Could You, Would You…On A Bike?
Would you ride your bike to work on a regular basis. Why or why not?Â
I tried that once. Gas prices weren’t that high then. It was Ride Your Bike To Work Day.  I was sweating profusely when I got to work. I had helmet hair (the people in this picture should be wearing helmets–trust me–I know this).  The weight of my backpack with all the stuff in it I needed for work threw me off balance on the bike. Traffic was terrible.  Â
On the bright side, I felt envigorated when I got to work. I felt industrious and more independent (I didn’t need no stinkin’ car!).Â
What if we had cycling lanes? I would make the effort more often to ride for the purpose of transportation if we did.Â
What if there were a place at work to put your bike? What if there were showers there? What if we as a city, residents and employers made the necesssary changes?Â
May 25th, 2008 at 11:55 am
1st reason….too far. I live in houston and my commute is 40 miles.
2nd reason….too hot/humid. I’m a professional and can’t show up to work sweaty and unkept. There are showers, but then I’d have to carry clothes on my bike without wrinkles.
3rd reason…cars are fun, why would I ride? I don’t need more exercise. I don’t believe cars cause global warming. I can afford gasoline.
Sure, if you live in a nice climate and are close to your office and enjoy biking…go for it.
May 25th, 2008 at 11:55 am
I think with the rising cost of fuel, we all are going to have to start looking at alternatives. Go to the Northeast and you find great public transportation but we in the South are known for our love affairs with our vehicles. As a rule, people who work together and live near one another don’t even bother to carpool. I don’t know how high the price of gas will have to be before we see changes such as carpooling, bicycling, walking and using public transportation.
If the City of Shreveport offered bus routes that went through parts of town where people don’t take the bus, would the bus be used? We in Shreveport tend to associate the city bus with poverty and minorities and until that changes, public transportation is not going to be used by most of us.
I could ride a bike to work as it’s a straight shot for me, less than 2 miles up Fairfield. It’d be great for my health and save money as well. My neighbors across the street either walk or ride their bikes to work every day at LSUHSC. My next door neighbor rides his bicycle every day all the way to BAFB for work. He’s in the AF and in tremendous shape. Yes, he crosses the Shreveport-Barksdale bridge twice a day on a bike! He’s just had one accident, where he took a turn too sharp on a wet street off Kings Hwy and ate some pavement.
So for me, the answer to your question is, I’d have to get a bike first. Have any recommendations?
May 25th, 2008 at 1:05 pm
One of the happiest days of my life was when i sold my Raleigh cross bike. It was a heavy, awkward, prostate slammin pile of junk. I used to enjoy riding on the river bike path before it was taken over by morons letting their kids ride motorized mini bikes on it. Not to mention the creepy guys who park down there for “social” encounters. Unfortunately somewhere down the line, a few years ago, I came into possesion of a Schwinn unicycle. Im in the early stages of learning how to ride it now. Im retired so riding to work is not a issue. My sons tell me its kind of gay (which im not) and strongly advise me to give it up before I break something. On the other hand if I master unicycling im thinking of running away and joining the circus.
May 25th, 2008 at 1:49 pm
Too hot, too many drivers who don’t share the road and the always hideous helmet hair. Couldn’t do it.
May 25th, 2008 at 2:46 pm
i have a buddy that lives in california,an ex shreveport captian turned schoolteacher coach , he rides a bike to his school 13 miles . he says its either wait in traffic on the freeway 45min.or ride the bike thru the neighborhoods 45min. downside his students laugh at him , he says dosent bug him cuz hes 40 something and can out run highshoolers,and most importantly can keep up with his two young boys
May 25th, 2008 at 3:45 pm
What I’m sayin’ guys, is that…what if we changed what was socially and professionally acceptable and the norm in order to accomodate the consequences (good and bad) of cycling to work? And what if….those positive consequences included cutting into the obesity epidemic? I’m just sayin’.
We don’t have showers at KTBS. Gerry might not like sitting so close to me at 5 and 10 pm after I biked to work. But that doesn’t mean things can’t change.
What can we do to make this feasable? Anything?
