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Fuel prices, 'green' movement raise profile of Bike to Work Day
Bike-friendly atmosphere also reinforced by new laws
By Scott Richardson
srichardson@pantagraph.com
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BLOOMINGTON -- Friday's observance of National Bike to Work Day comes at a time when area cycling shops are experiencing a spike in bicycle sales. Cycling advocates point to higher gasoline prices, a “go-green movement,” and a desire for more exercise.

They’ve also seen a growing awareness among Americans, as a result of war in the oil-rich Middle East, that energy independence is critical to national security.

The more bike-friendly atmosphere is being reinforced by changes in state laws to make bike riding safer, they said. The Illinois General Assembly passed a law that went into effect Jan. 1 that requires vehicles to lend bikes at least three feet of clearance when passing.

“We are up this year (in sales) as gasoline prices have been rising,” said Andre Conton, manager of Vitesse Cycle in Normal. “A lot of people are talking about commuting. They’re saying, ‘I’m going to ride my bike.’ ”

“They are flat out telling me they want to save money and it’s a chance to get some exercise at the same time,” added Doug Oehler, a bike salesman at Vitesse who leads the Town of Normal Pedestrian/Bike Committee. The Normal City Council recently accepted the committee’s recommendation to hire a consultant to design a system of bicycle routes.

“They were waiting for the tax rebate check, and when they got them, they came in and bought a bike,” Oehler said.

He knows of one woman who commutes to State Farm Insurance Cos. in Bloomington from El Paso on a bike. Not everyone rides so far. Jerry Erb, who works at the Corporate South campus of State Farm Insurance Cos., rides his recumbent bicycle about four miles one-way from home to work. Earlier this week, his wife, Cesca, also rode her bike to the same campus.

A perfect storm for bike riding

Erb has seen more bikes appear at the company’s racks since gasoline prices rose and the company recently relaxed its dress code. He and friends counted more than 70 bikes parked at State Farm campuses by midweek.

“There is kind of a convergence. Gas prices going up, the go-green movement and the casual dress code as helped,” he said.

Cycling was popular even before the astronomical gasoline prices. More than 37.4 million Americans rode bikes in 2007, up from 35.6 million riders in 2006, according to the National Sporting Goods Association. Cycling ranked sixth in participation, by sport.

Mike Robertson, who works at Russell’s Cycle and Fitness in Washington, said more people than usual began showing up at the business in the past month. Most complained about higher fuel costs. Robertson described one customer, an older woman, who feared she no longer could balance a traditional two-wheeler. She wanted a three-wheeled bicycle so she could ride the mile separating her home from her daughter’s house.

“She doesn’t want to start the car,” Robertson said

Jack Wilson, owner of Wilson’s Cycle in Bloomington, agree sales are rising. Most customers mention the cost of gasoline.

“Six out of 10, at least,” Wilson said.

Scott Davis, manager at Bloomington Illinois Cycle and Fitness on Constitution Trail at Empire Street, said recent increased interest in commuting by bike has helped move sales upward.

“My wife, Caryn, is even considering it right now,” he said.

Others are asking to have repairs made on bikes that have not been ridden in years.

“We are seeing a lot of old bikes being pulled out of the garage and refurbished,” Davis said.

Most mention higher gasoline prices as their motive for taking up bike riding, he said. Customers also are buying fenders, bags and lights to make commuting more comfortable and safer, he added.

Davis thinks major businesses could do more to encourage bike riding, including offering showers for employees who commute. Governments also need to focus on providing safer routes, he said.

Take a look
Jerry Erb and his wife, Francesca, look out for traffic before biking onto Remi Court in Bloomington on Wednesday. The two avid bikers routinely ride their bikes to work at State Farm Insurance Cos. and are among a movement in the Twin Cities working to promote leaving the car at home. (The Pantagraph/David Proeber)
The Erbs routinely ride their bikes to work at State Farm. (The Pantagraph/David Proeber)
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Reader comments on this story - 18 total

Note: All views and opinions expressed in reader comments are solely those of the individual submitting the comment, and not those of the Pantagraph or its staff.

