2016 Commuter Profile Number 4: David

• What is your age, roughly speaking?  I’m 35
• What is your occupation or area of study? I’m an Office Specialist and a full-time student at online college WGU pursuing a Bachelor’s degree of Science: IT Security, though I’m in transition mode to starting a new position as a Project Coordinator.
• What is your most frequent destination on your bike?  So far since getting my bike in February: Work / Home / a taproom or brewery in between
• How did you hear about the Bicycle Commuter Contest? I first heard about it about a decade ago when working for the State.
• How many times have you participated in the Bicycle Commuter Contest? This is my 2^nd.
• What got you started riding your bike to get around (practical cycling)? At the time in 2004, my budget was tight, gas prices were high, and between my bike and a regional rail line, getting to work without using my car was the most practical way to go.  This was back east in Philly.  I’d ride Lancaster Avenue from West Philly out of town into Wayne, PA.  More accurately, I’d ride to a train that took me close to my job in Wayne, but after work, I would ride all the way home, a 14 mile trip, not caring about my sweat build-up.
• How many years have you been getting around by bike? With years of inactivity in between, about 12.

2016 Commuter Profile Number 3 - Victoria

When I started as an Employee Transportation coordinator I had no interest in becoming involved in the Bicycle Commuter Contest. I did ‘poke’ at folks I knew at work that did some riding to see if they were going to form a team. But me-join a team and bike? Got to be kidding! I didn’t own a bike, had not ridden in years, too old (60)-besides 9 miles one way was-crazy! Eventually a team did form, acquired a name and enough attitude to ask me ‘why?’ Why wasn’t I putting ‘my money where my mouth was’. My spouse started riding-and I gave in. I acquired a ‘recycle’ from Craig’s list, gave it some TLC and signed up for the 2013 contest. My work group jumped in-paid my registration fee, took pictures, had breakfast for me on the first day. Included was a giant (really!) chart complete with a 100 mile goal (Holy cow!) After watching my charted progress I was hooked. I checked the bike map and rode various routes for time on my off days. I’ve continued riding since that point going to other bike events in the area. Tips and tricks? If you don’t own a bike decide first what type riding you want to do-then try out different bikes. Purchase a GOOD bike from a reputable source. Have the bike ‘fitted’ to you. Buy riding gear-it helps when you are comfortable (jeans and shorts aren’t the best for longer distances). Don’t forget safety! Lights, reflectors, a bright color shirt/jacket. If you are riding to work check your route while actually riding. You’ll become more aware of possible hazards and how to adjust.  Talk to other cyclists! I like riding even in the not so wonderful Pacific Northwest weather. Staying fit keeps you healthy and happy. You can join a riding group or go with friends-Great way to socialize.

Victoria

2016 Commuter Profile #2: Andrea!

What is your age, roughly speaking? 46   

What is your occupation or area of study? I have my own business, Human Resources consulting, recruiting and training.

What is your most frequent destination on your bike? Hard to pick just one…library, downtown Farmer’s Market, West side Farmer’s Market, and Coop are probably the top 4.

How did you hear about the Bicycle Commuter Contest? I moved here in 2011 and heard about it soon after…probably on a flyer at the library.

How many times have you participated in the Bicycle Commuter Contest? This is my 3rd year.

What got you started riding your bike to get around (practical cycling)? I used to ride my bike for exercise and training for a triathlon…that was over 10 years ago. Then I had a kid and put my bike away in the garage and kind of forgot about it. I lived in Seattle and thought bike riding in the traffic looked terrifying. Moving to Olympia made me believe I could do it again. The drivers are much more friendly and aware of bikers, and it’s so much easier to navigate this area. I went to Deschutes Cyclery thinking I might need to buy a new ‘commuter’ bike…and I met Adam, who helped me tune up my old bike and make it more errand friendly by adding things like bike racks and fenders. Since I work from home, I use my bike to run errands and commute to client meetings. When I heard about BCC I realized I could participate by choosing to use my bike for any errands less than 5 miles. This year I’ve started a team called “Roaming Home” and I hope other cyclists who work from home will join me. (Editor's note: To join Andrea's Roaming Home team, simply include that team name in the provided space on your sign-up form, whether online or on the paper form)

