Bicycle Commuting

From dormant to active — this Blog has been dormant since shortly after the Transportation Commission adopted WTP 2030 and now resumes activity. In like fashion, yesterday I signed up to participate in the Thurston County Bicycle Commuter Contest 2011 and today biked to work for the first time this year.

I am not well-prepared to bicycle commute. More of a recreational biker, once I pulled out of my driveway and into the street, I noticed low air in the rear tire; I realized (again) that I should have bicycle pants clips to avoid getting grease on my slacks; and I noticed (again) that my briefcase does not travel well by bike. And most significant, although it is only a three mile trip, there is a big, big hill at about the 2.5 mile mark. I did not make it very far up the hill before I had to get off the bike and walk the remainder of the hill.  

Resuming this Blog also will have its share of hills, technical glitches, and “wish I would have” moments. A lot is happening in transportation, from fuel price escalation affecting the cost of driving and flying to “robot cars” that may enable safer and faster mobility. The Transportation Commission will use this Blog to share news, ideas and viewpoints. As the Legislature wraps up its work, we will report on new developments in transportation, including some that may be traced to WTP 2030.

And for anyone who is bicycle commuting during this month of May, I hope that your ride home is all downhill.

–Paul Parker, Senior Policy Analyst