In the gray early morning hours of Friday, cyclists around San Antonio stopped at “energizer stations” stocked with food and beverages on their way to work.
Bike to Work Day, hosted by the Alamo Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (AAMPO), saw an increase in participation since last year, the first time AAMPO set up energizer stations for cyclists to visit. AAMPO partnered with businesses and nonprofits to set up nine stations in San Antonio and one in New Braunfels.
Joey Pawlik, the active transportation planner at AAMPO, manned the station the organization’s office on South Flores Street. He estimated about 40 cyclists stopped for tacos, and more rode past on their way to work.
“One guy was riding his bike before 7 a.m.,” Pawlik said. “We said, ‘Hey, happy Bike to Work Day! Come get a taco!’ He said, ‘I gotta be at work at 7’ but [still] came over for a goody bag, a taco and filled out a comment card. It was cool that people took the time to stop by.”
Bike to Work Day is part of Bike Month, and AAMPO hopes to encourage people to ride bicycles all month through its Alamo Commutes app, where riders can log their bike rides and enter to win prizes.
Helena Zambrano, the sustainability coordinator at Overland Partners, carefully poured batter into a waffle iron Friday morning. Overland Partners’ energizer station was in their office courtyard, by Rosella Coffee on Jones Avenue. She estimated that about 25 cyclists – mostly Overland Partners staff and their friends – came to enjoy their free breakfast. She explained that like riding a bike to work, the breakfast itself was even planned to be sustainable; the plates and silverware were reusable, they composted all biological leftovers, made waffle batter from scratch to avoid using plastic, and stocked the table with recycled and unbleached napkins.
“There’s no waste!” she said.
Overland Partners Architect Allison Peitz stopped by the bicycle tuneup station by the breakfast food. She lives near the South Texas Medical Center and usually drives to work, she said. But she used Bike to Work Day as an opportunity to figure out how to commute to work without driving. She hopped on a bus, got as close to downtown as she could, and biked the rest of the way to the office.
“Looking at Google Maps, you can’t exactly figure out what combination of biking and busing gets you here,” she said. “This was an experiment. I wanted to see if it was possible. Biking the whole way here isn’t realistic.”
She doesn’t think she can continue commuting that way every day, though she’ll try to do it more often.
“Busing was pretty smooth,” she said. “It just takes three times as long to get here.”
Yvette Hernandez lives in South San Antonio, but nannies for a family in the King William neighborhood. She said if she didn’t drive to work, her ride would be 45 minutes or more and take her through unsafe areas. She bikes everywhere she can, though, and advises newer cyclists to slowly increase their comfort level by using a bike to supplement their daily travel.
“I would say start small, even if it is driving your car somewhere like a park and ride, or somewhere to make your commute shorter and little by little extend it,” she said. “Or go to H-E-B or the post office on your bike, run little errands on your bike.”
Hernandez said she started biking seven years ago and has since become active with Tour de Cure, a fundraiser for diabetes research, and MS 150, which raises money for multiple sclerosis research. She also helps organize events for SATX Social Ride and said that the cycling community is ready to get more involved with bike advocacy. Just last month, cycling community leader Tito Bradshaw was killed by a motorist while biking down E. Houston Street.
“April was just a horrific month to experience, and I think more people want to be part of this Bike Month,” she said. “Tito’s death, I think it impacted every single cyclist, whether they knew him or not.”
Allison Blazosky, a regional transportation planner at AAMPO, said that cyclists had expressed gratitude for promoting and supporting riding bikes as a feasible transportation option. Blazosky said last year’s Bike to Work Day saw around 100 cyclists, and she was encouraged to see how many more showed up to Friday’s event.
“We’re already talking about next year, to keep improving it,” she said.
It has been proven that bicycling is a dangerous mode of transportation. Why encourage others to do it? Let’s hope riders who are encouraged to participate in these events do not get hurt or killed doing so.
San Antonio is notoriously NOT safe for pedestrians or cyclists as per Rivard Report’s article published April 7, 2019:
https://therivardreport.com/san-antonio-a-city-still-unsafe-for-cyclists-pedestrians/
If AAMPO wants more bicycles on the road, they should concentrate more on making it safe for current cyclists rather than creating more.
Sure, ignore the 40,000 deaths that occur because of motor vehicles each year. smh
The Rivard Report’s obsession with anything bike-related is risible.
Oh goody. More parking available for those of us who don’t even own a bicycle. Thank you .
Today’s Bike to Work Day was an opportunity for me to see if it is even possible for me to commute to work comfortably and safely from the Medical Center to the downtown area. I have been concerned about the safety of biking from my neighborhood and frustrated by the seemingly long commute from the area.
HOWEVER, I was happily surprised.
Taking the bus from my neighborhood was a piece of cake , safe, and comfortable. It was easy to load my bike on the bus which I rode for 40 minutes and finished off with an easy, flat 15 minute ride to my office. This event motivated me to try this at least once – and after the very positive experience I had, I will be doing this more regularly. After all, I get more time back on the bus to answer emails or read than if I drive directly to work. I think it is worthwhile for all of us to consider trying out alternative transportation at least once. You may also be surprised.
It’s all fun and games until a bicyclist takes up an entire lane thus slowing down traffic..
Paul –
If you don’t like sharing the lane with cyclists then call your City Council representative and tell them that you support protected bike lanes in your district.
https://www.sanantonio.gov/Council/Find-My-Council-Member
Thanks, Allison! That’s it exactly! I ride the bus and bike from the area near Sea World. I find it a lot less stressful and feel good about doing my part to reduce congestion and improve air quality!
Yes, bicycles can take a full lane!! They have the right to do so and typically do it when there isn’t a safer alternative. They’d prefer to be in their own protected bicycle lane so if you’re concerned about cyclists taking up a lane a traffic, then please support bicycle infrastructure.
We are expecting 1.1 million more people by 2045 – some born here and others moving here. If everyone chooses to drive, congestion will be unbearable. Why not make it safe and feasible for those willing to use their pedal power to work? It’s a win-win.
I live near Cody Library. I commute every day by bike to So Flores+Pruitt Street. Take Vance Jackson down to Fred Rd. road to Flores Street. bike Lande starts there to take you DT and southward. Take about 60 minutes each way. Once you get used to it. it is very enjoyable.
This was a great event… the amount of Bike to Work stations seemed like so many more than last year which means more of us are biking! A city that has less cars on the roads and more active transportation is a healthy one! I was able to make it to the SWell Cycle sponsored spot on N. St. Marys as well as the Overland Partners spot. At the first I tried the new SWell Cycle E-bikes. OM-goodness. Amazingly fun to get a little e-boost up a hill. These are gonna be a hit for when I ride up to the Trinity U station. The Overland Partners outdid themselves with the waffles and I noticed the No waste and use of real plates and dishes. Classy and environmental friendly… just like biking! Friday was actually my day off but I commute to and from the library most the year and I find biking to work safe and easy in the inner corridor by taking streets with bike lanes and some quieter connecting streets. We are all able to share the road! Good work San Antonio and thanks to all the awesome people sharing food and bike advocacy. See ya on the streets!