2016 (Winter) Commuter Profile No. 1: Peter

Peter with trusty 1980's Miyata

Our Commuter Profiles are a great way to learn how others approach the challenges and find the rewards in getting around by bicycle in Thurston County. If you are currently using your bicycle for transportation and have participated in the Bicycle Commuter Contest (or plan to this year), you could be featured here! If interested, contact dgreen"at"intercitytransit.com 

• What is your age, roughly speaking? 50
• What is your occupation or area of study? Energy programs and energy policy at WA Dept. of Commerce State Energy Office.
• What is your most frequent destination on your bike? Commute to work.
• How did you hear about the Bicycle Commuter Contest? Email, CTR promotion (Commute Trip Reduction), and  IT coach advertising panels.
• How many times have you participated in the Bicycle Commuter Contest? 3-6 times.
• What got you started riding your bike to get around (practical cycling)? Elementary school commuting and transportation, rekindled for college commuting, which grew to work commuting and triathlon training, recreation and errands, and now predominately work commuting.
• How many years have you been getting around by bike? 12-15 years
• Describe your current average or usual trip (distance, terrain, urban/rural, etc.) 5 mile trip from home to work along the Chehalis-Western trail to the Woodland trail to Eastside St. to Union Ave. to work place. The trail route is flatter since it runs along a former railroad bed, but longer than taking a more direct surface street route. Since I ride a single speed bike it is difficult to tackle going up the hill on the way home on surface streets.
• How have you adapted your habits to make practical cycling work for you? Commuting by bike saves time spent in the gym doing alternate cardio work. Consequently, I save time commuting by bike.

2015 Commuter Profile Number 6: Benjamin

· What is your age, roughly speaking? I will be 26 this summer.

· What is your occupation or area of study? I worked at Olympia Supply Company for the past three years and now I’m working on the vegetation crew for the city of Olympia for the summer. I am currently trying to get on track to study either horticulture technologies or fisheries biology in the fall.

· What is your most frequent destination on your bike? Well I work five days a week so work is a pretty common one. Aside from that I try to ride to the grocery stores in east or west Olympia to get more riding in since I live fairly close to downtown. I really dig the Woodland Trail so I try and go places that it and the Chehalis-Western trail run close to.

· How did you hear about the Bicycle Commuter Contest? I think it was four years ago. Just from riding public transit on a regular basis. 

· How many times have you participated in the Bicycle Commuter Contest? Pretty sure this is number three for me. There was a year in there when I didn't have a decent working bike to ride. I ”tacoed” the front wheel on my trusty Schwinn road bike and couldn't afford to fix it. I was unaware of the community bike shops and the assistance they offer, back then.

2015 Commuter Profile Number 3: Linda

• What is your age, roughly speaking? 
•  I’m a fifty-two year old woman

• What is your occupation or area of study? I work for the Family Support Center as a Family Resource Coordinator. I have spent my adult life parenting and supporting other parents in a variety of ways. I volunteer for two non-profits that support’s families as well as working for a non-profit.

• What is your most frequent destination on your bike? I do occasional recreational biking with my partner on the weekend. However mostly I commute to work three to four days a week as I’m part time and only work four days a week.

• How did you hear about the Bicycle Commuter Contest? My partner and I have five children between us and three of our children participated in the BCC when they were teens and each of them won in their categories.

2015 Commuter Profile Number 2: Lillian

Lillian fixes her tour-mate's flat tire on a trip across Arizona

• What is your age, roughly speaking?  29.61 years

• What is your occupation or area of study?  I work as a bike mechanic!  And I clean stalls at a horse boarding stable on weekends.

• What is your most frequent destination on your bike?  Work is a pretty boring answer, so I'm going to have to go with the other half of that trip: home!  That said, Spuds Produce, Groc.Out, and the Evergreen Bike Shop are top hits as well.

• How did you hear about the Bicycle Commuter Contest?  I can't remember!  It just seems like everyone knows about it.  

