How long have you been a bike commuter?

4 months.

Why did you start riding your bike to work and how long is your commute?

Because I am fat and I hate buying gas. So I basically turned my two-car household into a pretty much one-car household.

How does Bike Commuting help you with your weekend club rides?

We don’t got no steenking clubs.

What do you do for a living and in what city do you bike commute?I’m an EMT. I work primarily for Pistoresi EMS in Madera and for Community Integrated Work Program in Fresno when EMS work is slow. Oviously as I live in Madera, I don’t ride to work in Fresno. But I do ride to work in Madera. My commutes, depending on the station I’m working are 2.1, 5.5 and 6.8 miles respectively. I also ride to the liquor store (2 miles) and the grocery store (3.5 miles). Occasionally, I just leave and cruise irrigation canal access roads. I have no idea how far I go. I have done some math and my average speed going to work is 11-12 mph.

What kind of bikes do you have?

I have one bike. It is a Raliegh SC-7. I bought it used from the kid of a work partner for $40. It is outfitted with a Giant Recon 0.3 headlight, a Cat Eye (I think) taillight, a Bell U-lock an On Guard cable lock, a Giant frame pump, an Inline seat post rack and probably some other doodads I don’t remember. This is not a precision machine. This is a form of conveyance. It is not pretty or fast. It is the two-wheeled equivalent of a Yugo. Only it actually works.

Any funny or interesting commuting story that you may want to share?

I get chased by dogs. Sometimes, I turn around and chase the dogs back. Screaming. It works.

What do people (coworkers, friends) say when you tell them that you are a bike commuter?

My boss actually asked me if I even owned a car. I told him that I owned three. I also told him that my morning ride helped to calm me down and get my head straight for the day. People pretty much accept that I am bikebound now and they’re pretty encouraging about it. They even factor ride and shower times in when calling me up to run late night transfers out of town. Everybody’s really respectful of it, actually.

Bicycling advocacy? Are you active in any local or regional advocacy groups?

We have no such groups here in Madera. I’m sure the local bike shop does something, but they kind of pissed me off a couple of months ago and I won’t even walk in the place anymore.

Kase