Three times a week, Erich Staib gets up at 6:15 a.m. for an early morning bike commute from Cary.
Biking the Backroads to Duke
Duke Press employee makes the 20-mile commute from Cary
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
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Durham, NC -- Avid cyclist Erich Staib is among hundreds of Duke employees who use alternative transportation to commute to campus.
Staib, a senior editor at Duke University Press, rides about 20 miles each way from his Cary home to his office in downtown Durham’s Brightleaf Square. (To see a map of his route, click here.)
“To me, it’s a relaxing way to start and end the day,” he said. “I also ride to meetings downtown and on campus. You don’t have to worry about finding a parking spot, and it saves gas, which is a very good thing with the rising fuel prices.”
Cycling and carpooling are among the most popular alternative transportation options at Duke, according to the Triangle Transit Authority’s 2008 Smart Commute Survey.
Among nearly 6,000 Duke employees who participated in survey, about 1150 said they frequently use carpools, vanpools, bikes and other methods of alternative transportation.
One way to explore new methods of commuting is to participate in events such as National Bike to Work Week, which runs through Friday, May 16, and the 2008 Smart Commute Challenge through May 30.
Duke cyclists are invited to a Bike to Work Breakfast at Mad Hatter's Bake Shop and Cafe, 1802 W. Main St., from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. Friday, May 16. Along with free coffee, food and door prizes, there will be cycle safety checks. For more information, visit the Durham Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Commission’s website.
Cyclists can also win prizes and participate in special events by joining the Smart Commute Challenge. Nearly 700 members of the Duke community joined 12,000 other Triangle commuters in the 2006 Smart Commute Challenge to save a total of more than 100,000 gallons of gas.
Duke has several programs to encourage cycling and other alternative transportation options. Some options even include free parking passes. For more information, visit the websites for Duke Sustainability, Parking & Transportation or the Duke Bikes Program.
