Bike commuters beat high gas prices
Pedal power
Bike commuters beat high gas prices
| Joe Bettendorf, 26, is one of the many area commuters who have decided to take to the roads with their bikes instead of their gas-powered vehicles. (Sam Eggleston photo) |
By SAM EGGLESTON, Special to the Journal
He’s not bragging. He’s just pedaling.
Bettendorf, 26, and an increasing number of area residents have found commuting via bike to be more appealing. Despite having a full-size pickup sitting at home, Bettendorf decided to put his legs to work instead of his paycheck.
“It’s better than driving anyway,” said Bettendorf, who commutes to his downtown job everyday on his bike, nicknamed “Hooligan.”
“If you live in town and you work in town, you’re crazy not to ride a bike to work,” he said.
Bettendorf is not alone. Residents are quickly realizing the benefit to the self-propelled mode of transportation.
“I just prefer to ride my bike than sit in a car,” bicycling resident Andy Gregg said. “Once you start riding a bike, you’re not going to want to go back to driving.”
With gas prices holding above $3 per gallon, bike shop owners are starting to see an increasing number of commuters keeping their cars in the driveway as much as possible.
“This morning we didn’t have even one commuter bike built,” said Jeff Stasser, owner of Down Wind Sports. “They are selling so well we can’t build them fast enough.”
Commuter bikes, said Stasser, are bikes traditionally built for pavement use and are easy to add accessories to. Racks for holding briefcases, courier bags to carry a change of clothes and insulated storage for toting lunch are just some of the many options available.
Lakeshore Bike owner Matt Calcaterra said though interest in biking has been on the increase over the past few years, the cost of powering motor vehicles is pushing people away from the pump and into stores like his.
“We’ve seen more people using bikes for commuting than ever before,” he said. “Bike-shop-quality bikes nowadays are more comfortable, more efficient and more affordable than ever.”
The cost savings, said Calcaterra, would probably cover the price of the bike itself and then some.
Quick Stop Bicycle Inc. owner James McAllister, who drives a Jeep Grand Cherokee when he’s not pedaling, said a tank of gas lasts him about two months during the summer. He said it helps that he’s putting more than 50 miles a week on his bike.
“I filled up the tank just the other day and it cost me $75,” he said. “With those kinds of prices, it doesn’t surprise me we’re seeing such an increase in people buying pavement-style bike to avoid driving so much.”
And bike shop owners and employees are doing much more than just preaching. They’re practicing.
At the Sports Rack it isn’t hard to spot a biking commuter.
“The other day we had five people working here and not one (employee-owned) car,” owner Rick Bagley said.
Bagley noted riding a bike just to save costs at the pump wasn’t the only good reason. Last year they had a man come into the store and purchase a bike to ride throughout the summer to help with the then-rising prices. By fall, he was back in the store.
“He wanted to thank us,” Bagley said. “He said he rode his bike all summer long and he saved enough money in gasoline to pay for the bike. More importantly, he lost 30 pounds.
“Gas prices aren’t the only reason to get on a bike. It’s healthy, too.”
McAllister said he has traveled throughout the country and few towns compare to Marquette when it comes to an enjoyable bike-riding experience.
“Marquette is one of the most bike-friendly towns I have ever been in,” he said. “Most people on the road are very conscious to the presence of bikers. It’s a great town to ride in and more people should take advantage of it.”
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