Pit Stop's a hit with bicyclists headed
By Alex Wilson 05/28/2009
Organizers of May’s Bike to Work Month say traveling on two wheels instead of four is becoming less of a novelty as people realize it’s fun and physically invigorating, as well as thrifty and environmentally beneficial.
The city of Ventura has sponsored a “Pit Stop/Energy Station” complete with free food and bike tune ups for about eight years, and the number of riders stopping by grows every year.
Seana Marie rides from her home on the hill above Ventura’s Cemetery Memorial Park to Weaver Wines about two times a week. She says biking is an enjoyable way to get to work, and suggests others give it a try. “It’s a short ride but it’s beautiful. I love feeling the wind in my face. It gives me some energy. And knowing I have to go home all uphill, it kind of gives me a workout to look forward to at the end of the day,” says Marie.
Riding a bike to work is not as difficult or tiring as many people might imagine, according to Marie. “It’s a lot easier than you might think it would be. You get a little backpack that holds supplies and stuff you need for the day,” says Marie. “We all need to get up and move more, so it’s just an easy way to get out and get a little exercise and feel the fresh air.”
Marie says riding a bike to work also eliminates the need for finding somewhere to leave your car. “It’s so great; you don’t have to think about parking, you just pull right up to your office door and take your bike right in. Or if there’s a place to lock it right outside, it’s really convenient,” says Marie.
Participants also wrote down suggestions about where new bike racks should be installed, and city leaders take suggestions on their Internet Web site through the bicycle link at www.cityofventura.net, or by e-mail, biking@cityofventura.net.
Ventura senior traffic engineering technician Sergio Albarran helped organize the event with help from local businesses that donated the refreshments, and Performance Bicycles, which provided the free tune ups.
Albarran says there are several reasons they encourage commuting by bike. “There are definitely the environmental issues; there are some health issues, getting a little exercise,” says Albarran. “For some folks, it saves money on gas. I know last year that was a big deal. But I think it’s just fun.”
This year nearly 90 people signed in at the Pit Stop at the corner of Santa Clara and California streets. Last year, 55 cyclists came by, and the first year there were only seven.
Ventura senior engineering technician Derek Towers rides his bike to work nearly every day, and says he’s noticing it’s a growing trend. “I think people are just finally seeing it as a viable alternative to the car. I think awareness in the community has gotten to the point that it’s gotten into people’s minds as a way to do it. And it’s enjoyable,” says Towers.
“It’s a better way to start the day. I look forward to riding in to work. I don’t have a long ride. I don’t ride real hard, I’m not a serious rider, but I enjoy my ride to and from work every day,” says Towers. “There are all the clichés — it’s cheaper, it’s better for the environment, it’s better for me — and it’s all true.”
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