With sunny skies, warmer temperatures, and street sweepers out and about, cyclists in our city are everywhere it seems. Some commute to and from work, while others enjoy cycling for fitness or as a family activity.
As for me, my bicycle is my only vehicle, which I ride year-round. I grew up in Prince George and have never owned a car. As a daily commuter, I ride in all kinds of weather, seasons, and road conditions.
Commuting by bicycle year-round is not necessarily exceptional. There are others who venture to cycle throughout the winter, but most of them have a more automated private mode of transportation for the days they are less inspired. There is luxury in the comfort of a vehicle, especially at the -30 C temperatures of this past winter. What is unusual is that I run my small business from my bike. Instead of commuting to and from an office, I ride to my clients' homes.
I am currently the only full-time professional piano technician living and working in Prince George, and one of a only a few bicycling piano technicians in the world. In addition to this work, I also perform piano and accompany other performers, serving a niche market in our city, all from my bicycle.
Public transportation frequently serves as a method to access areas of greater distance from the downtown core, such as the Hart and College Heights. You may find my bike strapped to the front of the city bus before I visit my clients, all scheduled in close proximity to one another. For those times when I need a vehicle to move larger parts and equipment or to reach more remote clients I have set up informal car-sharing arrangements.
All in all, however, cycling is a lifestyle choice that my family and I have made. We feel that it a very practical way that we can make a difference in our community by reducing air pollution, traffic, and our carbon footprint. It's also a viable way for business people to operate successful businesses, stay fit and healthy, and be responsible citizens.
However, there are certainly challenges. Bicycling on days after a heavy snowfall is more difficult, but of of course those days also make it more difficult to drive a car. There are struggles with traffic, and in the winter neither the shoulders nor the middle of the roads are plowed regularly, forcing cyclists to ride in traffic on some streets. Picking an optimal route is an art and generally involves a network of side streets to avoid traffic.
The advantages outweigh the challenges though. My family and I do not have the expense of maintaining our own vehicle, nor do we need to shovel a driveway. Furthermore, commuting by bike is often quicker than car by avoiding crowded streets and intersections. Being outside lets us enjoy the city at a quieter pace unknown to other commuters.
If you would like to find out more or are on the lookout for a piano technician visit my blog at http://www.pspianoservice.com/blog.
{italic}This is the second of a 4-week series leading up to Bike to Work Week. Hosted locally by Prince George Cycling Club, Bike to Work Week encourages BC residents to commute by bicycle. A variety of local businesses and organizations will be sponsoring "Celebration Stations" during the week of May 26 - June 1st. Visit these stations for food, beverages, education pamphlets, and prizes! Please visit http://www.biketowork.ca/prince-george to register online as an individual or a team.
