National Walk/Bike to Work Day!
Date: Friday, May 16, 2008
Most people can think of plenty of reasons not to bike to work. There’s the helmet hair, the sweat, the time involved. And yet, people do it. In anticipation of National Bike to Work Day on Friday May 16th, the Co-op’s veteran bike-to-work cyclists tell us why.
“I bike to work because I love to ride my bike,” says Patrick Kearney, Hanover Service Desk staff. “[When I arrive at work] I feel more alert and more alive.” Kearney, who bikes from Thetford to Hanover, says he enjoys “one of the most scenic commutes in the Upper Valley, especially in the early morning when the mist is on the river.”
Tom Bircher, Lebanon Produce Manager, takes a more pragmatic approach. The reason he bikes to work is, “I get a workout, and I get to work at the same time.”
Like Bircher, Jason Dacier, Co-op Food Production Manager, bikes for fitness. As a self-proclaimed tree hugger, he also bikes for peace of mind.
Then there’s the other, “green” reason to bike.
“Right now it’s especially good because you really save money and you save the wear and tear on your vehicle,” says Bircher.
These Co-op staffers prove that you don’t have to live close to work in order to bike there. Bircher, whose commute is 22 miles one way, bikes all the way to work and back, but only one or two days per week. Dacier, with a similar commute, drives partway and pedals the rest. He recently challenged his staff at the Commissary to join him. About a third have said they’ll give it a try. They’ll start by parking only a couple of miles away and biking from there.
What would make their bike commutes better? Cautious drivers, say Bircher and Kearney.
So, if you’re in your car on Bike to Work Day, please do your part. Slow down, pass carefully, and don’t make fun of the hair.
Upper Valley Bike to Work Day is Friday, May 16th. To mark the day, the Co-op will sponsor a participants’ breakfast at the Lebanon Store in Centerra Marketplace. Stop by between 7:00 and 9:00 a.m. for coffee, juice, and a bagel. Event organizers will be on hand with prizes for participation.
Event category:
Jamie King
What do you get when you take a chef’s certification, a master’s degree, a beautiful singing voice, a welcoming manner, and mix it all together?
Ice Cream Social This Week!
There’s nothing that the good folks in the Co-op Frozen Department love more than summer. And though summer at the Co-op means many things, free ice cream may be at the top of the list. Join us for our Ice Cream Social on Thursday, July 24, at the Hanover food store and Friday, July 25, at the Lebanon food store. Both events are from 4 to 6 p.m. and feature loads of ice cream, toppings, and other tasty treats. It’s free, of course, and kids with chocolate-covered chins are welcome. Don’t forget to mark your calendars now to join us at our next event, the Producer’s Fair, coming to the Lebanon food store on Saturday, August 9!
