Celebrating a Healthy Commute

Mental clarity, improved fitness, gas prices and maintenance costs all bubble up when talking about the benefits of commuting by bicycle. As the weather warms, more people are pumping up their tires to get around.

Illustration by Ryan Miller.

The month of May is National Bike Month across the United States and Bike to Work Week begins May 11. Major cities across the country promote the event with large group bike rides and incentives for those who commute by bicycle.

But the practice is not lost on rural communities. Despite less traffic and plenty of free parking throughout Door County, many people opt to commute on two wheels.

For Chris Olson in Sturgeon Bay, the idea began as an experiment.

“I wanted to see how long I could go without driving a vehicle,” said Olson. Although it took three months, Olson hit a 30-day streak without using his personal vehicle. “We really depend on our vehicles for our transportation. My experiment helped me define what it means to depend on a vehicle.”

Since then, Olson has been biking or walking the half-mile to work. Prompted to perform another experiment, Olson timed his commute in his car and on his bike.

“Between finding a parking spot and all the stop signs of driving, it takes me less time to bike than it does to drive,” said Olson. “ It’s faster and I enjoy it. You’re able to take in the surroundings.”

Olson’s commute takes him across the bridges in downtown Sturgeon Bay and seeing the sunrise and sunset on the bay looks better when it’s not behind a window.

“It allows me a better visual appreciation for things I would normally take advantage of when I’m driving,” said Olson.

“I think everyone should experiment with it no matter where we are in the age, distance spectrum,” said Olson.

Yet he admits his quick commute is not representative of the longer distances that commuters in northern Door County often have to cover.

But the distance doesn’t stop Carl Morrison of Institute. Morrison bikes more than eight miles to work throughout all four seasons. He has been commuting by bike since the ‘70s and has not missed a single day yet this year.

“I was a big time runner but I can’t run any more,” said Morrison. “I biked because it was good for me and I enjoy it.”

In the summer months, Morrison commutes on his road bike, covering the distance in about 30 minutes. In the winter, Morrison uses his fat tire bike on the icy roads.

“The weather is the hardest part,” admitted Morrison. “People say I’m nuts, but I enjoy it. I love it when my truck sits in my driveway and I’m not driving it.” Morrison also admits to saving in gas by choosing to commute by bicycle.

Although the true origins of cycling are hazy, the concept of cycling as transportation was born in Europe. The United Kingdom held the first Bike Week in 1923 and the practice migrated to the United States in 1956. The League of American Bicyclists sponsors Bike Month every year and provides guides on how to encourage the practice in a city or business.

The number of commuting cyclists has seen a 62 percent growth nationwide with nearly 900,000 people exercising their way to work in 2013. Data from the U.S. Census Bureau focuses on bicycle commuting in cities where cycling infrastructure is quickly improving, but the data also looks at each state.

Wisconsin ranks 12th in the percentage of population that bikes to work; the highest-ranking state in the Midwest. State statutes also place Wisconsin as the third safest cycling state in the country.

“It’s the bigger picture of thinking globally and acting locally,” said Olson. “I would just encourage everyone to do it just once. One day out of their whole career. Pick a nice day, script the weather, pack a lunch, do whatever you need to do to leave the keys at home.”