Even with gas approaching $4, few bike to work

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May 15, 2008

By Brian Messenger

More local people are expected to try Bike to Work Week this year than ever before. But the numbers — even with the cheapest gas in town up to $3.69 a gallon — don't signal a transportation revolution just yet.

A total of 129 employees have registered for this year's Bike to Work event, up from between 100 to 115 in past years.

Held May 1 to 16, the eighth annual Bike to Work Week is being promoted as a healthy, clean, quiet and efficient means of getting to and from work by the Merrimack Valley Transportation Management Association, which represents more than 80 area companies, most of which are headquartered in Andover.

With events held every day in the morning this week on Shattuck Road, Old River Road, Minuteman Road, Dascomb Road and Federal Street, Andover employees were given the opportunity to ride to work and meet with other cyclists.

"That's really the point, for people to try it and see how it works for them," said Andrea Leary, the Merrimack Valley TMA's executive director. "This is going to incorporate your daily workout with your commute. You're killing two birds with one stone, as it were."

Leary said at least 3,051 miles of motor vehicle travel will be avoided through Bike to Work Week.

Cyclists were expecting to save 152 gallons — or $560 — of gasoline in just one day, she said.

Leary said employees have commuted in previous Bike to Work Week events from as far away as Boston, Lowell, Westford and homes in New Hampshire.

"People come from all over," she said. "We've been promoting it for several years now. I think part of it is awareness of the program. Part of it is the fact that people are looking for ways to stay more fit. Part of it, obviously, is also the price of gas."

Bike to Work Week is going to be just like any other week for Rick Martin.

"Except someone will be waiting for me with a T-shirt," anticipated Martin, who planned to ride his usual 16-mile route May 14 from Reading to Philips Healthcare on 1776 Drive. "And maybe I'll see a few more people on the road."

Martin, a Reading resident and IT manager at Andover's Philips, said he started biking to work several days each week beginning in March, typically along back roads between Route 28 and Interstate 93.

There are several reasons he enjoys biking to work, including the exercise, spending time outside and helping the environment by reducing his weekly gasoline consumption, he said.

"I've been biking to work for 20 years," said Martin. "These days, with the gas prices I can save a fair amount of money too."

Rob Michaels, a Chestnut Street resident and project manager at Philips, thought Bike to Work Week was gaining popularity due to high gas prices and an increase in "green" marketing.

Michaels said he planned to cycle seven miles on May 14 on Chestnut and Central streets, Reservation Road, Route 133, Greenwood and Chandler roads and finally River Road. Michaels said he typically swims or runs in the morning.

With showers and lockers available to employees at Philips, Michaels said more workers should bike to work each day.

"There really isn't much of an excuse, except that they don't have a lot of bike racks," he said.

All 12 local companies participating in Bike to Work Week have more entrants this year compared to last, Leary said, with Vicor experiencing the largest increase, from 14 to 20 employees. Philips has the most participants with 56 out of 2,200 employees.

"Hopefully we can increase their awareness of fitness," said Linda Sargent, a senior benefits representative at Vicor and company liaison for Bike to Work Week. "We have a lot of people who do it every year. We have new employees starting, and a lot of them are joining in also."

Sargent said Vicor's 800 Andover employees at Federal Street and Frontage Road also will be encouraged to participate in the company's walking program held in May and June, when exercise logs will be promoted.

The Merrimack Valley TMA will hold a June 5 Bike to Work celebration at Staybridge Suites, where all participants of Bike to Work Week will be addressed by Town Manager Buzz Stapczynski.

The lunchtime barbecue will include a raffle for prizes including a weekend bike tour, helmets, locks, tune-ups and gift certificates, according to Leary.

Leary said other Merrimack Valley TMA programs include an active commute event from June 16 through Aug. 30, where employees will be encouraged to bike, walk or inline skate to work.

There are more than 200 people registered in the association's ride-matching database, Leary said. A ride home program guarantees car-pooling employees can get home via taxi or rental car during emergencies or schedule changes.

"I think people are thinking more about carbon reduction, how they can reduce their own carbon footprint," said Leary. "With the ripple in gas prices since March, I think we've had 14 people sign up for the car-pool program.

"Everybody that I've talked to is saying the price of gas is really just impacting them in such a detrimental way, that they really have to look for other options," said Leary. "It has such an impact to their whole family."

Gas approaching $4 a gallon

Gas prices around town as of May 13 were within a few pennies per gallon of each other:

Route 133 and River Road Mobil stations: Regular $3.73 and Supreme $3.99

Main Street Gulf station: Regular $3.72 and Supreme $3.99

Main Street Mobil station: Regular $3.69 and Supreme $3.97

Route 125 Getty station: Regular $3.69 and Supreme $3.89