DOT bike commuters leading by example

Last week, on a walk through DOT headquarters, I met Thomas Dorset. Now, Tom is in his late-ish 60s, works for our Federal Railroad Administration, and commutes the 10 miles to work (and 10 back) by bicycle.

Given DOT's interest in Sustainable Communities, Tom thinks--and I agree with him--that DOT's own biking and pedestrian commuters are setting a great example of using alternatives to cars.

Tom is something of a pioneer; he has been biking to work for decades. That means long before cities and counties were providing hiker-biker paths and distinctly marked bike lanes on roadways. Long before urban and suburban drivers learned that they need to be aware of the bicyclists around them. His early miles must have been challenging indeed!

If you talk to any bicycle commuter long enough, you'll hear a cautionary story about a car whose driver didn't notice the bicyclist nearby and executed a turn or failed to yield a right of way, causing a collision or near-miss. The thing about Tom is that in telling a couple of these tales, his key point is not that cars need to be more aware of bikes--though they do--but that bicyclists need to guard against their own "laser vision."

"It's easy to get caught up in looking at the road directly in front of you," Tom says, "But your eyes have to be constantly scanning 180°."

Would Tom like to see drivers be more respectful of bicyclists? Of course. But, he'll be the first to note that, "Cars have become a lot more aware of us than when I first began cycling to work. It's not a perfect situation, but it's definitely better."

In the meantime, he tries to be his own best protection.

"We get a lot of support in finding the best routes," he says, "through the DOT Bicycle Commuters Group."

This group consists of about 80 people who meet monthly to share information and come up with ways that DOT can provide more support for its bicycle commuters. Run by Gabe Rousseau, they have a listserv, a mentors program for new bike commuters, a buddy program--bikes are more easily noticed by drivers when they're in pairs--and a useful set of webpages.

I'm encouraged to hear from Tom that their numbers are growing. Tom also mentioned that DOT bike commuters work in all modes of transportation, are both male and female, and cover a wide range of ages and an even wider range of commuting distances. I heard about one man who is biking at least 20 miles each way every day!

Now, that's setting an example.

Comments

[Tom Rorb]

WE are up 66% in NYC: http://www.streetfilms.org/bicycling-is-up-again-in-the-big-apple/

And alot of the people who work at NYC DOT bike commute to work.

[Carl Shoolman]

I have an invitation for Thomas Dorset and other DOT bike commuters who've had close-calls with drivers who didn't notice them.

I'll let them (and you) try a safety device that uses the principles and technology that make motor vehicles conspicuous and easy to track.

These daytime running lights for the first time make bike commuting significantly safer.

They also finally make biking in traffic comfortable for occasional cyclists.

Recently, cyclists noted for their road cycling skills have been killed here in Ohio and elsewhere, showing again that skill isn't always enough to make drivers notice a narrow bike.

Together, just maybe we can give cyclists the tool that will enable drivers to avoid those close-calls and crashes.

[Bruce Wright]

It's great to hear about DOT bike commuters. I wonder if Tom and other DOT employees are able to take advantage of the Bicycle Commuter Act benefits of $20/month. In August of this year the GAO ruled that employees of a federal agency were eligible as part of the Transportation Fringe Benefit Program:

http://www.gao.gov/decisions/appro/318325.htm

[Melinda]

Cool to see bike commuters getting mentioned here! I'm one myself and it's my way of getting to work while having fun. Hello from Seattle!

[Marlene Mahoney]

I'm glad to read that FRA employees actually use other types of transportation to work other than the train.
Obviously, certain states' traffic congestion impede other FRA employees from copying this mode of transportation. I would not want to read the morning newspapers in NJ and PA and learn of a friend's demise, because he rode his bike to work. I'm sure the other employees who do not have the opportunity such as this FRA man, do contribute their expertise on a daily basis. I'm glad we have RR Safety Inspectors and Hazardous Material Specialists in PA and NJ. Keep up the excellent work.
Happy Holidays from NJ

[jewelry reviews]

Cyclists noted for their road cycling skills have been killed here in Ohio and elsewhere, showing again that skill isn't always enough to make drivers notice a narrow bike.

[HP Bryce]

As more people begin to commute via bike, drivers will start to take notice. Not to mention people going to prison for vehicular manslaughter!

[iPad News]

I met my biker group too, every month. Its a men thing!

[mike]

Yes in the DC area the cars try to move the bikers off the road.