Life Without Car Keys (Your Health Magazine)

Some bike commuters are saying "goodbye" to the car.
Well, "see you later," anyway

In many ways, Barbara Sander is a typical Edmonton soccer mom. Her family schedule revolves around the lives of her three boys: soccer games, swimming lessons, birthday parties and field trips. And then there are the errands: the post office, the bank, the odd trip to Superstore. But unlike other mothers, Sander doesn't worry about car seats. Her kids don't buckle up and bicker in the back seat or leave granola bars half eaten in the cup holders. Instead, when it's time to head out, they pop their bike helmets on, grab the handlebars and start pedalling.

The Simple Life
Sander and her husband Matt Grobe are carless in Edmonton. They've never owned an automobile in Canada and don't plan to. After immigrating from Germany more than a decade ago, the couple chose to rely exclusively on alternative transportation for environmental reasons. When they were ready to buy a home, they chose a central neighbourhood based on the ease of getting around without a car.

There were more affordable homes in the suburbs but biking, busing and walking from place to place would have been more difficult. As their family expanded, Grobe and Sander discovered many positive side effects of living without an automobile. "It destresses our lives, in a lot of ways," says Sander, 39. From a woman who pulls her six year old on a ride-along bike, with a Burley trailer stuffed with a three year old attached, and an energetic nine year old who likes to go over jumps and do wheelies beside her, this may be hard to believe.

"We have a slower pace in life. That's the prime motivation now. It makes us think about what we really want to do. We aren't constantly rushing here and there." Because it takes more effort than sliding open the door of a minivan, each trip is carefully considered. "Lots of things are nearby. If we really want to go somewhere a bit farther, we make it happen. We bike, we take the bus, we carpool with friends. We prioritize things, and if it doesn't work, it doesn't work." Being the dropoff point for an organic food delivery service reduces the number of grocery shopping trips they have to make. Sander also likes never having to worry about keeping in shape.

"We have kids. Life is busy enough. When would I squeeze in an hour in the gym? Getting places and getting a work out, it's a doubledeal." The kids stay healthy too. Sander says they have great endurance, and they "know how to get the wiggles out of their system." When they arrive somewhere, they aren't fidgety and itching to get out of a car for fresh air. "Even in the winter when we use the bus system, they're outside. They're bundling up and running around, they know what they're doing and where we're going. It's important."

The Joy of Biking
The main reason Rob Drinkwater gave up his car and rides his bike wherever he goes is that it puts a smile on his face. "I get grumpy driving in a car. On my bike, I'm happy." The 36 year old Edmonton copy editor even nicknamed his favorite bike "Darling." It's an old 12-speed that Drinkwater converted to an 18-speed with parts he picked up from KMart. Darling has even taken Drinkwater to California. "I love that bike…it has a soul."

Cycling has always been part of Drinkwater's life. He used to enjoy bike commuting as often as possible to work downtown from his home in Mill Woods. Bad winter weather sometimes hindered his efforts, so instead of ditching the whole twowheeled philosophy, he moved closer to work and ditched his car. "Cycling is a way of life for me," he says. "Everybody says it's good for the environment, keeps you fit, but really I do it 'cause it's fun."

Drinkwater also likes the connections he makes with other people on his bike. "You don't meet anybody when you're sealed up in a car. Bike riders say 'hello' to each other at stop lights and bike racks. Pretty women smile at me."

Since Drinkwater donated his old Toyota Camry to The Kidney Foundation he hasn't worried about parking tickets. And you could sharpen your pencil on his calves.

The Balancing Act
Penny Lightfoot is much cheerier after her morning commute. And after a few years of pedalling to work, she's fitter too. While other downtown office workers grumble about traffic delays, rude drivers and parking troubles, Lightfoot arrives at work refreshed and invigorated, with a clear mind, rosy cheeks and a healthy heart. "The decision to give up my parking space at work was a work/life balance one," says the 50 year old director of population health for the Capital Health region and mother of two sons, 16 and 20.

"My job is demanding in terms of hours and responsibilities. It's hard to get regular physical activity into my day otherwise." So she gave up her parking spot in her building – saving about $90 per month – and bought a commuter bike for under $500. She changes to winter tires when the weather demands it, and rides to work almost every day.

It takes her about 15 minutes to get from home, through the River Valley and to her office on a good day; up to half an hour through snow or heavy wind. As well, Lightfoot goes to meetings by bike several times a week. "I think I am more productive at work, and I know I'm getting faster on the bike."

