Why We Ride to Work

Ed Hedblom, photo by Ryan Hedblom

Ed Hedblom

Minneapolis-Saint Paul, MN
Clinical researcher

How he got started
“What got me started initially was the need for training miles for a gravel road race. These initial commutes got me connected to a cycling group at work of like-minded cyclists trying to make our workplace friendlier to cycling. Connecting with fellow riders on a regular basis kept commuting top of mind – for me this was very motivating to keep it going.”

What he enjoys most
“I was pleased to discover I could navigate on bike lanes or dedicated bike trails for a large part of my commute. It’s almost like a secret back way that only I know about.”

Joanna Oltman Smith, photo by Ian Lynch Smith

Joanna Oltman Smith

Brooklyn, NY
Full-time mother, community activist, founding board member of Streetspac

How she got started
“As a full-time mom, I’m focused on getting my kids around town. When my neighborhood got a protected bike lane, I used that to build up my confidence. In time, I started biking on local streets, even those without bike lanes, and found it surprisingly easy.”

Why she rides
“Commuting by bike is something fantastic you can do for yourself even if you spend the rest of your day focused on work or taking care of others. It’s the ultimate present to yourself!”

Lynn Eve Komaromi, photo by Cheshire Isaacs

Lynn Eve Komaromi

Albany, CA
Director of DEvelopment at Berkeley Repertory Theatre

Why she rides
“I love being more present in the world around me. I can smell the coffee roasting as I pass by the local coffee shop, the scent of freshly cut grass along the bike greenway, and just feeling the sun on my face.”

How she got started
“I was in a mild fender-bender and my car was in the shop for a couple of weeks for repairs. I opted not to take up my insurance company’s offer to provide a rental car in the interim, instead relying on my infrequently used bicycle for my 8-mile (13 km) roundtrip daily commute to the office. My boyfriend proposed that I give up my car entirely. So, for three months, I decided not to drive my car to see if I could really make that leap. At the end of the trial period, I donated my car to charity and haven’t looked back since.”

Why she keeps riding
“I figure I’ve saved about $10,000 in the last three years now that I’m not spending on gas, insurance, tolls, parking, and upkeep. I’m 48 years old and love wearing great clothes. Biking hasn’t changed that. You can find me in a skirt and heels commuting to work or to meet with one of the Theatre’s donors at a local restaurant. It’s only if I’m dying to wear a pencil skirt that I’ll take the bus!”

Tom Wilson, photo by Emily Wilson

Tom Wilson

Los Angeles, CA,
Actor-Comedian-Writer

Why he started riding
“Since I always loved riding a bike, it was a lot more fun than sitting in Los Angeles traffic, and bottom line, way cheaper, better exercise, and great for the environment. L.A. is a very wide and horizontal city, bisected by some serious hills, so commuting absolutely everywhere in the entertainment industry is difficult, but I ride there whenever I can.”

Why he rides now
“L.A. offers what almost every other city offers to a bicyclist – but almost all of it at the same time! Mountains, trees, ocean, desert, urban funk, suburban bike paths, and, of course, all of it in great weather. 30 years ago it was a blast to ride along the ocean bike path in the sunshine. The good news is both the ocean and the sun are still there! But in any weather, and any neighborhood in Southern California, the bicycling infrastructure has grown so dramatically that online maps showing bike paths, lanes, sharrows, and bike-friendly streets make it easy to plan routes.”

How pain almost ended his riding
“I went through a tough number of years where pain kept me from biking, and for a while I thought I would never bike again. That was hard for me, but I’ve had two hip replacements since, one only a few months ago, and I’m back on my beloved bike and riding all over town. I closed my eyes when I asked the doctor if he thought I could bike again, expecting him to wince and say, “Not a good idea.” He told me, “Absolutely!” and that these procedures are now so advanced they’re allowing people to become as active as they ever were. I haven’t had any ill effects from biking with two hip replacements, and it’s only made my legs stronger, to say nothing of the joy I feel while riding again.”

Meg Dalton, photo by Brad Wedman

Meg Dalton

Marin County, CA
Pilates instructor & Owner at Flow Pilates Studio, Fairfax, CA

Why she rides
“I do it for the inspiration, the endorphins, and the sheer raw joy of taking flight a few times a day.”

Why she keeps riding
“I like the actual movement of riding, the air in my face, the churn of my legs, the breathing. I also enjoy the solitude and the precious time to be in my own mind. I wrote and published a novel called The Velocipede Races that was conceived entirely while commuting on my bike. Naturally, it’s about cycling.”