More Chattanoogans biking to work

By Joan Garrett

Staff Writer

When Ralph Anderson drove behind the wheel of his truck, he never feared the last mile home.

On a bike, however, the 64-year-old said he can feel the hilly mile through his entire body.

"I don't burn oil, but I do burn a lot of calories," said Mr. Anderson, a University of Tennessee at Chattanooga professor who has been biking to work from North Chattanooga every day for three years.

Mr. Anderson bikes through cold, wind and rain, and he is not the only one choosing to ditch his car in the morning commute. As travel costs continue to tighten budgets and more Chattanoogans become sensitive to environmental issues, Philip Pugliese, bicycle coordinator for Outdoor Chattanooga, said the number of city bikers is growing.

Bike to Work, an Outdoor Chattanooga cycling initiative, is holding its first winter season in response to a growing interest. Even in the winter months, Mr. Pugliese said monthly Bike to Work events attract nearly 50 morning bikes.

Since CARTA began carrying bikes on its buses, the number loaded has significantly increased. In 2003, buses carried 936 bikes and in 2006 that number rose to 3,186, according to a CARTA annual report. This year, Mr. Pugliese said around 400 bikes per month are carried on public buses.

"I have seen more people biking," said Sherry Roberts, an accountant at Fletcher Bright Co. who has been biking to work since June. "Chattanooga is going through this whole greening up so they are getting more conscious."

Ms. Roberts said the cold doesn't bother her and considers her 20-minute bike ride from Highland Park to downtown much more enjoyable than zipping to the office in a car.

"It's fun just buzzing down the street, being out and getting the exercise," she said. "I saw a man who lives in my neighborhood who takes the bus, and I beat him there."

Mr. Anderson estimates he saved around $2,000 in parking fees, gas and car maintenance last year by biking to the UTC campus. Yet, more importantly, he said he's peddling to defy the standard of a sedentary lifestyle and environmental unconsciousness.

"If you care about the planet you should be doing stuff like this," he said. "There is not much I can do about global warming, but I can do this little thing."

Biking can save money and help lose unwanted pounds, but Mr. Anderson said it can also be a hassle.

Once a month he said he gets into a shouting match with a driver who doesn't want to share the road. Also, it's hard to make quick trips or meetings.

"I pester students for a ride," he said, laughing.

There are challenges with biking, said Colleen Carboni, the owner of the Pilates Center downtown and member of a task force with Bike Chattanooga. Those interested in biking have to educate themselves and work around the challenges, she said.

"It's the lifestyle, fitness, environmental quality of life, and it's worth it," said Ms. Carboni, who has biked her commute for five years.

New bikers should focus on safety, follow traffic laws and pursue bike education, she said. Ms. Carboni said Bike Chattanooga has $25 four-hour classes on cycling street smarts.

As the biking community makes small gains, Mr. Pugliese said employers need to be accommodating.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, only four-tenths of 1 percent of Americans make their way to work on a bicycle. While Mr. Pugliese said he understands it isn't feasible for everyone to bike to work, the city and employees should do what they can to support the willing.

Having offices with showers and changing areas and more bike parking are good places to start, he said.

"We aren't trying to get everyone out of their cars," Mr. Pugliese said. "It's about opportunity. For a lot of people it could be a good choice."

E-mail Joan Garrett at jgarrett@timesfreepress.com