• How many times have you participated in the Bicycle Commuter Contest?  Just once, but I only moved to Olympia a little over a year ago.  I participated in one the year before in Smithers, BC, and inadvertently participated in many more just by the fact that I ride almost everywhere.

• What got you started riding your bike to get around (practical cycling)?  When I was a young lass I lived 2 miles from the place where I kept my horse, and didn't like having to pester my older brother or parents for rides.  One time I got in big trouble for riding home just after dark, and that led to an enlightening realization: I could ride DAY OR NIGHT as long as I had lights on.  From then on, I was FREE! I also found if I rode my bike to school, I could sleep in a little later than if I took the bus.

2015 Commuter Profile Number 1: Matthew

• What is your age, roughly speaking? This year, I’ll be halfway between L and LX.

• What is your occupation or area of study? I’ve been really fortunate to have made a career in archaeology. After more than 20 years as an archaeologist in the private sector, I accepted a job with the State and now review and evaluate transportation projects across Washington for potential impacts to archaeological sites, historic structures, or places of cultural significance.

• What is your most frequent destination on your bike? Like most commuters, I have to say work. I don’t have a super long commute (just under ten miles a day round trip), but rain or shine I’m on my bike heading to work four days out of every seven! During the “nicer” months, I’ll often do errands or joyride on my days off (shout out for the Chehalis Western!) and some years I’ll do the STP or some other century-type ride just for the fun of it.

Real World Tips from Winter Bike Commuters

Some great reasons for getting around by bike: 

Even in the rain it’s not a problem because I have rain gear and I’m not out there long enough to get really wet.  I love the feeling of the cool fresh air on my face at the end of the day.  That first little hill always makes me smile. ~from Charlotte

I ride every day regardless of the weather since I no longer have a car. This is my first winter riding and it is going great. My favorite part about riding is that when I arrive home after a long day at work, my stress has melted away and I feel refreshed and ready to spend the evening with my family. ~from Yoshi

 

I commute everywhere [by bicycle] because I have a broken car! ~from Io

And some tips from commuters who are out there doing it year-round:
 
My best tip for winter cycling is to take the long way home.  It's too dark by 5:30 to safely ride a heavy traffic road in rush hour. However, finding back roads to ride at a casual pace helps to keep me in the saddle day after day.  Oh, don't underestimate the fantastic services provided by Intercity Transit through highly congested areas!!!! ~from Abe

I’ve been a bike commuter off and on for decades—only doing the year-round thing since 2008. The keys for me were good lights, a commute that is mostly off busy roads, and a work schedule that keeps me within ½ an hour of sunrise/sunset. While I don’t ride in slippery conditions (no snow or ice for me!), I’m not deterred by rain, wind, sleet, or cold/dry (at least until it gets below 25, and then I wimp out). ~from Melanie

Stay tuned to the BCC with our quasi-monthly Newsletters!

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Click here to see the current BCC Newsletter- check it out and join our mailing list!
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Bike Love!

Free Bike Repair Classes at Evergreen Bike Shop

The Evergreen Bike Shop is offering free bicycle repair classes every Monday and Friday from 6-8 for the entire month of March. Everyone is welcome.
3/03 Tune up/general maintenance
3/07 Wheel hubs
3/10 Wheel truing
3/14 Brakes
3/17 Gears
3/21 Bottom brackets
3/24 Headset + handlebar alignment
3/28 Roadside repair + accident recovery
For more info about The Evergreen Bike Shop, check out their blog: http://www.evergreenbikeshop.blogspot.com/

2014 Winter Bike Commuter Profile #4: Steve

•What is your age, roughly speaking?
Mid 50’s (exactly)
•What is your occupation or area of study?
Fish Biologist
•What is your most frequent destination on your bike?
Riding to work at the Natural Resources Building is my daily commute. I also visit friends in the neighborhood or do light shopping by bike, but most miles are daily commute.
•How did you hear about the Bicycle Commuter Contest?
The Fish & Wildlife BCC team coordinator sent out an agency email. Thank you Tiffany!
•How many times have you participated in the Bicycle Commuter Contest?
Six times- 2008-2013, plus I rode one year with my daughter when she was on the Lincoln Elementary School BCC team.
•What got you started riding your bike to get around (practical cycling)?
The Bicycle Commuter Contest- I actually started riding a month prior to the 2008 contest to get into shape. It took all of April, 2008 before I could make it to the top of San Francisco Street. I was so excited, I rode back down and up again.