Crybaby wrote on May 16, 2008 11:25 AM:

" "94mustang5": I don't think I rode mine today. But, have you checked? I think I rode yours. "

Shared Thought wrote on May 16, 2008 11:19 AM:

" Biking and walking are both good exercises, whether it's done to go to work or for other activities, such as walking to the movie theater instead of driving. "

94mustang5 wrote on May 16, 2008 9:26 AM:

" How many of you rode your bikes to work today? "

Pyramid wrote on May 16, 2008 8:41 AM:

" Pool Boy, deal with it. Share the road. I think you're just jealous that cyclists are getting from point A to point B without using as much gas as your SUV, and we're having a heck of a lot of fun doing it. "

Seymour Butz wrote on May 16, 2008 8:39 AM:

" To Wonderwoman: Well said. It is amazing how many people do not know the rules of the road or refuse to follow them. How does all these people get drivers licenses in the first place? Do they not test any more? "

WonderWoman wrote on May 16, 2008 7:54 AM:

" Pool Boy, we'd LOVE to stay out of car lanes, however there aren't many options for cyclists besides the trail -- and even that isn't always feasible. Bicycles are vehicles, and cyclists are to follow the same rules of the road that cars do. Sidewalks are for pedestrians and are NOT safe for cyclists anyway. Sorry you have to share the road, but we have every right to be on it, just as you do. "

lizzie wrote on May 16, 2008 7:48 AM:

" You couldn't pay me to get on a bicycle. They scare me to pieces. I'd rather rollerblade to work. :-) "

Seymour Butz wrote on May 16, 2008 6:48 AM:

" Rode my bike to work today as usual. Did not see one other biker on the road, but some guy in a red hummer talking on his phone nearly ran over me.
Perhaps he was not aware of the 3' rule or just didn't care about my safety. "

Pool Boy wrote on May 16, 2008 5:10 AM:

" Hopefully these new bike riders will be smarter than their current bretheren. Maybe they'll stay out of car lanes, maybe they'll stop at stop signs or crosswalks. We can only hope! "

williammcc1 wrote on May 15, 2008 10:26 PM:

" Whats new in all of this 11 years ago I got rid of my car and have saved tens of thousands of dollars since then. I live in Pontiac I work there to so its no big deal and if folks would get a recumbent they would find its very very comfortable to ride.
"

In Japan wrote on May 15, 2008 7:57 PM:

" default: Maybe you can change into your work clothes when you get to work. That's what I do. I ride my bike to work everyday and it's great exercise. At first, it was really tough, but now I can bike anywhere with ease. "

WonderWoman wrote on May 15, 2008 5:03 PM:

" It'd be nice to have a bike lane on Towanda Barnes between Ireland Grove and GE Road (at least). Also, some way to connect the trail from Lincoln to GE Road would be great. Riding on the trail is a great way to get around, but since they don't connect it makes it difficult to have to ride in traffic. "

Luther Billis wrote on May 15, 2008 5:00 PM:

" You're exactly right, BNHuman. The pace of construction on the Trail has been very slow. The plans for expansion have been in place for years, yet it seems we get one small new segment maybe every other year. They would need only to extend the main line of the trail to Lafayette St. and the segment from the cemetary to Hamilton Rd (that's about one mile for each addition) to connect the existing trails to Corp South. I would happily ride from my home in north Normal to Corp South if I could do it entirely on the trail and off streets. "

default wrote on May 15, 2008 4:46 PM:

" I rode my bike to work last summer on casual Fridays. If we had a more casual approach to work-wear, I'd ride every day. I can't risk getting grime and dirt all over my khakis, though. "

94mustang5 wrote on May 15, 2008 4:05 PM:

" I also hope helmet sales are up. "

94mustang5 wrote on May 15, 2008 3:55 PM:

" It would seem to mee that the safest way to create bike routes would be to widen sidewalks.
Also a safe bike crossing at Veterans and Lincoln would make a lot of sense. Maybe even a railroad type crossing arm.
In the meantime, what are our communities doing about reserving bike path easements in new areas, such as the Towanda Barnes road corridor. "

Cthulhu wrote on May 15, 2008 3:54 PM:

" Build more nuclear plants.
Add more refineries.
Uncap the oil wells.
Drill ANWR. "

BNHuman wrote on May 15, 2008 3:42 PM:

" From a Conservative standpoint I like the bike to work idea. Now(because it is local not federal gov) Bloomington needs to get the bike path under Veterens on the South end of town. Connect it up and actually have a bike route to Corp South. Just think...The largest concentration of employees in the city and the bus doesn't goto corp south and now way from the east to connect to the bike path to corp south. "
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