May 25th, 2008 at 5:51 pm
I live in North Bossier and work for the school system. I used to work on Viking Drive at the Evaluation Center and would have loved to ride by bike to work, but felt like it would be risking my life to ride down Airline Drive. A friend got hit by a car just off of Airline Drive two years ago and traffic has gotten worse.
Now I work at Parkway High School, if I could shower at work, if there were a place to park, say at the top of Teague Parkway and leave my car, bike to work and back, that would still save half my commute.
I met a fellow at the Rocky Mount 3 stage race that was from Ft. Worth, he works in Dallas, bikes 15 miles to a train station, takes his bike on the train, and then bikes 3 miles in heavy urban traffic. He says if he can do this at least once a week, because he has to consider weather, appointments and errands, he feels like he is contributing to a healthier lifestyle, and reducing emissions, if only just a little bit.
IF some of the issues could be worked out, I would certainly ride my bike to work.
May 25th, 2008 at 6:00 pm
I lived in Fort Bragg, CA for two months. I flew my bike out from NC and rode it to and from everywhere the entire time. The backpack thing takes some time to get used to, but works out well. I even grocery shopped by bike. It is very foggy along the coast, so I needed a headlight on my bike and a flashing light on the back. It was a little cold in the mornings, but other than that- a great way to start the day. I wish I lived in biking distance now, however I think I have to stick with the Prius:)
May 25th, 2008 at 7:00 pm
CA is more bike freindly, in places, because the atmosphere of “healthy” and the climate is nice. I’m in better shape than most high schoolers and I don’t ride a bike…obesity is usually not because we drive to work. Maybe you can get a bike lane in Shreveport somewhere, but not going to happen in Houston, or most other big metropolitan areas. Rising gas prices will help. Gas should cost more. It is very hard to find and make. We are not entitled to cheap stuff.
May 25th, 2008 at 7:31 pm
Good point about our mindset, MaryS910. Terrie Johnson, would a cycle lane on Airline Drive make the difference for you?
May 25th, 2008 at 7:45 pm
Or…Terrie, now that you’re at PHS, on S’port-Barksdale?
May 25th, 2008 at 8:29 pm
I think this will require a culture change in Shreveport. When you are able to bike and get your work and chores done in the same amount of time or be somewhat efficient, then biking becomes a viable solution.
Maybe if a few of the large corporations or the city could offer benefits for workers who biked to work, this might create a reason for change. (Biking leads to increased health, driving down healthcare costs.)
Also, people living within biking distance of their employment needs to be taken into consideration. There seems to be more development in the outer areas of Shreveport and Bossier, which increases the commute time.
Maybe there should be a city initiative to give some tax breaks on re-development of local areas, where people can live near their employment and bike to work. I’m not sure how this could work at the moment, but Shreveport does offer tax credits to specific industries.
I normally bike one to two times to work a week. It’s a short commute, off the major streets. So, I’m lucky.
May 25th, 2008 at 8:46 pm
Absolutely I would. Ride to work, that is, or other places for that matter. And if distance were a problem, what if public transportation were available for part of the trip, with a place to transport a bike on a bus, for instance; I have seen buses in cities that have racks for that. With the cost of fuel (not just dollars, but environmental and political costs), it is unbelievable that it is so unrealistic to ride around safely. I live in a community north of Bossier City in which there are many subdivisions within a small area, but one cannot walk or ride to homes, churches, or businesses without getting on a highway with no shoulder. As it is, I guess we will just go on getting more physically unfit and remain oil dependent.
May 25th, 2008 at 9:42 pm
I have purchased a commuter bike and a week ago. I have ridden it three times to work, only driven once since I got it on Monday afternoon.
I live in the Highland area of Shreveport and work at Willi-Knighton.
Some of the barriers to riding to work are not necessarily anyone in particular’s fault. Weather is a big concern in Shreveport, especially in the heat and humidity of the summer. I have to wear a tie at work, so it is a real issue for me.
Many of the companies in America are just like many of the cities. We have gotten an attitude of being a car nation. Everything is set up for cars. Road ways, sidewalks, buildings and their proximity to the streets are all designed around cars.
