Biking for the Environment
By Kristina Tran
I recently, about 4-months ago, decided to change the way I commute to work on a daily basis. Being brand new to environmental issues that are affecting the earth, I wanted to do my part in cutting down on my carbon emissions. So I sold my 18MPG SUV and my husband and I each purchased bikes, determined to bike to work every nice day that was around the corner during spring, summer and fall. At first I was a little nervous at the prospect of biking to work due to the pain that my body would suffer the first couple of times, granted I am an avid skier in the winter so my legs were in shape but not to the extent that they needed to be.
To start off I wanted to time my self how long it would take me to get from my house, which is on the most northwest corner of Rochester, to my work, which is in the heart of Downtown Rochester. The commute is about 7 miles one way. On the way to my work on the practice trip, I was thinking “this is not to bad”, while my husband was way ahead of me and as I was shouting at him “its not a race!”. Once we reached my works parking lot I was exhausted yet proud of myself because I knew that the commute by bike was a reachable goal and that I could really start making a difference.
The commute to work takes me 45 minutes and the commute back home takes 1hr, there are more hills going home. My time spent commuting on bike is time spent well because there are many personal benefits that go along with the environmental benefits. By biking to work I get a work out and get better conditioned for when winter rolls around and its time to take out the skis, the morning commute time allows me to get fresh air and relax instead of rushing by car, and the afternoon commute allows me to wind down after a hard day of mental work.
I now look forward to the time I spend riding my bike. There is also nothing like getting “unlimited MPG”! There are many reactions that I get when I tell people that I am starting to commute to work by work. Some people give me that look like “why would you want to do that” or they just say it, or people say “don’t you live kinda far to bike to work?”, or they just say “wow, you are determined, I could never do that, but that is great what you are trying to do”. My answers to all those comments usually are: I am doing it to cut my carbon emissions and to help the environment, In Rochester you can never live to far to not commute to work, and Thanks for the encouragement, you can do it too. I say if someone in Rochester or other towns wants to do their part by cutting their emissions they should greatly consider commuting to work on bike, it is very effective and cuts a big chunk out of your personal emissions.