Peace, Love, and Bicycles: May is Bike Month
And a great time to put your bike to work...
Bicycling has long been a symbol of our campus - whether it's our signature marquee bicycle adorned with fenders or the occasional sight of Gunrock riding a unicycle. While we've embraced the fun side of biking, there are a few essential features that often get overlooked: a simple rack or basket. When you picture a utility bicycle, it's incredible to consider all the things a bike can do for you. For this May is Bike Month article, I want to explore some of those things and invite you to consider how your bike can serve you, not just this month, but all year long.
Making Bicycles Work for You
One of the main things I teach is to think about a bike’s ability to carry the things you’d otherwise carry by hand or in a car. For example, with just a few simple additions to your bike, it’s surprisingly easy to bring home three bags of groceries. Given the scale of Davis, it’s no surprise that bike racks are full at most of our markets, or that you’ll see hundreds of outfitted bikes at the Davis Farmers Market. And groceries are just the beginning - bikes can carry much more, especially when you start thinking about the trips you’d normally drive for.
Errands with your dog...
One of the greatest joys I get from riding is cruising around town with Cedar. Cedar’s been a dog in my life for the last year, and we’re not going many places without our bicycle. I think we’re on the fourth version of what we call the “Barkhopper,” a bicycle built purposely to carry Cedar in comfort on the Sacramento grid. It’s been fun having this setup, but it doesn’t need to be this fancy. Cedar has ridden in the basket on his mom’s bike, in the trailer, and in his bespoke backpack.
Helping move your buddy...
This is a bit more common in places like Portland, but a few weeks ago I participated in a bicycle-based move. Might sound strange, but it’s actually pretty simple. Rather than bother with a truck, consider the help from a few friends with “wacky bikes.” In our case, we helped a friend move a short distance, where he was moving his extensive collection of books, and other historical materials.
Every day trips...
The examples above might be a bit specific, but the real magic lies in imagining all the things a bicycle can do - and using that as a foundation to build on. The easiest way to start is by trying a short trip. Maybe it’s your commute to the store, a Saturday morning coffee, or your ride to campus. Trying any of these trips by bike is exactly what we hope you do during Bike Month.
Bike Month Events
There are loads of fun local events and awesome prizes for May is Bike Month. You can participate through Love to Ride, the official May is Bike Month platform. Sign up here, join the ‘UC Davis – Davis Campus’ workplace, and start logging your rides! You can also find the Bicycle Program at events throughout May, like Thank Goodness for Staff and Loopalooza, and we’ll have swag for anyone on our Love to Ride team. And don't miss our awesome bike auction - a great chance to score a deal on a used bike while supporting sustainable transportation!
Photo credit: All photos from author, Jeffrey Bruchez, except photo of moving bicyclists, courtesy of Devin McCutchen, and photo of Jeff and Cedar, courtesy of Sarah Hendricks.