CELEBRATING NATIONAL BIKE MONTH
As you drive around the Louisville area looking for the lowest gas prices you may be noticing what some refer to as “the derby bump”. That’s the time of year in the metropolitan area when price gouging is tolerated so that Thorntons, BP and Marathon Oil can profit from all the traffic that heads into Louisville for the first Saturday in May. Of course gas prices had already been hovering around the $4 mark over the last few weeks anyway blamed mostly on supply and demand issues and the never-ending unrest in the Middle East. Over the last few years I have taken matters into my own hands in the battle against high gas prices.
About this time In 2008, when gas prices were nearing historic levels, I decided to make a few changes in my life. It was spring and the weather was starting to get nice so I decided that I would try to ride a bicycle to work a few days a week to save a little money. After searching in local classified and on the internet I was able to find a suitable bike just a few miles from my house from an owner that had taken pretty good care of it but just didn’t have the time to ride anymore. The $25 I spent on the 25 year old Schwinn Sprint has been the best investments I have ever made.Over the last few years I have taken to ride to work nearly everyday. In the beginning I was at the mercy of the weather but over the last few months I have not let the elements stop me. Over the last several months I have ridden my bike in temperatures ranging from 15 to 90 degrees and with snow flurries falling and rain coming down. As long as your dressed for the occasion it really doesn’t seem all that bad.
Since 1956 May has been recognized as National Bike month. The third week in May is designated as Bike to Work week and the third Friday of May is designated as Bike to work day. According to The League of American Bicyclist over half of the population lives within five miles of their workplace but relatively few people commute by bicycle. Lack of knowledge or incentive have deterred many from at least trying to ride their bikes to work.
There are many benefits of bicycling to work. Studies have shown that people who ride a bicycle on a regular basis are up to 50% less likely to experience heart disease. Cycling to work not only saves you on the high price of gas it also eliminates wear and tear on your automobile. It has been estimated that you save $1 for every two miles you ride your bike. If your commute to work less than ten miles you can probably get to work within the same amount of time it takes you to drive. You also get to your destination relaxed and refreshed and ready to start your work day.
It is very easy to make excuses as to why it is impossible for you to bicycle to work. The hard thing to do is to come up with a plan to make it work for you. If you think it is too far, consider taking the bus for part of the way. All of the local TARC buses are equipped with bike racks on the front to make biking to work a little easier. If you have to dress nicely for work you can leave a change of clothes at work and change when you get there.
May is set aside as the month to bring attention to bicycle commuting. I realize that everyone cannot ride their bike to work everyday. Maybe it is not something you can do for the entire month, maybe you can try it for just a week or maybe just a day. I think that if you put in the effort to try it once it can be something that you might be willing to try on a regular basis
2 comments:
Good column, and I hear ya on the break from politics.
Would appreciate more information on just how you dress to ride a bike in snow, driving rain, etc.
The elements are one of the drawbacks that has kept me from trying this.
Kelley
This past year, I bought a folding bike, and it has made my commute so much better - I save on gas money, and I think riding is even faster than driving sometimes. Plus I get some good exercise.
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