April 2003
Transportation
Celebrate National Bike to Work and School Day
Friday, May 16
by Megan Artz
Megan Artz has been a car-free Bellingham native for seven years and believes a self-propelled lifestyle can promote true freedom.
I type on my computer on the eve of a potential war over oil, one that even my wise elders fear as the worst of all global situations. Although my heart hopes for a better resolution, my mind says the war is bound to happen.
Newspapers worldwide have been smothered with photos of enormous crowds marching through streets and voicing concern. This expansive, socially and statistically diverse group is growing every moment, gaining steam amidst the threat of war. Hopefully you are one of these people with a desire to do something more than wrap yourself in plastic and duct tape in some pathetic attempt to save your life.
The Real Problem
As a nation we simply consume way too much. You know the list: gadgets, designer clothes, exercise machines that collect dust in the corner, sprawling homes, junk food, disposable this and disposable that. And of course there are the infamous gas-guzzlers we drive to and fro with perhaps a small fleeting thought of burning oil fields, bombs, wealthy corporations, hatred, warfare and our niche in it all.
I’ll agree that this addiction to the car culture is by no means easy to wean from, considering we’ve built roads to everywhere but have made bus routes sort of there and sidewalks to some places and bike lanes are just being born. This beloved car culture has made things a tad messy. It’s also proving to be quite deadly.
One Real Solution
Now imagine a sudden shift—a beautifully quiet contradiction, maybe even a voluntary step back in time for the sake of making a simple point. I’m talking about bicycle commuting. That dusty, deflated friend you’ve shoved in the corner of your garage next to the exercise machine is the key to a new revolution. Just visualize what would happen if everyone stopped buying gas. A silent Armageddon to the current powers that be?
It sounds like a good idea but how many would sacrifice the warm cozy comfort of driving, coffee in hand, for a bicycle ride instead? If you calculate the options, a bicycle-commuting lifestyle compared to a world of fire, death, starvation, disease, darkness and despair, it screams possibility. Need another nudge? Still on the fence? I’ve got just the thing.
Leave Car Home
National Bike to Work and School Day is Friday, May 16. Thousands of Whatcom County residents will leave their car at home for a day of healthy, fun commuting. Whatcom County’s participation in this event has grown exponentially over the years with an expected 2,000 participants for 2003! On the day of the event Celebration Stations will be posted around the county with delicious treats, raffle prizes, helpful information and the companionship of your fellow cyclists. Just stop by one of the stations (listed in the sidebar) between 6:30 a.m. and 10:00 a.m.
Do your part–bicycle to work, school and everywhere you go. If the current state of affairs leaves you rocking back and forth in the fetal position waiting for it to blow over, please uncurl. Stretch your limbs and use them to show support for a freer world, a freer lifestyle and a much-needed change. Bike, bus, walk, telecommute and even carpool. These resources are available to you. The time is now. §
National Bike to Work and School Day Celebration Stations in Whatcom County
•Holly and State (across from YMCA) - New downtown location!!
•Boomers on Samish Way
•Barkley Village Gazebo
•12th Street (above Fairhaven Bikes)
•Dupont and I Street
•Meridian and Squalicum Parkway
•Lakeway and Lincoln
•The HUB Community Bike Shop
•WWU Red Square
•Whatcom Community College
•Bellingham High School
•Shuksan Middle School
•Sunnyland Elementary School
•Blaine High School
•Sehome High School*
•Fairhaven Middle School*
•Kulshan Middle School*
•Sehome High School*
•Fairhaven Middle School*
* for students and faculty only
Annual Bike to Work and School Day Expected to Draw Record Participants!
Organizers of Whatcom County’s Bike to Work and School Day invite all residents to bicycle for a day, a week, a month, a lifetime! Bike to Work and School Day is Friday, May 16, 2003. This annual event has grown from 100 participants in 1998 to over 1,500 participants in 2002. Here are a few great reasons to participate:
•In the time it takes to bike to work, commuters can get the exercise they need but don’t have time for.
•Riding a bike instead of driving improves community health by reducing air pollution and traffic congestion.
•Riding to work or school allows commuters to arrive energized, rather than frustrated by traffic and parking woes.
•If you commute within the county, the Whatcom Transit Authority buses have bicycle racks to accommodate longer distances, unforgivable weather or just a quick lift.
Bike to Work and School Day has become increasingly popular in Whatcom County and everyone is invited to join the fun! Find out why bicycle commuting is a great alternative to driving. Do your part to advocate for a healthy and safer community by bicycling to work, school and everywhere you go. Be part of the solution!
•Bike to Work and School Day 2003 is sponsored by the City of Bellingham, Community Food Co-op and Mt. Baker Bicycle Club.
•For more information on Bike to Work and School Day, to volunteer with the committee or to sign up for a bike mentor, call Donna Merlina at 650-0515.
•May is National Bike Month
May is National Bike Month and there will be many opportunities to fix your bicycle, purchase a helmet, buy an official T-shirt, attend informational clinics about bicycle commuting, pre-register for Bike to Work and School Day raffle prizes or just enjoy the great weather on your two-wheeler:
•REI in Sehome Village will be hosting a variety of free bicycle clinics starting at 6:00 p.m. Visit http://www.rei.com or call 647-8955 for details:
• Thursday, May 1 – Introduction to Bicycle Commuting
• Tuesday, May 6 – Equip Yourself for Bicycle Commuting
• Thursday, May 8 – Bicycle Maintenance Nuts and Bolts
• Tuesday, May 13 – Bicycle Street Smarts
•The famous “Pump You Up” station at the Bellingham Saturday Farmer’s Market on May 3 and 10 will help you dust off that two-wheeler with a free flat tire repair and answer any questions about basic maintenance. Affordable helmets will be available to order through the Brain Injury Association. Official 2003 Bicycle to Work and School Day T-shirts will be for sale.
•Spend your Sunday evenings between April 20 and May 18 decorating your bicycle for the Ski To Sea parade! Bring the kids and join other creative folks at The Hub Community Bike Shop in Bellingham. Call 255-2072 for details.
•Ride with your politicians on Saturday, May 10! Meet our elected city and county officials at the Saturday Farmer’s Market and join in for a leisurely ride.
•Join the Greenways Family Bike Tour on Sunday, May 18 at Cornwall Park for a grand tour of trails connecting the beautiful parks and trails of Bellingham.
•On Saturday, May 10 ride among the tulips and town of rural Skagit County with the Skagit Spring Classic. Registration information is available at http://www.skagitbicycleclub.org.
•Bring that patriotically decorated bicycle and be in the Ski to Sea parade on Saturday, May 24!
•During the spring and summer months, the Mount Baker Bike Club is hosting the Pedal and Pints guided mountain biking rides. Check their newsletter for more info or call 734-8540.
•Boundary Bay Brewery & Bistro in Bellingham will be hosting another evening Bike to Work and School Day celebration with music, and discounts for bicycle commuters! Call 647-5593 for more details.