When she first started bike commuting, she would carry work clothes along with her and change once she arrived. That became too complicated to plan, so now she simply wears her weather gear over her work outfit. "Having a ladies' bike means I can even ride in a skirt," says Lightfoot, who admits she's had to change the way she wears her hair to deal with helmet issues. She straps her briefcase to a carrier on the back of her bike, layers up and even puts ski goggles on when she really needs to.

As well as the physical benefits, Lightfoot enjoys connecting with nature each day in a way drivers don't. "I occasionally see deer and coyotes through the river valley. I watch the river freeze up and break up. I love the geese honking along the way, seeing hawks fly overhead."

The Growing Concern
Sander, Drinkwater and Lightfoot aren't alone. Giving up a car – or at least leaving it in the garage more often – is an idea more Edmontonians are grabbing by the handlebars. "This community (of cyclecommuters) is expanding," says Drinkwater. "Even when you're out of the main core and it's snowing quite hard, there are lots of cyclists."

A 2005 City of Edmonton Household Travel Survey says that on a typical fall weekday 250,000 "trips" were made by bicycle. Trips of all modes average about seven kilometres, including getting to school, work, recreation, and running errands. Bike trips represent only 1% of the total number of trips made each day, but this is triple the number made by bike in 1994. The most recent study of commuters who rely on two wheels to get to and from work was a 2001 Federal Census called Journey To Work. It counted 4,270 Edmonton cycle commuters. This represents 1.6% of total commuting trips – slightly higher than the national rate of 1.2%.

It's hard to know exactly how often people leave their cars behind and pedal around town instead of driving. Some people are fairweather cycle commuters. Others drive to and from work, but do all their errands and short trips by bike. Sander says she knows at least three other families in her neighbourhood who choose not to not own cars at all.

Matters of Safety and Comfort
We live in a city that grew up around the car. Lightfoot still uses a car for big shopping trips and some family outings. Drinkwater admits he might buy one someday. "I feel guilty for loving cars."

A car is awfully comfortable and handy. Even hardcore cyclists admit Edmonton winters seem more suitable for dogsledding than cycling. And although there are plenty of trails for recreational riders – more than 420 kilometres of them in the River Valley alone – few of the main commuting corridors are designed with the cyclist in mind.

Biking gear and accessories have evolved to make cycling safer and more comfortable yearround. Studded tires allow riders to get through snow and ice. Blinking LED lights and reflective strips on both equipment and clothing allow the rider to be seen, even in dark or drizzly conditions. Layers of waterproof, breathable jackets and pants, goggles, gloves and a helmet keep riders warm and protected from the cold. Cycling in a safe and predictable manner, following the rules of the road and riding as if you can't be seen (assume you are invisible and ride accordingly) will improve your chances of getting to the bike rack in one piece.

When a car clipped Penny Lightfoot's back wheel last year, she realized just how vulnerable cyclists are. "That experience taught me that I have to be extra aware. Drivers may not see me, and I don't take any chances."

Of course, no bike will ever have seat belts, air bags and 2,000 pounds of automobile protecting its operator. "The reality is that if a cyclist and car get in an accident, the car will win," says Michael Kalmanovitch, president of Edmonton Bicycle Commuters Society, active commuting cyclist and owner of Earth's General Store. In 2005 there were 221 bicyclists injured and one killed in Edmonton.

But during the same year, 8,006 motorists were injured and 27 killed. When looking at cyclist vs. motorist statistics and comparing the fatality and injury rates it's important to remember that cyclists tend to spend less time on the road but their injuries are reported less frequently. Also, motorists kill pedestrians every year it's vanishingly rare for a cyclist to kill a pedestrian.

According to Transport Canada, cyclists represented 2.2% of road fatalities in 2001, motorists accounted for 77%. In Edmonton, bikes were used for a little more than 1% of "daily trips;" cars were used for 77% of daily trips. This indicates that cyclists are more than twice as likely to die on the road than motorists. However, the health benefits of cycling can contribute to long and healthy lives. Fitness from cycling can help people avoid heart disease, stroke, diabetes, lung disease and have increase muscle strength, energy levels and mobility. Cycling helps reduce stress, manage weight and for some, increases overall happiness. These benefits are difficult to measure, but a 1992 British Medical Association report says that the health benefits of daily cycling outweigh the risks of traffic fatality by 20 to 1.

Cars Eat Money
The smug grins that cyclists don't hide very well when they whiz past cars stuck in traffic jams get even broader when they whiz past cars stopped at gas stations. Gas prices are rising and car maintenance and repairs don't come cheap. Operating a car has never been more expensive.

