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Cars Shift Down, Bikes Gear Up: Prairie People Pedal!

Cars may be on the way out, says a new AP report. Households have been driving less since 2004, young people are waiting longer to get driver's licenses, car-sharing is on the rise...

...and to make the point, AP features South Dakota ex-pat Sam Kirstein, who was always in front of me when we ran cross-country with the Madison HS Bulldogs in 1985:

At 6:45 a.m., Sam Kirstein pulls into central Minneapolis after a 5-mile commute, parks and locks his vehicle -- and heads for a hot shower.

You wouldn't know when he takes a seat minutes later, wearing a pressed striped dress shirt, that he arrived on two wheels.

Kirstein, an accountant, recalls growing up in a small town in South Dakota where "cars were a way of life." In Minneapolis, he drove 45 minutes to work in traffic, until he and his wife wearied and set off to bike cross-country. They returned, but never put away the bikes. Last year, Kirstein cycled to work every day but five, and put 4,000 miles on a car that used to clock 15,000.

"The only thing I miss is being able to listen to the radio," says Kirstein, 45, nursing a mug of coffee at Freewheel Bike -- sort of a rest stop for cyclists with lockers, bike parking and a cafe -- before heading up to the office.

Each day, more than 3,500 others share Kirstein's route on the Midtown Greenway, a freight rail bed converted to bike highway. More than 4 percent of Minneapolis commutes now happen on a bike, doubling since 2000. Despite bitter winters, more are testing the idea of leaving cars behind [Adam Geller, "Americans and Their Cars: A Love Affair on Fumes?" AP via MPR News, 2014.06.01].

Kirstein's dedication to two-wheeling is the Minneapolis version of Kevin Brady's down in Vermillion. Brady reports on his Facebook page that he has commuted to work for 1,900 consecutive days, through cracked ribs, cracked elbow, and maybe a broken wrist.

Guys like Kirstein and Brady show that even folks who grow up on the windy, snowy prairie can figure out that there are better ways to get from A to B than an expensive, insurance-laden automobile and that sometimes the best four wheels you can buy are two bikes, one for you, and one for your sweetheart.

9 Comments

  1. Lynn 2014.06.03

    When I lived in the cities I avoided driving my car as much as possible. I rode the bus with just two easy connections from Mpls to St. Paul for work and read the paper, took a nap or just enjoyed the view.

    Not driving a car saved me stress from rush hour traffic and money from premature wear and tear on a vehicle from driving in a metro area and being exposed to large amounts of road salt in the winter. Autos the 2nd largest expense we will have and one that depreciates.

    The Twin Cities are the #2 cycling community 2nd to Portland and Minneapolis/St. Paul has more extreme weather conditions year-round. Excellent investments in bike trails and with the proper gear and clothing it is a very safe and a comfortable experience despite the weather conditions.

  2. Rorschach 2014.06.03

    You're talking about a different Kevin Brady than the one who was born in Vermillion, graduated from USD, and became a congressman in Texas. That Kevin Brady came back to Vermillion to pick up a distinguished alumnus award and picked up a DUI to go along with it. How distinguished!

    Back to the point. Not everybody can shower the sweat off when they get to work. Biking to work in SD remains impractical for most. A motorcycle is a good compromise.

  3. Lynn 2014.06.03

    It depends on the situation but one method if a shower is not available is simply using a washcloth in the bathroom once you get to work. If your dress clothes are rolled up properly they end up wrinkle free when worn.

    Employers could be encouraged to install a shower and a place to store your bike and gear. There are plenty of stats that show that employees that bike or walk to work are healthier physically and mentally saving in insurance costs, have more energy during the workday(more productive) and less absenteeism.

    With the distances for running errands or for work in our towns and cities here in SD I think driving less is very easy to do. I'm all about saving money and feeling good! :)

  4. Jackilope 2014.06.03

    With our concentrating on lowering our carbon -- I thought this idea was fantastic: http://www.solarroadways.com/intro.shtml

    With snow / ice melted, solar roadways more conducive for biking, walking, etc. Biking lanes programmed on streets.... It just seems like Win/Win/Win to move towards this.

  5. Sam Kirstein 2014.06.03

    Slight bone to pick with Cory's added comments: I don't believe I ever finished ahead of him in any CC meets!

    My first year and a half of cycling to work were spent cleaning up and dressing in the work bathroom, no shower. Some mornings started out in the mid-70's with high humidity, which meant I cycled at a very pedestrian pace to avoid sweating too much. Not ideal and a little bit of an inconvenience, but not too much so compared to the inconvenience we'll all feel as global climate change continues to play out, aided by our addiction to fossil fuels.

  6. Deb Geelsdottir 2014.06.03

    The Midtown Greenway in Mpls is beautiful. It's located near Lake Street, a very busy street. But the Greenway is below street level and quiet and peaceful.

    More businesses are adding or remodeling spaces for bikers to safely keep their bike. It includes showers and lockers. It's an important amenity for an employer.

  7. Michael B 2014.06.03

    If I lived in SF then I would try to be more like Patrick Lalley.

  8. caheidelberger Post author | 2014.06.03

    Sam, you sure about that? I thought it was Scott, Ryker, Gilby, you... then maybe me and Zerfas?

    Is that Midtown Greenway anywhere near Luther?

  9. Deb Geelsdottir 2014.06.04

    The Midtown Greenway is in Mpls south of I 29. It runs east/west from Hiawatha Avenue to Lake Calhoun. That's most of the way to highway 100. If you search for Midtown Greenway, Mpls, MN, on Google Maps, you'll find it. Switch to Satellite view and you can get a decent look at it.

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