Cycling Strength In Numbers

Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Topics: Environment, Politics, Other
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With gas prices sky rocketing, more and more people are turning to alternative transportation, such as bicycling, for their commute to and from work. In order to promote this growing trend, the Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency --- or NOACA --- has started a new service that matches riders and routes. Ideastream®'s David C. Barnett has more on the Ohio Bike Buddies program.

Steve Jones of NOACA says that cycling is often a group activity because riders feel more comfortable and safe when traveling in numbers.  Capitalizing on this idea, his agency has introduced a program that allows cyclists to find each other in a region that sometimes isn’t very bike-friendly

JONES: Bike riding is a challenge in Northeast Ohio, but it is becoming more and more popular and a more and more accepted means to commute to work, so we’re trying to provide that service for the bike riders of Northeast Ohio.

All that prospective riders have to do is submit their trip information online and the program produces a map showing the suggested route and the locations of other bikers with similar routes.  The matched riders can then contact each other via email to sort out the travel specifics.

Since the program is brand new it might take some time for the registry of riders to grow.  So if a cyclist doesn’t find a match right away, Jones suggests just trying again at a later date.  For more information, click on the link below:

Additional Information

Ohio Bike Buddies