From the bike lane

By Jen Bond
March 2010

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After moving to Portland ten years ago as a very casual cyclist, I’ve expanded my biking horizons beyond the occasional commute to work or brief ride through the park. I now include all kinds of cycling, and I’ve been amazed at the many cool and creative ways that Portlanders make bicycling a part of their lives.

Indeed, Portlanders use their bikes for everything from training to transportation. It brings me so much joy to see people from all walks of life out enjoying themselves on their bikes, getting exercise, breathing fresh air, soaking up the sunshine or smiling through the rain. While it’s true that biking has many positive effects on our personal lives, and on the health and happiness of our community, the main motivation is that pedaling is fun!

For many of us, learning how to ride a bike as a child was one of our major early accomplishments, filled with excitement and the thrill of an emerging independence. That feeling of freedom brings many adults back to biking.

Recently, our friend, Maxwell Rush, owner-operator of Green Light Construction and Painting, stopped by the house to give us an estimate on some remodeling work, and I was excited to see him arrive by bicycle. It was a nice day, especially for February. Since he lives in the neighborhood, biking over to take measurements and discuss plans seemed way more fun than hopping in his pickup truck. We started talking about the irresistible allure of biking, and he related how he and his family incorporate biking into their busy lives whenever they can.

Maxwell had been pedaling around town on an old mountain bike until he stopped by River City Bicycles to get a commuter bike with a rack, pannier bags, and fenders. His new rig allows him to do more of his errands by bicycle. When the weather and time allow, he goes grocery shopping on two wheels or rides his 6-year-old daughter to school on her trail-a-bike. Her schoolbooks fit nicely in the pannier bag, and she gets to pedal if she feels like it, or just enjoy the ride if that’s more her style. She’s learning about the joys of biking with her dad, spending quality time with him during the forty-five minute ride to school, and becoming more used to being outside in less-than-perfect weather.

Maxwell’s wife and 2-year-old have also jumped on the bicycle bandwagon, cruising along on a bike equipped with an extra-cycle, a seat and cargo option that makes her bike even more fun and versatile. Maxwell even plans to employ his carpentry skills to build an outdoor bike garage next to his house this summer. The addition will make it even easier for his family to use their bikes whenever they feel the urge to add a little bit more fun to their day.

Many of us have demanding schedules, and we all have different thresholds for cool rainy weather. Yet Maxwell and his family remind us that we can add biking to our lives in many different ways to reap the benefits of fitness, family-time, and mostly, fun!

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Visit River City Bycycles at 706 SE MLK Blvd., Portland, Oregon, 503-233-5973; or online at
rivercitybicycles.com

Jen Bond is a River City Bicycles employee, cycle-tourist and all-around bike-enthusiast.