Pedaling past pain at the pump

By Jim Staats
Marin IJ – May 19, 2006

Buoyed in part by rising gas prices, local participation was up Thursday in the annual Bike to Work Day, organizers said.

The event aimed to raise consciousness about bicycle commuting as a way to trim transportation costs, get in shape and help the environment.

"People want to get on their bike more, and it's such an easy and accessible thing to do," said Kim Baenisch, executive director of the Marin County Bicycle Coalition.

The 12th annual Bay Area event highlights National Bike to Work Week as cities across the country advocate the two-wheel commute to combat health, traffic and environmental issues.

Riders were treated to breakfast snacks and drinks at 12 energizer stations in Marin - part of the 170 stations throughout the Bay Area.

The 1,669 riders, based on a count of people who passed by or stopped at local stations, shows an increase in ridership over the past few years, according to Baenisch.

As the number of event stations has fluctuated, Baenisch noted average ridership per station has risen from 132 people in 2003 to 139 people this year. Baenisch attributes last year's low figure of 61 people per station to rainy weather.

Rising gas prices, global warming, a national obesity epidemic and local efforts to make a bike commute "safer, easier and more comfortable to try," contributed to the increase, according to Baenisch.

"We're certainly getting hit in the face on gas prices," she said. "Flexibility, health benefits, reducing the payment for gas and knowing they are contributing to zero pollution are all impacting people to ride bikes and purchase bikes more."

San Rafael resident Nader Nadershahi, 35, biked to his job in San Francisco once a week for the past five years - until his newborn in January put a temporary halt to that.

"I'm using today as an opportunity to get back into it," Nadershahi, a dental school instructor, said between bagel bites at a crowded energizer station on the north end of the Golden Gate Bridge.

"Up until this last week, it's been easy to find a lot of excuses not to do it," he said.

About 36,000 Bay Area residents bike to work on a typical workday, but organizers were expecting up to 100,000 people Thursday, given widespread frustration over gas prices that have surged past $3.50 per gallon here and elsewhere.

Lorrie Ross, co-owner of Classcycle in Novato, has helped with the event for seven years. She noticed a lot of new people this year.

"Bike to Work Week has got them motivated," she said. "Many said they are going to do it a couple times a week now. I'm sure gas has a lot to do with it."

Larry Hoki of San Rafael caught his breath and a snack just before crossing the Golden Gate Bridge. He joined of a group of local Lucas Digital co-workers who regularly ride to work in the Presidio.

"I'll bike during lunch but not into work that often," he said. "I'll carpool or take the bus, but I'm biking this week."

Curt Krone, 39, of Marinwood was just enjoying a part of his weekly morning routine.

The software engineer viewed the energizer station on Las Gallinas Road in San Rafael as another bonus on his short open-air trek tugging daughters Emily, 7, and Caroline, 5, to school on his way to Autodesk in San Rafael.

"I love to ride, and ecological reasons are a nice extra benefit for us," Krone said. "But I'd be doing it anyway."

Contact Jim Staats via e-mail at jstaats@marinij.com