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The Alive wrote
For your consideration
By Chris DeVille
May 8, 2008
Consider Biking, an aptly named organization that promotes cycling and walking as viable forms of transportation, is challenging the people of Columbus to try life on two wheels for a week.
The launch of a plan to make biking more safe and accessible, a series of ceremonies and presentations and a biking-inspired art show are among the events scheduled for Columbus’ first Bike to Work Week.
But the heart of the weeklong event is the daily commute. Various local businesses are competing to see who can log the most bike trips, and all Columbus residents are encouraged to try riding to work.
Comments
- itinerantfoodie: Not one mention of Huntington Park or their sparse advertising. (Seriously
- Liz Samuelson: Why can't they just pay someone to do it versus a contest? I really like t
- RichLauro: Awesome! Good for Justin and best wishes!!
- Liz Samuelson: @jpizzow – Thank you for the compliment, yes lots of potential and lots o
- Taz Devil: Oh, and it should be finished soon considering that they work late into the
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Bike to Work all week with ConsiderBiking.org
By: Walker
Related Posts:
BY RICHARD ADES / MAY 8, 2008
Just what will it take to turn Columbus into a real cycling town?
A flat, easily ridable terrain? It’s got it.
Bike racks on buses for trips that can’t be completed on two wheels? It’s got them.
Gas prices in the $4 range? It’ll have them soon enough.
The city also is promising more bike lanes, more bike trails and even Downtown shower facilities as part of its Bicentennial Bikeways Plan.
But all it really takes to turn Columbus into a cycling town, some bike advocates say, is more cyclists. And—oh, yes—drivers who know how to share the road with those cyclists.
READ MORE
It’s good to see Consider Biking get such good press. I am going to try to ride my little pea shooter from Grandview to Dublin next week. Just the difference one week of not paying gas prices for my work commute will make all the difference in the world. Not only by allowing me to save money, but also by getting into shape in the process.
In my estimations I will save about $40 in gas if not more and will burn about 1,400 calories a day. That would allow about 2 lbs. of weight loss a week on a moderate diet at my size. So yeah to save a months fees at a gym and burn 7,000 calories in a week. Sounds like a great reason to bike to work.
Nice ride. A little tip : Dublin Road has about 25% of the traffic on 33 even at rush hours. The small stretch from Hayden Run into Dublin itself is really nice.
A.
Mat’s Commute from Mat Barlow on Vimeo.
I think I may attempt this at least a couple days next week. I need to start planning a route and see how much earlier I need to leave. I’m always hauling ass out the door at the last minute. I think getting my timetable together will be more challenging for me than actually riding here. :D
I hope this really brings out lots of bikers. I bike to downtown tp work usually 4 out 5 days a week and there is rarely anyone else out bike commuting then. Maybe people are just afraid of rush hour?
Recumbent trikes are a lot heavier (especially a casual touring model like mine), but dang if they aren’t comfy. :) I trike to work downtown 2-3 days a week (weather permitting) and fortunately my company has a gym/showers.
On the subject of bike trails and dedicated bike paths, I think more would get a lot of new riders out there, since a lot of people I know – that only ride on bike trails in parks – are scared to death to share a lane with a car. It takes a while to build up confidence, I think. That, and depending on where in Columbus you are, the politeness on the road seems to vary greatly[/img]
How can I volunteer? I bike to work everyday, weather no matter, and have become quite the enthusiast, advocate, etc. If anybody knows, please send me a message.
Kaiel
B2WW
If you have not already, come register on Consider Biking to meet more Columbus area cyclists and find out more.
If anyone needs some help biking from Bexley/OTE area to Downtown, feel free to send me a message.
I counted parked commuter bikes one day while slinging packages recently when the weather was perfect, I got 31, and I went to everywhere I know of that I know people use bikes to get to work. There are some that bring their bikes inside, but it isn’t very many.
Oh ya, someone needs to tell the city that those goofy little bike rack posts that look like something you would tie a horse to are pretty worthless, they are too short. The U shaped racks they have been putting in are fine though. Thanks for the nice new ones in front of 250 East Broad, very good placement.
