Sustainable Commuting: Bike to Work Week

In celebration of Bike to Work Week (May 14-18, 2012), the Urban Ecology Center offered free coffee and baked goods to riders along the Oak Leaf trail.  Volunteers and staff members mingled with bicycle commuters, discussing varying employer support of and tips and tricks for bike commuting.  Representatives from the Rainbow Jersey bicycle store were also on hand to give free safety inspections and make minor repairs.

Milwaukee County Transit buses have bike racks installed on the front of all city buses.  Riders can load up their bikes, take the bus to a certain stop, then cycle to their final destination.  This kind of feature makes a longer commute, or a commute not well-served by current bus routes, more feasible.  The number one reason cited as to why commuters don’t use the bike rack is that they’re unfamiliar with it and anxious about using it if they haven't done so before.

The UEC borrowed a sample rack from MCTS, and I was able to assist cyclists in loading their bikes for the first time.  The most-heard response: “That was easy!” These cyclists will be much more likely to take the bus instead of their car for a longer trip.

The UEC understands that in order to see the changes they want in the community, they have to lead change by example.  Their Ecobuck program pays employees back for reducing the amount of fossil fuels used in commuting to and from work.  Sustainable commuting is tracked, and employees see the bonuses on their paychecks.