New Bike Hub Opens Downtown 

On June 28, Five Rivers MetroParks proudly opened a new Bike Hub as part of its Riverscape Phase III project downtown.  The Bike Hub includes secure bike storage, showers and lockers.  It provides a central location for downtown commuters, as well as a rest stop for all cyclists enjoying our extensive trail system.  For more information, go to the Five Rivers MetroParks website at www.metroparks.org. 

It is time for a new Bike Hub, as the bike lockers installed around downtown during the 1970s are showing their age.  In fact, some have them have already been removed by the City of Dayton. 

I tip my helmet to Five Rivers MetroParks for bringing us the new Bike Hub.

                                                       Commuting Benefits

Next month, I will reach the 20-year milestone in my bicycle commuting experience.  Please email me at chuck@ohiobike.org when you pass similar milestones. 

When I decided to start bicycle commuting in 1989, my goal was to improve my fitness during the work week, while I rode with the DCC on weekends.   This decision was one of the best I have ever made. 

Soon, I was reaping the many benefits of bicycle commuting.   I started with riding to work, then expanded to appointments, banking, and light shopping, replacing 4-wheeled trips with 2-wheeled trips.

The benefits were obvious and many:

1. Gasoline saved

2. Money saved

3. Reducing carbon footprint

4. Exercise

5. Training

6. Awaken in the morning

7. Relieve tension in the afternoon

8. Sun in the afternoon

9. Deer in the morning

10. People in the afternoon

11. Joy every day
     

                         We Need Your Miles and Commuting Tips

          Please send your monthly miles by the 2nd of each month to Dennis.L.Pohl@lexisnexis.com. Remember to include errands, appointments, trips to school and other trips during which you substitute a bicycle for a motor vehicle. Please round all figures to the nearest whole number.

You can share your commuting tips with other readers of this column by sending e-mail to chuck@ohiobike.org.  I am particularly interested in your cold weather commuting tips.

DCC area commuting coordinators (Area Codes are 937)

• North of U.S. 35 and east of I-75; Mike Williams, 237-9704

• North of U.S. 35, west of I-75, and north of Salem Avenue; Shahid Raki, 275-4386

• South of U.S. 35 and east of I-75; Kay Wert Minardi, 299-2454

• South suburbs: Mark Feighery, 495-3319

• South of U.S. 35 and west of I-75; Dwaine Wheeler, 626-4455

• North of Vandalia; Chuck Smith, 890-6689