I would like to thank my employer Baldwin for helping to promote Bike To Work Month. By promoting the bicycle as a means to commute to work we are realizing the benefits such as a healthier body, improved financial means and productivity. There were 9 individuals at Baldwin who chose to use the month of May to ride their bicycles into work. Some of them starting riding into work for the very first time. Here are few comments for those who participated:
"Thanks for promoting this - it was the kick in the pants I needed to start doing it!" Thom Inglin " It was very rewarding and a great idea! I felt great throughout the day. I didn't even experience any rude drivers and I had to cross some heavy traffic across Rte 422." Jeff Wisniewski " I thought is was so much fun. I now would like to ride to work every casual Friday. It was an activity that encouraged exercise while helping the environment (and saving money)! I'm glad we were able to promote National Bike To Work Month!" Christian DeWald While we had some first timers who are now committed to riding to work we also had some "long timers" who also joined in. Below is the comment from one of those commuters who has been riding into work for over 8 years:
"I ride barely 5 miles through West Lawn and Wyomissing starting at 6:00 a.m. There isn't much traffic to contend with only the still morning air and sound of my tires. Awakening and getting into your car and driving to work never sets your day up like a bike ride does. I feel more energized throughout the day and always get more accomplished at work in part because of the high I get from kicking the pedals and getting my metabolism going at a faster pace than the sedentary car ride does. The ride home is different. I leave work and travel by the West Reading Playground and take the "rat cage bridge" across the river by RACC. I take the trail up under the Penn St and Buttonwood St bridges and follow the River Trail to Bear Park and cross over the Schuylkill Ave bridge. After crossing the Schuylkill River I take a left on Blair Ave to the beginning of the Tulpehocken Trail at Stonecliff Park. I then ride to the Red Covered Bridge or continue further up the trail to the Headwaters of the Creek at Blue Marsh Dam taking the trail up and out of the Park around Ganlys Pub then taking the roads to my home in Sinking Spring finishing off a 1 1/2 hour ride. This leaves me totally refreshed and at the same time destressed from any of the pressures of work." Dennis Stufflet As a long time bicycle commuter Dennis is supportive of bicycle advocacy and ensuring trails are maintained. Throughout his commute he has noticed some areas of trails that could be enhanced to ensure motorized vehicles do not enter the trails and is willing to help put his ideas into reality.
I started biking to work in March of this year and it has been fun and thrilling to be able to share this experience with my co-workers and even ride along with them in the morning or after work. I am thankful I live in an area where I can access the Schuylkill River Trail to commute to work. I hope as WalkBikeBerks continues we will be able to help make other sections of Berks County a bicycle friendly environment so others have the opportunity to share in the benefits we bicycle commuters enjoy!
While we had some inclement weather on the actual Bike To Work Day, Baldwin decided to celebrate the day the following week. Please see the picture of everyone who biked to work during the month of May at Baldwin. Send a thank you to the H/R at Baldwin for helping to promote the month that not only benefits Baldwin employees but the entire county of Berks! Pictured left to right are as follows:
Thom Inglin, Dennis Stuffet, Roy White, Christian DeWald, Jeff Wisniewski, Jeremy Slonaker, Jerry Chin, Steve Chmielewski, Steve Thompson - A special thank you to our very own Board member Bob Hospidor for making the sign!
