By Dennis Oda, Star-Bulletin
Frank Smith, who commutes on a lightweight bike,
conducts a course that can help people become
competent bicyclists.

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Bicycle league
urges pedaling
to work

'It can improve energy level
and save money and time'

By Harold Morse
Star-Bulletin

National Bike to Work Day is tomorrow, and the Hawaii Bicycling League wants to encourage those who can to bicycle to work.

"Commuting to work by bicycle is the single most important step that cyclists can take to clean up the environment and contribute to traffic reduction," said league member Faye Saiki. "It can also improve energy level and save money and time."

League Executive Director Eve DeCoursey knows there may be drawbacks to bicycle commuting. For instance, some cyclists are afraid of the traffic, she said.

"Or there's no place to shower at work, or there's not a safe place to put their bicycle," she pointed out. "Of course, there are other reasons -- like too far -- but that's a prohibiting factor that keeps people from even thinking about it."

For those not too far to commute by bike, DeCoursey has some suggestions.

For those afraid to pedal in traffic, there's a course called Effective Cycling which helps people become competent bicyclists, she said.

What about no showers at work?

"Some people make different arrangements, like they go to the 'Y' or something," she said, "but that's a hard one to overcome."

No safe place to leave a bike? DeCoursey credits managers and companies that allow employees to bring their bikes to the office, but -- noting the possible cost of a bike -- adds that she has no ready answer for people who don't have a safe parking spot.

"I'm not going to suggest to anybody that they leave $400, $600 or $800 locked up in a place that they don't feel secure about," she said. "If there's secure parking, if there's a place at work for them, that's just great."

A bill that would have required new buildings to have showers and parking areas for bike commuters died in the City Council's Transportation Committee a few years ago, she said. She said showers are good not only for bike riders, but for people who run or walk to work.

"This is a perfect place to walk to work, but you might want to shower when you get there," DeCoursey said. "Showers in the workplace would be very nice."

Frank Smith teaches the Effective Cycling course. Those interested may call Island Triathlon & Bike at 732-7227. Smith and his wife, Laura, commute by bike almost every day, a distance of roughly six miles.

"It's fun, and you get some exercise while you're riding to work, while you're commuting," Laura Smith said. "You get to look at a lot more things than if you're inside a car.