2014 Winter Bike Commuter Profile #3: Kristin

Editor's Note: This is a really great Rider Profile to read if you are thinking about trying out bike commuting for the first time- lots of good perspective, permission, and encouragement!

What is your age, roughly speaking?

Late 20's.

What is your occupation or area of study?

Library associate at Timberland Regional Library.

What is your most frequent destination on your bike?

Work! And various coffee shops & Spud's Market on Capitol for groceries.

How did you hear about the Bicycle Commuter Contest?

A flyer on the window of Ralph's Thriftway. I'd just moved here from the Bay Area and was beyond excited to see some sort of bicycle contest!

How many times have you participated in the Bicycle Commuter Contest?

Three, one for each year I've lived in Olympia. Unfortunately I've also changed bicycles three times so I only have one sticker!

2014 Winter Bike Commuter Profile #2: Antonio

Here are Antonio's answers to our "Interview Questions":

What is your age, roughly speaking?

 --25 

What is your occupation or area of study?
--Scribe. 

What is your most frequent destination on your bike?

--Downtown Olympia from the Westside

How did you hear about the Bicycle Commuter Contest?

--I can't remember how I heard about the BCC the first time, but I've been on my work-team for a couple years now.

How many times have you participated in the Bicycle Commuter Contest?

--Four; I think. Enough to know it's awesome!

2013 BCC Rider Profile #5: The Brewster Family

 

The Brewsters:

What are your ages, roughly speaking? 

40s, 12, and 8

What is your most frequent destination on your bike? Everywhere within reasonable distance— mostly work and school, but regularly to grocery stores, Farmers’ Market, friends’ homes, parks and trails, bike shops, pet stores, restaurants, even dental checkups and weddings!

How many years have you been getting around by bike? Jack and Chloe have pedaled to school and accompanied their parents on trips ever since each has learned to ride or be strapped into a bike trailer. Stacey, a dedicated transit user, has ramped up her bike trips to work over the last five years, often combining bike with bus trips. Paul is a year-round daily rider - for the past nine years.

How many times have you participated in the Bicycle Commuter Contest? Combined our family has worn at least16 contests off our tires.

How did you hear about the BCC? Workplace. We enjoy everything the contest has to offer!

What got you started with practical cycling? Regular short trips made by a car are excessive when one weighs the cost and benefits of automotive travel. In 2005, we sold our second car to achieve a more active lifestyle and reduce our dependence on driving. We enjoy the freedom our car offers us, but cycling is liberating. The decision and the benefits were clear—making a larger portion of our local trips by bike is practical, economical and healthier than driving.

BCC 2013 Rider Profile #4: Riley and Marissa

ñ What is your age, roughly speaking?

We're both 24.

ñ What is your occupation or area of study?

Riley is the online store manager for Batdorf and Bronson. He studied nature photography and evolutionary biology at The Evergreen State College. Marissa is a copy editor at a web-hosting company and studied political economy at Evergreen.

ñ What is your most frequent destination on your bike?

Going to work and running errands around town.

ñ How did you hear about the BCC?

We heard about the BCC through word of mouth.

ñ How many times have you participated in the Bicycle Commuter Contest?

This is our first year participating, although we've always wanted to do so.

ñ What got you started riding your bike to get around (practical cycling)?

When we were going to Evergreen, we lived so close to campus that it made more sense to ride our bikes to class and work on campus. It was actually faster than driving or taking the bus.

Last year we moved to Steamboat Island, since it's about a 20 minute drive to town, we realized that commuting by car wouldn't be cost effective due to gas and wear-and-tear on the car. But riding the bus would take nearly an hour which is the same amount of time, if not longer, than riding our bike to town. We resolved to begin riding daily. 

