Why Bike Walk Week Gives Me Warm Fuzzies
Crossposted from the Transit for Livable Communities blog, by Katie Eukel, Communications Manager
It’s a rare day when I’m excited to get up at 4:00am. Bike/Walk to Work Day might be an exception. I was stationed at the Green Institute, helping to manage media outreach efforts for the morning. Two colleagues, Diana McKeown and Cathy Kennedy, were there well before me, actually needing to arrive (rather than awaken) by 4:00am for early morning news shows.
It was cold. And windy. One news reporter used duct tape to pull her hair back from her face. Diana and I didn’t really have that luxury.
Every time I walked inside the warm building, I was greeted by the delicious smells of fresh whole wheat pancakes, sausage, oatmeal. I saw stacks of vegan caramel rolls, carafes of Peace Coffee, and cartons of orange juice. There were recycling bins, declaring this a waste-free event.
Then there were the people, who started pouring in the doors even before the event officially started. Commuters coming in for a quick pick-me-up on their way to work. Moms and small children coming in for a full meal. Students on their way to South High School, stopping off for a quick bike check from the good people at the Hub.
Only later did I learn that nearly 300 people showed up at the Green Institute, and that 4,792 people registered to participate in the entire day. This is a 51 percent increase in participation over last year. First-timers made up nearly 11 percent of the people on the roads and trails that day.
Even without knowing those numbers, I came home that evening feeling an intense pride in my community. This was truly a grassroots effort, consisting of numerous community partners, local businesses, arts organizations, government agencies, and residents coming together to celebrate a different way of getting around.
- To read Katie’s whole post, click here >>
- To learn more about the event at The Green Institute, click here >>
