U-PASS Profiles

Bicycling: Profile

(originally published in the Summer 2001 U-Commute News)

Allen Bellas, Ph.D., Affiliated Assistant Professor, Evans School of Public Affairs 

Today, people own more cars, spend more time in their cars and commute greater distances than ever before. The result are pollution, traffic congestion, urban sprawl, stress, health problems and collision related deaths. Yet there are alternatives to car use. And we found a person to show that bicycling is an effective way to go your own way. 

People who know Allen Bellas might say going his own way is easy for him. He makes it even easier by using side panniers, which he loads with homework assignments and two diet Cokes.  While working on his PhD at the University of Washington he rode the bus a lot. In fact, he actually rode the bus for the first seven years that he lived in Seattle. Since getting a bike five years ago he has rarely taken a bus to the UW. 

On occasion Allen has been known to drive. However, as he states, "driving is sufficiently inconvenient; I don't do it much."  Beyond the fact that he gets a 25-minute workout and his bike commute is often faster than driving, the underlying reason he rides is because "my wife likes my muscular legs."

Bicycling gives Allen a chance to decompress on the way home, and he enjoys the community feel. "Bikers have something in common. I like the social interaction on the road with the other bikers."

Allen's four-mile commute takes him from his home in Crown Hill, around Green Lake, to the UW. He enjoys the scenery especially when he is riding past cars that are stopped. "Whizzing past cars is great.  I love doing that.

Although a recent baby boy limits his rides outside of commuting to work, Allen does enjoys riding his bike with his wife, especially to Mariners’ games. "It's the best way to get there. You don't have to worry about parking."

Cycling in the rain is sort of a mixed bag for Allen.  He really doesn't enjoy the first thirty seconds when it's raining, but after that he relishes in the feeling "of looking so hardcore". On one occasion after riding home in the rain, Allen arrived home cold and wet, parked his bike inside his basement, and stripped off his wet clothes. He walked upstairs to jump in the shower, only to find a surprise party his wife was throwing for him to greet him!  This and many other revealing experiences have convinced Allen that bicycling is the best way for him to go his own way.
 

ALLEN'S BIKE TIPS
1. Get a helmet.
2. Find a route that you feel comfortable riding on.
3. Make yourself ride, even on days you don't want to. Once you get going it is easy.