According to the Canadian Automobile Association, owning and operating a car in Canada in 2005 – they used a Chevy Cavalier Z 24, driven 18,000 km/year as an example – costs $9,273. This included fuel, maintenance, tires, insurance, licence, depreciation and finance expenses, but did not include the cost of the car itself, parking fees or speeding tickets. "Cars eat money…When I ride, I just eat more food," says Drinkwater.

A bike can be had for anywhere from under $100 for a utilitarian unit to $5000 for a snazzy top-of-the-line road bike. Kalmanovitch says $300 to $500 will get you a decent commuter bike. Maintenance on a lowend bike will be under $100 per year for oil, a new chain and chain ring. Add a bell, lights, fender, some allweather clothes, a helmet and a good quality lock and you're ready to raise the kickstand.

There are few drivers who are comfortable under the hood of a car, but bike repair is fairly simple. Cyclists can fix their own, with the help of mechanic volunteers at BikeWorks, an Edmonton nonprofit organization dedicated to getting more people on two wheels. As well as providing tools, advice and inexpensive parts commandeered from donated or discarded bikes, BikeWorks sells bikes that have been refurbished. For more information, check out www.bikeworks.com. Not only do cycle commuters save money – potentially thousands of dollars every year – they can save time too. According to The Canadian Commuter Challenge, commutes of fewer than 10 kilometres are actually faster by bike than by car, doortodoor. Traffic jams and crowded parkades don't slow down bikecommuters. Lightfoot says she often beats her cardriving coworkers to the water cooler or coffee pot each morning.

Good for Body and Planet
It's no secret that regular exercise can help keep you healthy and fit, yet 60% of Canadians don't move their bodies enough. Canada's physical activity guidelines of 30 to 60 minutes of exercise per day are a nobrainer if you ride to work. Being on their bikes virtually every day, Grobe and Sander's kids are pretty much guaranteed not to be included in the 26% of Canadian children now classified as overweight or obese. "The oldest likes the way bike riding makes his legs strong for soccer," says Sander.

Not only does regular cycling give you a healthy glow and make your jeans fit better, it will help prevent heart disease, high blood pressure, adultonset diabetes, osteoporosis, stroke, depression and some forms of cancer. It can also improve balance, thus decreasing the chances of injuries during other activities. Commute to work by bike and you won't have to worry about scheduling extra time for a work out.

Finally, cycle commuting benefits the environment by being a clean form of transportation. Motorized passenger transportation accounts for 49% of greenhouse gas emissions in Canada. As Edmonton grows, rushhour traffic is expected to triple by the year 2020. Respiratory problems, global warming, noise pollution, loss of green space to make room for freeways and parking lots; our love affair with cars demands a high price.

The Sanders, Lightfoots and Drinkwaters of the world are definitely doing their part. "We wanted to be role models for our kids," says Sander. "You can't talk to kids about environmental issues without taking your step. We're doing our part. The kids don't understand why so many people don't do their part. It's easy and fun. They take pride in their cycling."

Other ways to get there
Some bike commuters who need a car now and then belong to the Car-Sharing Co-op of Edmonton (www.web.net/~cce/). For a small membership fee and a per-trip charge, they can borrow one of the co-op's cars to get their hardware-store shopping done, take a trip out of town, or have a special night out in a fourwheeled machine.

For anyone who only needs a bike now and then, to run a few errands, head to a meeting or just go out for a spin, People's Pedal offers a solution. This non-profit group fixes up discarded or donated bikes, paints them red, and parks them at "hubs" around the city. From the hub, members are welcome to take a bike, use it for up to four hours, and lock it back up at the nearest hub. For more information, check out www.peoplespedal.org.

Fill someone's passenger seat, have some company on the way to work, and share gas expenses by joining a carpool. Many people find rides (and riders) simply by posting a notice either at work or in their neighbourhood community centres. Or, check out the Edmonton Carpool Centre's website: www. erideshare.com, where drivers with empty seats list their origin and destination, daily schedule and flexibility. Currently the site features about 40 listings of people looking for riders to join them.

Edmonton Transit System routes #1, 4 and 9 have racks on the fronts of all their buses that enable cyclists to combine biking with bus-commuting. Each rack holds up to two bikes, and are available first-come-first-serve. Bikes are also welcome on the LRT, except during rush hour.

~ Katherine Fawcett

Your Health Magazine - May/June 2007 Issue

Disclaimer
Reviewed by Alberta clinical experts. Brought to you by HealthLink Alberta. Copyright.
This material is designed for information purposes only. It should not be used in place of medical advice, instruction and/or treatment. For more health advice call Capital Health Link at 780-408-LINK (5465) 24 hours a day, seven days a week. In Alberta, call Toll-free: 1-866-408-LINK (5465)