Businesses such as Willis-Knighton have no place to put a bike, only parking lots for cars. They also have no place for me to put any clothes or clean up once I get here.
As far as traffic, I really have no problems. I have a route that has almost no traffic going to work or coming home. The roads leave a lot to be desired, but so do all the other roads in Shreveport. Even the ones through “rich” neighborhoods.
I would like to have a Sportran bus with a bike rack on it. I could use that and save myself on clothing problems in the summer. I could ride my bike to a particular bus stop and get on a bus without having to go downtown and transfer saving me a lot of time. I have heard of other cities that do this.
May 25th, 2008 at 10:04 pm
I walk to work every day. Just doing my part to make the world a better place.
May 25th, 2008 at 11:20 pm
Don’t let CT fool you. He does walk to work every day, but he is a heavy crack user.
May 25th, 2008 at 11:23 pm
Anyone know of a local business that makes special allowances for biking to work? Any biz that offers areas for keeping bikes, changing clothes, etc.?
May 25th, 2008 at 11:25 pm
Well I work at a crack house so I get a discount.
May 25th, 2008 at 11:29 pm
We were just kidding. Crack must be used responsibly.
http://hardwarelogic.com/articles/blogs/Website_Reviews_and_You/MoreYouKnow.jpg
May 25th, 2008 at 11:31 pm
CT, the important thing is, do you have cycling lanes on the way to the crack house?
May 25th, 2008 at 11:43 pm
Yes, cycling lanes are available for the stolen bikes and it is an Energy Star approved “green” crack house. Very low carbon footprint.
May 26th, 2008 at 6:31 am
we have way to much crack in our local roads! gotta stay alert to avoid it… I try to keep my wheel sniffin the white line as much as possible though.
Would definitely ride more often (to work that is) if the roads were more cycling friendly. I have to come up Hwy 80 from around the track area and there is actually a decent shoulder… problem is that the “wake your butt up and get back on the road divits” are cut… which is fine… but the debris in that 3 to 4 feet of of usable shoulder is ridiculous. Just one more thing that Shv BC needs to take care of; street sweeping and getting people to understand that throwing your trash away when you get gas or get home is a pretty simple concept. I am fortunate in that we have a shower at work.
More share the road signs might help as a start, but we can’t even get money dedicated to decent roads for driving! The amount spent to Rebuild the Barksdale bridge and NO pedestrian crossing or bike lane! The only place to even walk form Shv to BC is the Texas Street bridge and one false move there and you will impale a knee on an I-Beam.
ok… nuff venting, I am going to ride my bike with the other crazies
May 26th, 2008 at 10:16 am
What about swimmers? We should also demand a swimming lane so folks can swim to work.
Don’t the casinos generate tax revenue for S’port to use on city improvements? Where is this money going? I used to tool around New Orleans on bike, trolly, bus. NO was well set up for that…I went carless there for some time because it was so easy to get around and hard to park. But, you had to ride a mountain bike because all the road improvement dollars went to the corrupt mayors.
May 26th, 2008 at 10:29 am
We have a swimming lane. It’s called the Red River.
Some of you already know this. Ian Webb at River City Cycling purchased a bunch of Share the Road yard signs he’s selling for half of their purchase price.
G–you’re so right about the road conditions for cycling. I still have the bruises to prove it!
Suzie and I sometimes fantasize about being able to live and work in an environment that would make it possible for us to bike to and from work–live a simpler life.
May 26th, 2008 at 10:49 am
The biggest problem I have with biking is the lard ass men who wear the tight biking pants. Do the puplic a favor, and if you are new to fitness, wear some shorts over your bike pants until you get in shape. Thank you.
May 26th, 2008 at 11:01 am
I’m considering taking my bike to work today. Since it’s Memorial Day, the traffic won’t be as big of a factor. Will let you know how it goes. HRB, I’ll wear shorts over my bike pants!
May 26th, 2008 at 11:15 am
At least it’s not as humid today Sher. I will be checking out your hair on the air though!
