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Biking to Work: Not Just for Graduate Students

(Photo - Dwight Harbaugh) Dwight Harbaugh
Distance to work?
5.2 miles (did it in my car after 4 yrs) from Palo Alto.

Time it takes?
Approx. 30 minutes.

How often do you bike to work?
About 95% of the time.

How long you've been doing it?
4 years—since I worked here.

Why do you do it?
Less stressful than driving—I can relax a lot more, I don't have to fight traffic. It takes only a little longer than driving—sometimes it's faster than driving when there's traffic.

What's your favorite part of the ride?
Stanford Arboretum.

What's the worst part about biking to work?
Riding on Sand Hill Road—lots of traffic, big trucks, very noisy. Some drivers do not respect the bicycle lane and end up swerving.

What kind of bike do you have?
My bike is a 1988 Somec (Italian make—I don't know if they are still in existence) road bike. It's pretty heavy by today's standards...

What's the closest call you've had?
Drivers making right turns when I'm dismounted and crossing the crosswalk at Sand Hill Road and Santa Cruz Avenue.

What's your favorite recreational ride?
Arastadero Preserve.

(Photo - Roland Kurz)Roland Kurz
Distance to work?
6 miles, most direct route, one way.

Time it takes?
30 minutes in the morning, about 120 minutes in the afternoon, when I extend my daily ride any where from 25 to 40 miles a day.

How often do you bike to work?
Everyday.

How long you've been doing it?
About 15 years.

Why do you do it?
It's fun and very addictive!

What's your favorite part of the ride?
The after-work ride home.

What's the worst part about biking to work?
The rain and wind! I have good wet weather gear though.

What's the closest call you've had?
Someone running the light coming down Sand Hill road at the Saga intersection when I was entering Slac using the crosswalk. Nearly hit me.

What kind of bike do you have?
Bianchi Castro Valley, and a Burley runabout 27.

What's your favorite recreational ride?
I go wherever my bike steers me. It's all good.

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—Krista Zala
   SLAC Today, May 17, 2006