I’m looking forward to this. Although I am still unsure of riding a bike in my suit that I have to wear everyday. But, I do it on my scooter, so I should be able to do it on the bike.
If anything, get a garment bag from the thrift store for the week (unless you already have one) and either drive or ride the bus with a weeks worth of clothes. Cycle them out at the end of the day.
If you do this on a scooter, I am sure you already have a system.
Get helmet discounts at these businesses during BTWW:
Betty’s Food & Spirits
Tip Top Kitchen & Cocktails
Surly Girl Saloon
Cup o’ Joe / MoJoe Lounge / Stauf’s
Basi Italia
Otani Japanese Restaurant
Katzinger’s Delicatessen
Buca di Beppo
Pattycake Bakery
ah good. the rainiest week of the spring.
riding to work is great, but it isn’t always practical. sometimes in columbus, life requires four wheels.
That is something that will, hopefully, be improved on.
Often it is simply a mental block. If you feel that Easton is the only shopping mall in Columbus or that you have to shop at multiple grocery stores, then yes a car is a reality. Limiting the range of your environment can often make relying on a bike for all or part of your transportation very easy.
Of course not everyone can live close to work and family situations may dictate otherwise. Hopefully we begin to see improvements in other areas of transportation to help give people an option away from cars.
Tomorrow, Mayor Michael B. Coleman will ride a bike to the Ohio Statehouse from his home… (Rain or Shine!)
Riders are welcome to join the Mayor for the ride, starting at 7:30 a.m. from his home, 1362 Haddon Road, or at around 7:50 a.m. at the Urban Spirit Coffee Shop on E. Long Street in the King Lincoln District, on the way to the Statehouse.
At the Statehouse, we will have maps from the new Bicentennial Bikeway Plan, showing where bike routes, lanes and paths are today, in 2012 and in 20 years. Mayor Coleman will explain this initiaitve to add hundreds of new miles of routes and paths to make biking easier, safer and more popular in Columbus.
Bike-to-Work-Week Kickoff
Mayor Coleman to bike into Statehouse event
Event: Bike-to-Work-Week Kick-off and announcement of the Columbus Bicentennial Bikeways Plan
Downtown employees are encouraged to bike to the Statehouse en route to work.
Refreshments will be provided.
Date: Monday, May 12, 2008
Time: 7:30 – 9:00 a.m.
Speakers to begin at 8:30
The event is open to the public.
Location: Statehouse West Lawn in front of McKinley Statue
Downtown Columbus
Why: To launch Bike-to-Work-Week and announce the Columbus Bicentennial Bikeways Plan.
Speakers:
Mayor Michael Coleman
Columbus City Council Member Maryellen O’Shaughnessy
Meredith Joy, President, Consider Biking
Matt Young (Battelle), Commuter Challenge Bike to Work Week
Doug Morgan (Calfee Halter Griswold), 2 x 2012 Mode Shift
Details: Consider Biking is sponsoring Columbus’s first Bike-to-Work-Week, May
12-17, as an initiative to educate, advocate and encourage biking. The full week of activities is open to the public and includes the kick-off event, a corporate challenge effort, and a Friday afternoon Pit Stop in the OSU campus area. Mayor Coleman will be attending the Monday morning event to unveil the long-awaited Bicentennial Bikeways Plan. The event will also include live music and a bagel and coffee breakfast.
Details of the week are available at http://www.considerbiking.org
If the weather is crappy, I will come down.
If weather is decent, I’d rather take advantage of it to do 20-30 miles than attend.
A.
I planning to commute all week. Rain or shine!
I work 2nd shift, so I doubt i’ll see many commuters then.
I’m a newbie cyclist any suggestions on the rain days? (in regards to clothing) :?:
It all depends on your comfort level. I rode in the rain last week for breakfast at Warehouse club, no rain gear, in cotton pants and a shirt. I probably wouldn’t do that to go to work.
If anything head to Wal-Mart and see what they have that is half way water proof. Or check on sales and clearance at the big box sporting good scores. Got a Columbia Waterproof jacket at Sports Authority on Brice for $38 or so, marked down from $75.[/i]
Dooood… what about people that walk everywhere?
:D