Rider Profile #3

Meet Tonya!

Age Range: 30-40

Occupation or place of work: Unclaimed Property Auditor

Years of bike commuting: 11 months

Current average bike commute trip: 50 miles round trip

What got you started bike commuting?
This is a funny story. I have 2 coworkers (Mark & Mike) who have been riding from Lakewood to Olympia for a few years now. I would see them on the road and would think these two are nuts! Isn't that why God invented motorized transportation? So like a crazy person I agreed to ride to work with them on a tandem bike. Off we went, it’s dark and cold when we hit Dupont. I was thinking this was a big mistake but I had no other option because my feet were locked into the pedals like a prisoner. As we approach a busy intersection in Olympia Mark say’s, “ Ok I’m going to just grab the post and wait for the light.” YEAH right, easier said than done . Next thing I know I’m sitting on my bum and Mike and Mark are laughing. “They call this fun.” Well we made it to work I was exhausted – broke out in hives and all I could think was there is now way I’m going to make it home, Mark is just going to have to ride that tandem bike by himself. After being guilted into going back home the only thing I could think of was a small side bet I had made with my husband. It was for $100 because he did not think I could make it either. And I made it hives and all.

What keeps you pedaling instead of driving?
It’s the best on a hot sunny day when traffic is at a dead stop on I-5 and you ride by everyone! The other is riding with Lisa...girl rides are the best.

Is the route you choose the fastest, safest, most fun, or the only route available?
It’s the only route I know, haha!

What style of bike do you ride on your commute?
Thanks to Old Town Bikes I have the best road bike in the world!! SPECIALIZED for women !

What are a few pieces of gear that you find very useful on your commutes?
The most useful in my commute is my Team Barley Davidson – Mark, Mike & Lisa. Without someone to change my flat tires and wait for me at the top of the hills I would never have never guessed in a million years I would be riding my bike to work !!! Thanks guys.

How long have you been a BCC participant?
It will be my first year this May!

Thanks for sharing your commute with us Lisa, funny story too! Now, do not get discouraged by Lisa's commute. This is a long one and hectic, riding on that stretch of I-5. This is legal to ride on this stretch as it is the only way to get through the Fort Lewis area. There is a proposed trail plan that will connect our existing I-5 trail with Tacoma, but do not know when this will happen. Tonya rides with a group that makes it much safer too! ~KT

BCC REACHES NEW RECORD!

As of right now, we have over 1450 participants registered for the Bicycle Commuter Contest!


This is a feat worth recognizing, as our community has increased its participation by 45%! Last year set our previous record of 1005 participants. Since May 1st, I have seen more bikes on the roads than ever before. It is great pulling up to a stop light beside fellow cyclists and being able to say hello and chat about the day. We don't really get to do that in our cars...

I have heard a lot of great stories of how people are getting used to their routine of cycling instead of driving and making record times to work. Thanks for all of the support and input. I love hearing about your commutes!


My favorite part of my bike commute to and from work is being able to ride with a couple friends down the road, as if we were kids again riding bikes after school. A great alternative to sitting in my car by myself! Leave a comment and tell me your favorite part of your commute to work or school, or wherever! Keep up the good practice of bike commuting, we are contributing to a healthy environment!

How to Lock Your Bike

I have been getting some questions about how to effectively lock your bike, so I thought I would go over a few tips on locks and how to best use them.

First and foremost, the best styles of locks are the popular U-Lock or a hefty metal chain lock. The cable style locks can be a deterrent, however, they can be cut quite easily. Although they are a little more pricey and heavier, I highly recommend the U or chain style locks over the cable style.

Depending on whether you are in a high risk or low risk area you can choose how thoroughly you want to lock your bike up. The most simple way is to place your bike next to a pole and run the U-Lock or Chain through the front wheel and frame at the same time, and then through the pole itself. A cable lock can be a nice partner to a U-Lock as shown below:

These photos are courtesy of Kryptonite Locks.

The most secure way would be to remove your front wheel, line it up with the rear and run the U-Lock through both tires and the frame. This will entail disengaging your brakes on most bikes, see your local bike shop if you do not know how. Locks are sold at all local bike shops and they vary by brand in size and locking mechanism (combination or key). Hope this was helpful, please let me know if you have any questions about this or any other topics you would like discussed.
 

Leaving your bike parked outside is always a risk, but with a good lock and a few other tricks, the risk can be lessened. Use the best lock you can afford and always lock your bike TO an immovable object. Try not to leave your bike locked in the exact same location every day, or for a prolonged period. One view is that an old ratty-looking bike is less likely to be stolen, but I am not sure this has been proven. Olympia Police have told me that most of the bikes stolen here are lower-end bikes that have been left unlocked. If your bike is stolen, DO report it to the police. A significant number of bikes are actually recovered. It helps to have recorded your serial number, and to have a photo of your bike! You can also register your bike at nationalbikeregistry.com 

The Contest Has Started, Not Too Late to Sign Up!

Happy First Day of the BCC to Everyone! It is NOT too late to sign up if you have not yet, you have until May 3rd! Just print out the registration form here, and mail it in or visit the Olympia Transit Center downtown at 222 State St.

I forecasted some nice weather for you all, I hope you enjoyed your first logged commute trip. I saw a lot of bikes out on the road today, good work!

Tell me how it went...leave some comments of your trips to the store, work or school...or where ever you rode!

Here are some great ways to find routes and count your miles:

• The Thurston County Bike Map: Find a trail entrance near you or a calmer route through a neighborhood.
• Google's Pedometer (mileage counter): To calculate mileage: type in your zip code and then press "Start Recording". Double click on where your trip starts, then the next point in your trip, then the next. Every double click will draw a linear point on the map, it does not know how to follow the road. You can view elevation gain and loss with this tool as well, click on Elevation "small" or "large". You can save your routes and share them!

Let me know if you need help finding a less busy route. Good luck and stay safe. See you out there!