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Show Vr ri! 12 LIFE ifi FORUMFORTNIGHTLY.COM Cars are for wimps Winterize your bicyde and ride all year round Kaylene Moulton Staff Reporter The world is a better place with people on bikes, there is less pollution, less consumption and people are just happy, said photography professor David Baddley. Commuter biking in the winter is very possible, and with the new bike parking on campus, Westminster is ready for the winter bike commuters. I never really intended to stop using my car, but there was a point where I realized I hadnt driven it for two years, said Baddley. My car has now been sitting in the driveway, with flat tires for four years now and I havent even touched it. Baddley completely relies on his bike for transportation, even in the winter. Not driving a car can cut costs significantly: I am not paying for repairs, I am not making car payments, I am not paying insurance and I am not paying for gasoline, said Baddley. I am saving like thousands of dollars a t r 3 3fl Oo S O o T3 a y I a l r D n o rt or wcS J3LIS1 si o 1 I WlJ M g $3 m Z itsj ra mm aw M- - ? S5 year. The Bike Collective initiated a new bike parking cage located in the Jewett parking structure. To access the bike parking, your student ID needs to be activated, and then just by tapping your ID, access is granted. Activating your ID can be done online by going to www.westminstercollege.edu environmentalcenter and then clicking Bike Resources 6c Collective. The new bike parking can also prevent bike theft. I believe that the new bike cage will drastically reduce the number of bike thefts on campus if we can get most of the students to lock their bikes in it, said Drew Long, director of campus patrol. So far, from January 2011 to October 13, 2011, there has been 12 bike thefts, said Long. Parking your bike in the bike parking and using the proper lock will help prevent your bike from be- ing stolen. With winter fast approaching, having covered parking for students to park their bikes will cause less weathering on bikes. The Collective is a member-base- d group of students, staff, and faculty that promote education, sustainability and the joy of cycling, said Andrew Butterfield, sophomore. The collective is on campus to teach students to learn how to work and repair their own bikes. If there is a problem with your bike, bring it in and they will diagnose the problem for you. Then once they find the problem, they will fix it and have you do it, said Dallin Hall, senior. We want you to get dirty. I guess I like what the bike collective and places like that are doing because they are making this whole idea of a bicycle less foreign to people, said Baddley. The Collective offers classes every Tuesday from 7:30 to 9 p.m. for students to learn the basics of bicycle maintenance. In the next series, there will be a class offered for tips on riding in the winter. Winter riding is something that can be done and is enjoyable as long as you are prepared. According to Baddley, skiing is a good analogy for biking. Biking in the cold is the same as skiing in the cold, as long as you have the right gear. Invest in appropriate clothing for layers, such as lightweight gloves, a skull cap, and a said Butterfield. You can buy this with the gas money you save from riding your bike. wind-break- Appropriate clothing is a must for winter biking. Baddley said wet jeans are very uncomfortable when riding a bike in the winter. There are also other ways to be prepared for winter biking. Riding in a different way and even having a towel or back up bike is a good idea. One thing you wouldnt want to do is be out on a slushy day and not have fenders, then all that junk gets you wet and then your bike gets covered in the salt that you are going to have to clean off, or it will rust your frame, said Baddley. Riding your bike in a more cautious way is advisable also. Road conditions in the winter can be more dangerous not only to cyclists, but cars as well. Always being prepared for an accident is a must. Butterfield says, Always ride with caution. According to Hall, always ride with lights and carry a cell phone. Riding in the winter is very possible and can save you money. Its all about having the right attitude of riding in the winter, said Baddley. If youre prepared with the right clothes and gear, biking in the winter can be just as fun as skiing. P Mqo 4sr 2& O n3 nO c T3 iSi 3 0) i" ijoi ViVsnl't-- o Q. O 1 p o Hi I 3 4rj$ rr n rt n x U o 35 csnp . n "69 nhi PT? M ili isHVnf W j7? !S HE in tjb- pn o ;Slfc-H5Blra-k - liKtRafi (Ki'jlUiOUv tflSfl lJuilVKrt i fy'-- sr The new caged, winter-pro- of bike parking located on the main level ofthe Jewett parking lot er, |