way to get around. Hopefully they will use this week as an excuse to try it out themselves and experience first-hand how fun it is.

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By: dan

dan — Mon, 12 May 2008 20:08:18 +0000

I ride my bike 40 miles to work, and 40 miles home. It has taken a while to adjust to. I usually do not look forward to the ride to work, because it is early and I am tired and grumpy, but boy do I look forward to the post work ride. It takes me an hour to drive to work, on a good day with good traffic, which is usually not the case in Northern Va. but the bike trip is almost solely on bike paths, and I can do it in an hour and 45 minutes if I work for it. I struggle with this 5 days a week because it usually rains somedays, but I do it 3-4 days a week generally.

My biggest problem is getting up on time, and having all my stuff packed. I try and pack my bags the night before, so all I have to do is roll outta bed at 630, put on my spandex, fry some eggs, eat, vape and go.

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By: Sarah

Sarah — Mon, 12 May 2008 18:41:32 +0000

That’s great Thanh! Within the last 2 months (warm weather), I have started biking to work on average 2-3 days a week, too. My motivations are both personal/fitness and socially/environmentally motivated. My major obstacles are similar: weather, snooze button, and also that some days I will have to transport others home and would end up using more fuel (due to backtracking across town) if I had biked. Eventually I’d like to expand my biking season to stretch beyond warmer days and into/over winter – learn what clothes work best in cold weather and learn to brave it! Any suggestions on these two points will be duly noted!

I also feel GREAT after biking to work. Now on days that I drive, it takes me an extra 45 minutes to really feel awake and alert at work.

My commute is 3 miles one-way. By car:10-12 minutes (and many of those sitting at stop lights), by bike: 17-19 minutes. Though I love sleep, I can wake up 10 minutes earlier most days. I’m still trying out different routes to see which I like best. Usually I ride on 42 South during rush hour for about half my ride. It hasn’t been too bad.

The other day, I was biking and stopped at a light by JMU. A JMU cop pulled up next to me and joked that he’d “never seen a biker obey the traffic laws, let me get my camera, etc”. He was friendly enough, and went on to say that the worst accident on campus he’d seen this year was a pedestrian being hit by a bicyclist. It sounded terrible -and I’m sure it was. Lo and behold, less than 2 blocks later, I’m passing a side street and a large SUV tries to turn from the main road across traffic (me) into the side road. They didn’t see me. I yelled and kicked my feet out and fortunately they screeched to a stop in time. Somehow, I think that would have been a pretty ugly accident, too. The next week, I had a green light, and was about to cross Main Street downtown, when a minivan, going the WRONG WAY down Main (and thus didn’t see their red light), barreled through the intersection (for some reason they were going well over 25mph), I braked hard and yelled for my life, they kept going.

I’m sure every biker has stories like these. I’m sure most motorists have stories of bikers being invisible (dark clothing, no lights). It happens. I know for me, I’m going to continue biking to work. People I share the road with every morning will become more used to it. I’m also going to invest in one of those bright orange vests or something of that ilk. None of us can afford NOT to pay attention.

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