'Green' riders brave white winters to try year round cycle commuting

Maintaining eco-friendly transportation methods difficult in winter; lack of public transportation alternatives in county

By Danielle Kapral
Special to Harbor Light Newspaper

Going green, as the saying goes, by riding or walking to work is fine here in the north country during the warm summer months. But winter ‘green’ commuting is a different story.

There are some in the community that brave the wind, cold and snow to do just that, however. Commuters who ride through the winter months can be spotted cycling between Petoskey and Harbor Springs. Some of these hardy souls ride up to 10 months of the year. These extreme commuters encompass a certain renegade spirit that helps to overcome the bitter cold to peddle through the snow. Whether saving gas money or the environment, staying fit, preventing vehicle wear, or the general lack of public transportation, devoted cyclists say there is a method to their madness.

Chris Benson, of Polly’s Landscape, has a relatively short commute of only about three miles a day to and from work. He rides his bike eight months of the year.

“In college, in the upper peninsula, I was able to commute all year, mainly because I lived in the city and the snow conditions made for a good hard-pack of snow to ride on,” Benson said.

He said that ideal snow conditions for biking includes plenty of fresh snowfall, cold temperatures and little or no road salt on the pavement.

Benson does admit that,even with the addition of the new non-motorized path between Pleasantview and Harbor Springs, it can be tough to commute once the snow accumulates, especially if it’s not plowed.

“I have tried walking and even cross country skiing in the snowy months, but there is not a consistently maintained and plowed or safe route for pedestrians,” he said.

Another area cyclist, Timmo Skallerup of Bear Creek Township, is more ambitious with his commute. As a yoga instructor, Skallerup puts in around 50 miles a week riding from Petoskey to Harbor Springs and back. He is unique in that he does this almost 10 months of the year. Because he lives on a country road, the shoulder is usually not accessible for most January and February, he said.

“The days I don’t commute, I actually feel colder during the day. I feel that the more familiar you are with the elements the less threatening they are to you, almost to the point where you welcome a stormy day and see it as an opportunity rather than a detriment,” Skallerup said.

Skallerup has the advantage of experience. Following his bike riding days on Northern Michigan University’s campus in the Upper Peninsula, he took a job as a bicycle messenger in Chicago.

“For those interested in becoming a bicycle commuter, I would suggest picking just one day a week, and try it. I feel good every time I don’t start my car. It’s an example of thinking globally and acting locally.”

For those just starting out, Skallerup suggests getting proper windproof and Gortex gear to fend off the cold, and also Styrofoam booties to keep shoes dry.

Bicycle maintenance is probably the most challenging aspect of commuting in the winter. He emphasizes the importance of drying off the chain, and washing off salt that will rust the bike.

Riding in the winter can also be more dangerous, not just because of the snow and ice, but because of darkness. Skallerup says that by wearing an LED light on your helmet a cyclist can remain above the plane of vision on a car. He recommends lights on the front and rear of the bike, as well as on moving parts like the pedals.

Walking and biking in the winter may not be a choice, but a necessity for some in the community. Emmet County has a serious lack of public transportation options.

In 2007 a county transportation committee brought in the Corradino Group of Michigan, to study transportation options. The study was one of the alternative outcomes of the infamous ‘beltway’ proposal around Petoskey. The group looked at a variety of transportation alternatives including a public transit. That proposed transit system was estimated to cost about $500,000, probably raised from some sort of tax. The firm also advised doing a test study before any kind of tax referendum was put before voters.

Nothing has been done with the study or its recommendations.

Joe Corradino, of the Corradino Group, said recently:

“Our recommendations called for $5 million (2007 dollars) to expand the nonmotorized component of the local transportation system. As a local resident, you can judge the degree to which action has been taken on any of the recommendations.”

As for people riding their bikes in the snow, either by choice or circumstance, Corradino said: “Clearly, this nonmotorized travel option is not for all in the winter months-- and when it snows and sleets, it’s likely not for any. I would suspect that many walkers/ bikers, of any distance, who think “green” may turn to car pooling as an alternative until the weather improves.”

Chris Benson, who also organizes the Ride of Silence each year, advises that new cyclists and those who wish to commute regularly become familiar with bicycle safety. The League of Michigan Bicyclists provides a booklet, What Every Michigan Bicyclist Must Know, which is designed to help bicyclists use Michigan’s public roads and trails safely and enjoyably. Although it includes information about many Michigan traffic laws, it is not a legal document or a substitute for the Michigan Vehicle Code (MVC), the Michigan Uniform Traffic Code (UTC) or local ordinances. (For the current MVC and UTC, see www.lmb.org/bikelaws.html.) For more information call 888-642- 4537 or visit www.LMB.org.

(Danielle Kapral is a freelance writer and regular contributor to the Harbor Light Newspaper)

Perhaps more incentive to tough out the cold…

According to What Every Michigan Bicyclist Must Know, commuting by bicycle improves Michigan’s Economy.

• In 2007, U.S. consumers bought 18.2 million bikes; 2.6 million more than bought cars and trucks.
• LMB estimates that people spend over $200 million in Michigan each year on bicycle-industry purchases, and another substantial amount on cycling-related goods.
• Bicycling saves employers lost productivity from employees’ poor health and time stuck in traffic, and can save them costs for subsidized parking.
• Bicycle facilities increase real-estate values (and property-tax revenues), and support nearby businesses. A non-motorized transportation system contributes to communities’ economic vitality, bringing residents and visitors to neighborhoods, shops, restaurants, and other businesses, and increasing employment opportunities.

This is part of the November 18, 2009 online edition of Harbor Light Newspaper.

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