LAMORINDA WEEKLY | Spinning Wheels in Lamorinda


Bikers stopped by at the Energizer Station at Lafayette Plaza Park Photo Cathy Dausman

Sunshine, no breeze, camaraderie and free snacks-biking doesn't get much better than that. And if you're headed to work, well, there's Bike to Work Day. The Contra Costa Transportation Authority says its 17th annual Bike to Work Day was "a promotional event to encourage non-bikers to try commuting by bicycle."

Brad Crane, Lafayette Bicycle-Pedestrian Advisory Committee (BPAC) hosted an Energizer Station at Lafayette Plaza Park the morning of May 12. The table would re-open late afternoon hosted by Lafayette Chamber of Commerce members. Other Lamorinda stations were at Lafayette BART (hosted by Hank & Frank Bikes), and Moraga Way at Brookwood Road, in Orinda (City of Orinda, host). One hundred such stations were staffed throughout Contra Costa County.

Crane says BPAC wanted to "feed and support cyclists who make commuting a daily effort." He says Bike to Work Day "gets bigger every year." In the spirit of the day, Crane biked to the station from his Lafayette home, towing a trailer to hold his equipment.

The 6:00 a.m. hour saw mostly west bound commuters, those heading away from Lafayette and Lamorinda. Those who work in Lafayette arrived an hour or so later.

Russ Moore was on his way from Oakland to Concord, a 23 mile, 75 minute bike commute. It's his fifth year participating in Bike to Work Day. Moore, who said the Lafayette stop was "right in the middle" of his ride aims for 24 commutes a year when the weather is good.

Steve Biggs rode an hour from Clayton to his work place in Lafayette. It was his first day riding to work, and he took advantage of two Energizer stops in Walnut Creek before hitting the Plaza Park location. "See ya next year," Biggs said as he rode off.

By 8:00 a.m. Crane had tallied 30 station visitors and another 25 bikers passing by. "We're on target for a record day," said Lafayette Transportation Planner Leah Greenblat. She noted the weather, gas prices and the economy have conspired to increase bike ridership.

A contingent of eight representing the City of Orinda also biked to work. Dorothy Dickson-Dodds, Orinda Planning Department, has ridden the event for five years and organized the ride. The group included City Manager Janet Keeter (who rode in 2008), Kathrine Nasset (Planning), Richard Yee (Planning), Jeanette Irving (Police), Scott Tracy (Police), Joyce Boeckner-Colabianchi (Parks and Recreation), and Cathy Terentieff (Engineering). "Five of us began in Walnut Creek; one began in San Ramon, one in Alamo and one in Lafayette. We just meet along the way to Orinda," says Dickson-Dodds. "Richard Yee bikes to work two or three times a week; I bike home two times a week." Fortunately city hall has "bike lockers, bike racks, and a shower with a small locker room." She says the group "most certainly" will do the ride again and would love to challenge like-minded Lafayette and Moraga staff.

For information about biking in Contra Costa County, or the Bike to Work event, go online to http://511contracosta.org/ .