Commuting by bike to save gas
Participate in Bike-to-Work day Friday
5:24 p.m. Thursday, May 15, 2008
“Gas prices have just been steadily rising,” said Jeremy Hutsell with Capp’s Bike Shop. “I think it’s really sunk in to a lot of people."
It’s sunk in so much that between answering phone, and helping customers, Hutsell can't keep up to repair all of these bikes.
He even came in an hour early.
"I haven't counted,” he said. “I usually try not to count."
Luckily, he doesn't mind being busy and he doesn't expect it to slow down.
May is National Bike Month. You can help celebrate it by taking part in bike-to-work day Friday, May 16. Find 50 ways you can celebrate on the League of American Bicyclists Web site.
High gas prices have many people trading in their four wheels for two.
But bikes sales aren't increasing.
Instead, Hutsell says customers are dusting off their old bikes and getting them ready for the road.
"A lot of people aren't rushing out to buy bikes to commute right off the bat because they're not sure how they're going to handle it or like it,” he said.
Hutsell says the only thing keeping Topekans from commuting on their bikes is that the city is not biker-friendly.
"I think if we have more bike lanes, more trails, it would make the commute to and from work or school a lot safer,” he said.
City spokesman David Bevens says the city is working to extend trails but bike lanes...
"That is a policy decision,” Bevens said. “And as we go forward that might be something we'd want to look into."
In the meantime, Hutsell says be careful and give biking a try.
It not only gives you exercise, but keeps you and your money away from the gas station.
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