Walking through campus, it’s hard to ignore the armada of bicycles speeding past. But the two-wheeled trend doesn’t stop where E. 13th Avenue meets Kincaid Street – it’s permeated the city of Eugene.
The 2007 American Community Survey ranked Eugene second in percentage of workers per capita who reported using bicycles as their primary mode of transportation to work. The survey, released in September, tallied ridership in 442 cities throughout the U.S. with populations greater than 57,000.
It’s no secret Eugene is an environmentally conscious community, and many residents use bicycles as their main avenue of travel to reduce road congestion and greenhouse gas emissions. Students, professors and other residents who choose handlebars over steering wheels help to preserve road conditions, improve their health, and save money on fuel and car maintenance.
Philosophy Department Head and Professor John Lysaker is among the faculty who rely solely on bikes to commute to work. Lysaker, who started riding his bike to avoid high fuel prices and lessen the effects of fossil fuels, makes the daily two-mile trek from his home to Prince Lucien Campbell Hall. Additional benefits include the relaxation he gets from riding along the river on his way home, and the awakening effects that result from biking early in the morning, Lysaker said. “It is better than coffee,” he added.
Eugene was second only to Boulder, Colo., which reported 8.9 percent of their population relying on bicycles.
Eugene was a close follower, with 8.5 percent of the population using bikes. Eugene improved considerably from the 2006 survey, when only 5.2 percent of residents used biked to work. However, the percentage of residents using their bikes is only slightly higher than the number reported in 2005 (8.4 percent).
The American Community Survey is collected annually, and is a part of the United States Census Bureau. The survey’s objective is to closely investigate various demographics throughout the country. Every year, approximately 3 million people are asked to participate in various regions, from Hawaii to Puerto Rico. The wide spectrum of those surveyed assures that Eugene truly is a cut above the rest when it comes to biking – rain or shine.
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