May 26th, 2008 at 11:16 am
Sherri, you are not a lard ass man. If you wear shorts over your bike pants, that’s just bad ’80’s fashion.
May 26th, 2008 at 11:34 am
HRB–Ha!
Mel, I have a blow dryer at the station. It might not be too bad. Don’t you have a Share the Road sign in your yard? What are they…$5.00?
May 26th, 2008 at 12:15 pm
Sherri, you should come visit us here in Boulder. Here, it’s entirely possible to use a bike as your main mode of transportation. There are ample bike lanes on nearly every road, and TONS of people use their bikes (or skates or feet) to get to and from work. We live in Longmont, which is about 30 minutes away from Boulder, where JT works, but frequently he will ride his bike to the bus station, take the bus into Boulder and use his bike once he’s in town. Some companies offer a bus pass to their employess to encourage just that sort of behavior. There are showers in lots of the major office buildings and the city is set up to be really pedestrian friendly. In fact, at least one of JT’s coworkers doesn’t even own a car.
I understand HRB’s point of view entirely, though. When we lived in Oklahoma City, it was nearly impossible to do anything without a car because of the layout of the city, not to mention the complete absence of sidewalks or crosswalks to aid a pedestrian in his travels. The 100+ degree, humid, awful summers did their share to hinder outdoor activity, too. Maybe if bikes came with air conditioners?
May 26th, 2008 at 12:21 pm
HRB, even the in shape people need to know when to retire a pair of shorts! Thinning and sunlight make for an airy feel but not something others want to see!!!
The Memorial Day ride went well… bout 30 or so of us. We kinda did the critical mass thing wimp style in the end… light traffic riding all over downtown.
Sher, you are good to go on the spandex… fashion of the 80’s or not!
May 26th, 2008 at 12:24 pm
So, Molly, the bus JT takes has a bike rack? How does that work? I’m way overdue for a visit there since the Talleys started migrating there.
May 26th, 2008 at 1:27 pm
Molly is right! The Rocky Mountain Foothills are a spectacular place for bike riding, except for the other 6 months of the year when you really need a snowmobile.
May 26th, 2008 at 2:54 pm
Okay, made it to work on the bike. The backpack kept shifting and it took way too much time to get ready for work once I got here. I was met at the door with much eye rolling. I feel great!
May 26th, 2008 at 3:34 pm
I also experienced several rushes of adrenalin while getting ready for work, afraid I’d forgotten key items of clothing for work.
May 26th, 2008 at 4:18 pm
Unexpected obtacle: Jody just tried to ride my bike in the newsroom.
May 26th, 2008 at 4:31 pm
Sherri with confidence- “Go ahead Jody and jump on. I gotcha.” (This while planting her feet like she’s getting ready for a tug-o-war match… and looking really nervous that I’m going to fall because I’m ten inches taller… and 250 pounds heavier than she is.)
Jody with hesitation- “Uh thanks Sherri, but I think I’ll just prop myself up against the desk.”
But Sherri is too stubborn to let go and starts shaking horribly while trying to hold me up. Finally I take off and go maybe a foot before realizing I should just say no to biking in the newsroom.
May 26th, 2008 at 5:09 pm
I walk/run to work all the time (mainly because I don’t quite make enough to have a car yet n_n) and feel great every time I do it. The occasional stench is an unwanted side effect, though. Sometimes I’ve ridden a bike up to work, but I mainly like to walk more. Not only does it give me a bit more time to think about life and all, but it gets kind of annoying to ride on a bike because of my height and whatnot.
May 26th, 2008 at 5:45 pm
…planting her feet in flip flops…
May 26th, 2008 at 8:20 pm
Sher, not to bad looking on the air but there was a shot of the back of your head that….no need to talk about it now.
Any who, I do have a Share the Road sign but it was free because Ian is my brother-in-law!
May 26th, 2008 at 9:22 pm
Sherri - The bus does indeed have a bike rack right on the front of it. If that is too full, you can always stuff your bike underneath in the cargo area. The bus system here is a pretty nice one, which also makes it really easy for people to get to work without using a car.
You are WAY overdue for a visit here. HRB, too.
