Published: May 16, 2008 11:45 am            

Bicyclists have fun, raise awareness

EDMOND — More than 70 Edmond residents took to the streets today on two wheels instead of four as they participated in Bike to Work Day.

Guthrie bicyclists joined the group as they had fun and breakfast while helping send a message about alternative transportation methods.

Central Oklahoma Bike to Work Day is part of a national campaign to promote bicycling as a healthy and efficient transportation alternative. With gas prices skyrocketing and all the talk of “being green,” the third annual Edmond Bike to Work Day couldn’t come at a better time. With the price of fuel going higher and higher, this may be a louder message than usual.

Tim Tillman, chairman of the Edmond Bicycle Committee, said he has been a bike rider since the age of 5 and just forgot to quit.

“Now is a good time to rediscover the advantages of bike riding,” Tillman said.

Up for grabs for the first time was the highly coveted Silver Pumpie award.

“This is the inaugural year for the award, (for) the organization with the most participating riders,” Tillman said.

The City of Edmond won the informal competition with the University of Central Oklahoma and Edmond Medical Center rolling in behind.

Al Jones, the new alumni director at UCO, said it is his first year to join the Bike to Work Day, but he plans on biking to his new job whenever possible.

“I’ve been riding four years, and we just formed a bicycling club, Blood, Sweat and Gears,” Jones said. “We just bought a bus, and now we are ready for major competition.”

Local police departments also were represented.

“This is my third year to join the activities,” said Edmond Officer Dack Pearson.

He said one of his main purposes is to make people more aware of officers on bicycles in parks and parking lots.

People of all ages from all walks of life joined in.

Guthrie resident Ron Langley has been riding for 12 years, although this is his first year to ride on Bike to Work Day.

“I ride mostly for exercise two or three times a week,” Langley said. “I usually ride 100 miles a week.”

Mayor Dan O’Neil issued a challenge to neighboring mayors to bike to work today.

“The mayor of Guthrie said he was going to ride, as long as it was downhill,” O’Neil said.

Participating bicyclists met at the Festival Market Place for a free breakfast including Western Oklahoma Scramble and Spencer’s cinnamon rolls. The owners of Othello’s restaurant, Bob and Tammy Weiss, with the help of their daughter, Nancy, cooked the Oklahoma-style breakfast.

“All of the ingredients are donated by Oklahoma Farmers Market vendors,” Tammy Weiss said. The food was served on equipment donated by Kickingbird Golf Course.

Java Dave’s owners Bruce and Mindy Baldwin provided coffee for the group.

“The food was transported from Othello’s to Farmers Market using a cargo bicycle,” Tillman said.

Gifts given away included a new bicycle jointly sponsored by Al’s Bicycle and Cork and Bottle Wine and Spirits. Edmond Electric gave a gift basket filled with bicycle accessories, and UCO gave two annual passes to the Wellness Center.

The Edmond Bicycle Committee along with Bike Edmond, a local bicycling organization, sponsored the ride that began at 8 a.m. at UCO.

Organized through the Association of Central Oklahoma Governments, METRO Transit and Norman CART, the cities of Oklahoma City, Norman, Guthrie and Yukon also participated in the event.

        

• Click to discuss this story with other readers on our forums.