Hundreds Of Valley Workers Bike To Work
Three days a week Jerred Gildehaus arrives at work sweating.
That’s because he rides his bike almost 12 miles from his home in the Valley to his job on the South Hill.
“There’s not always a facility to shower and you have to bring your clothes in a bag, but the good things outweigh the bad things,” said Gildehaus, who works at Midway Cyclery South.
Nearly 1,700 Spokane commuters are expected to ride bicycles to work during “Bike to Work Week,” which started Monday. This year, 15 Spokane Valley employers are participating, and 466 employees are expected to spin the spokes.
The week is designed to encourage alternative forms of transportation and reduce pollution.
“We’re really trying to cut down on solo commuting,” said Aurora Crooks, commute trip reduction coordinator for Spokane County.
Participating Spokane Valley employers include: Kaiser Trentwood, Johnson Matthey Inc., Itron, United Parcel Service and Valley Hospital and Medical Center.
Bike to Work Week usually takes place in May, as part of National Bike to Work month.
“Last year we had a horrible May, so they wanted us to move it to June,” said Crooks.
A 1995 study showed a 15 percent reduction over 1992 in Spokane commuter traffic and vehicle miles traveled. The statewide Commuter Transportation Law, enacted in 1991, mandates that companies with more than 100 full time employees who begin work between 6 a.m. and 9 a.m. develop action plans to reduce auto use.
Employers say that bicycle commuting is growing in popularity.
“The ones that are commuting seem to be pretty dedicated,” said Brian Franklin, owner of Midway Cyclery and Fitness. His business sells between 30-50 bikes to Valley commuters each year.
“Our customers think of cycling as a way of improving health,” said Franklin.
The Valley’s Kaiser Trentwood plant is expecting about 90 employees to participate.
Rookie riders should be aware of basic safety information before hitting the streets.
“To be legal you have to have a headlamp, front and rear reflectors and you have to follow the laws and regulations of a motorized vehicle,” said Brian Walkling, owner of Valley Spoke and Sport.
While there is no mandatory bicycle helmet law in Spokane, they’re always a good idea, said Walkling.
“It’s a good safe insurance. Helmets are more popular all the time.”
Guy Gardner rides his bike every morning from his home near Felts Field to his job at Gonzaga University.
“The bus doesn’t travel as early in the morning in the Valley as I do,” said Gardner, manager of an espresso cafe.
“It gets me awake in the morning, when I get to work I am all pumped up and my body’s all rarin’ to go.”
, DataTimes