May 26th, 2008 at 10:51 pm
Holy crap Mel, Ian is your brother-in-law??? That practically makes us related. Ian and I are fraternity brothers from college.
May 27th, 2008 at 12:13 am
Mel and HRB, have you met? I love it when my friends and family come together.
Molly, do we fly into Denver? Then, bike to Boulder? Is there a bike rack on the plane? I do want to plan a trip there. Can’t go anywhere during ratings. What about June or August?
Jody, we just need cycling lanes in the edit bays. If only ‘the man’ cared enough to make that happen.
Speaking seriously of ‘the man’ caring, I tried to bike home tonight…I know, I know. Still, it would have been feasable had every other street light not been burned out so I couldn’t even see the horrendous pot holes in the road! Not asking for much. Just give me one or the other…good lighting or a smooth street. You already have my tax dollars, Bro!
May 27th, 2008 at 10:36 am
I’m thinking of taking a bike to work everyday. I might even leave it in the back of the SUV just so I don’t have to load it and unload it everyday.
May 27th, 2008 at 11:56 am
I would have to change jobs to bike to work. Unfortunaltey I drive on average 80 miles a day in my insurance job. With these gas prices I need a new job!!! The company doesn’t pay or reimburse us for gas. But if we would all stick together and ride bikes maybe someone would do something about the gas prices. Do you think we are paying for all those GIVR ME YOUR MONEY people in Washington?
May 27th, 2008 at 11:58 am
I think it was last week when Diane Sawyer rode her bike to work, making a statement
May 27th, 2008 at 12:03 pm
I would love to be able to ride to work. I could strap my son in a child’s seat on the back and I’m sure he would love it. The problem is I live in Benton, past the spillway, about 30 miles away. I would have to leave my house even earlier than normal to get to the station on time.
May 27th, 2008 at 2:41 pm
Sherri - You would probably do well to fly into LAX and then take the bike path from there to Boulder. I heard there’s a pretty nice one, and there’s lots to see between here and there.
In all seriousness, we would all sure like to see you! I think most everyone’s out of town or has company for June, but August is probably fine. It looks like everyone’s scheduled to be in town so far. Even Kristen will be here for the first couple of weeks. You should come!!!
May 27th, 2008 at 10:31 pm
I suck.
May 28th, 2008 at 9:38 am
But not for driving a car to work, Nick C. You so laughed at me with my helmet on the other night!
May 28th, 2008 at 9:41 am
Alright, I’ve been informed by a professional who secretly glanced at this site (but only once) that riding my tri bike to and from work is asking for a crash. The problems I’ve had could be alleviated with a commuter bike. As soon as I fetch one, I’ll post a topic on the comparison. Molly, what does JT use?
May 28th, 2008 at 11:05 am
I think this is the one JT has: http://www.raleighusa.com/bikes/comfort/venture/
Neither of us are really too knowledgeable about sporting equipment, so we just trusted the really helpful people at the local bike shop when they said that’s what he’d want. I have the girl version of it if you’d like to cycle around town when you come visit. I’m off of it at least until September since my little fetus doesn’t have a great sense of balance just yet, so it’s all yours for the riding!
May 28th, 2008 at 12:01 pm
HRB, Ian is my bro-in-law, married to my sister Amanda. Any interesting stories you care to share?
Even if he GAVE me a bike I would not ride it to work. I live in Shreveport and work in Bossier. I almost get killed as it is in my car!
May 28th, 2008 at 12:20 pm
Thanks, Molly. That looks a lot sturdier than my tri bike!
May 28th, 2008 at 4:22 pm
I have a Trek Soho 4.0 from River City Cycles.
You can see it at www.trekbikes.com. Click on Urban Bikes.
Internal shift eight speed hub and chain guard so no black chain lube marks on my pants.
I am getting a small wardrobe to keep clothes in my office.
May 29th, 2008 at 9:01 pm
Cool, Mike. Never heard of the internal shift hub. Will go see Ian this week.
No room for a wardrobe in my cubicle, but I’m looking into microfiber clothing (doesn’t wrinkle) that I can keep in my filing cabinet.