Here is Local 20/20’s regular Resilience Review column in the Port Townsend Leader. Thank you, PT Leader!
COVID-19, Carbon and Bicycles!
By Sonja Hammar
Perhaps it can be said that the one silver lining of COVID-19 is that we are driving less and therefore sending less carbon into the environment. Here in our county 66% of our carbon emissions come from transportation.
As of Feb 19, 2021, compared to Feb 2020 before the state of Washington’s proclamation “Stay Home Stay Healthy” we have seen a 13% drop in Washington State highway traffic. Although that number is the statewide reduction, for those of us here in Jefferson County, the “Stay at Home” order has meant less trips out of the county and likely around town too.
Another up side of COVID-19, the “Stay at Home” order has meant more time in the outdoors; working on outdoor projects, long walks with friends & neighbors, renewed interest in growing food and, for many, myself included, renewed interest in biking!
Four months into COVID-19 I decided to buy an e-bike. There were multiple reasons driving me to take the plunge into an e-bike but reducing car travel and my transportation footprint was certainly top of the list. Bike commuting and bike touring have been a big part of my adult life but as I’ve gotten older and endured more injuries I have found myself less and less inclined toward jumping on my bike. So equally weighted with desire to electrify my transportation was my desire to stay active and continue to enjoy the slower pace of moving through the world on two wheels rather than four.
Part of my decision-making process involved surveying other e-bike riders on their motivations for moving to an e-bike. My neighbor rides to work and rides for fun on the weekends with her husband. Another friend who purchased an e-bike did so because she was looking at electric cars but couldn’t rationalize the expense with the few miles she drives already. She still walks all over town but now errands and food shopping are done on the e-bike. Like my friend, I rationalized that an e-bike could be a less expensive alternative to investing in an electric car. For another friend the e-bike has helped her overcome the fear of another debilitating injury after she fell and broke her ankle on her steep, unpaved road. The e-bike has given her the confidence to ride again.
As with any decision-making process there are pros and cons. One pro is what I call leveling the playing field – e-bikes give some people the confidence to get out there. I see many older people riding around town. I feel a sense of pride for them taking an active role in their own fitness and opting not to drive their cars.
I will admit I feel some shame for not riding my regular, non-electrified bike more. That shame went up a few notches when I talked to The Recyclery. Of course, they are happy to see more people getting out and riding bicycles but would rather see a customer give a high-end bike like Kona or Surly a try before going straight to an e-bike.
When I talked to Broken Spoke about e-bike sales I thought they would tell me e-bikes have been flying out of the store but no, e-bikes sales have not been disproportionate. But, yes, in the 1st month of COVID-19 bike sales in general went up 300%!
Part II of this column will profile a few local businesses like Cape Cleare that have chosen bicycles, electrified or not, for distribution and delivery.
Bio: Sonja Hammar was a bike commuter in Seattle and has toured in U. S., across Europe, in the Hawaiian islands and New Zealand, and is a Local 20/20 Steering Council member.