2013 BCC Rider Profile# 3 Anne Marie

We're interviewing a few intrepid practical cyclists who commute by bike year-round, to find out how they do it! 

* What is your age, roughly speaking? 39
* What is your occupation or area of study? Pre-nursing student and Navy Reservist
* What is your most frequent destination on your bike? School - preschool for my son, and SPSCC for me
* How did you hear about the BCC? Not sure, but we moved to Olympia in March 2012 and I tend to notice things that have to do with bicycles. I probably googled it after seeing signs around town.
* How many times have you participated in the Bicycle Commuter Contest? This year will be my first. I am looking forward to it.
* What got you started riding your bike to get around (practical cycling)? When I lived in Germany a few years ago, my office was within 2 miles of my apartment. I started biking to work then and realized I was much happier than when I drove. We moved to the DC area after that, and I started to hate driving more because of the traffic congestion there. After moving here, we decided to try being a one-car family to save money, so my commitment to daily cycling became much greater.

2013 BCC Rider Profile# 2 Jonathan H.

We're interviewing a few intrepid practical cyclists who commute by bike year-round, to find out how they do it!
 What is your age, roughly speaking? 
2013 will be my last year in my 20s!

•What is your occupation or area of study?
I manage the Customer Care department for The Spa Depot. We are an online retailer of hot tubs and spa supplies based here in Olympia.

•What is your most frequent destination on your bike?
Work, the grocery store, laundromat, Eastside tavern, Ralph's - I bike pretty much everywhere. The majority of my miles, however, are commuting to work.

•How did you hear about the BCC?
I believe a friend of mine encouraged me to sign up when I first moved to Olympia about 4 years ago.

•How many times have you participated in the Bicycle Commuter Contest?
Every year since 2009. In that first year, I had just moved to Olympia from
Centralia, but I was still employed down in Lewis County. I commuted 5-6 days a
week from Olympia to Centralia by bike and ended up winning the overall
mileage category with 1,763 miles!

Winter: a good time for bike maintenance

The cold, dark, rainy season of winter may not be your favorite time to ride your bike (though many of us do it anyway!), but it is a great time to get your bike tuned up.If you don't have your own back-yard bike shop, Thurston County has eight professional bike shops to choose from, all scattered around the urbanized area of the county. All of these shops are equipped to tackle your bike maintenance needs, and they are not swamped with work right now! Bike shops get really busy in the spring- even as early as March. You could wait a week for your bike to get a tuneup in the busy season. Right now though, bike shops are hungry for work and want your business, and you shouldn't have to wait so long for your bike.  Remember to shop local for your bike accessories and clothing. Support the local bike shops that offer professional service to keep us rolling!

BCC 2013 Rider Profile #1: Beth R.

We're interviewing a few intrepid practical cyclists who commute by bike year-round, to find out how they do it!

BCC: What is your age, roughly speaking?

Beth: Roughly speaking?!?  Is that question worded like that for those who fear growing old?  I’m 47!

BCC: What is your occupation or area of study?
Beth:I am a Licensed Mental Health Counselor.  I own my own business near downtown, Olympia.  I work with individuals who are suicidal and who self harm.  I love my work and I love the people I work with (both clients and other therapists). 

BCC: What is your most frequent destination on your bike?
Beth:Sadly, work.  I’d say 90 % of my bike riding is to get me to work or home from work.  I want to do the CUPPA rides with Capital Bike Club, but errands and family commitments rarely make it possible for me to take that much time to ride on a Sat. 

BCC: How did you hear about the BCC?
Beth:Originally, I’m not absolutely sure, but I think it was one of those street banners across State Ave by the bus station.  I remember the first year I did it (I think maybe 2010) running into Duncan right after I had registered.  I was commuting that day and I stopped at the bus station to sign up.  After signing up, I went to Olympia Hardware to pick something up on my way to work.  When I was coming out of the store, he asked me,  “Hey, do you ride much?  Have you heard about the Bicycle Commuter Contest?” (or something similar to that).  And, I said, “Well, as a matter of fact, I just signed up.”  It was really cool to meet the “Director” of the BCC within minutes of signing up!