Neither rain, sleet or snow are deterring more than 700 faculty and staff from taking part in a campus-wide bicycle challenge event this month.
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| Cyndi Robinson commutes a total of 24 miles a day from her home in Shoreline. |
The start of winter quarter at the 91探花was welcomed with its first snow. At the same time the 91探花Transportation Office was welcoming faculty, staff and students to participate in the first ever 鈥淩ide in the Rain鈥� bike challenge.
The Ride in the Rain event is a team challenge that organizes four to 10 people to ride as much as possible in January. Each team has a designated “Team Captain” who gathers commuting information from their teammates and enters it on a website.
To date, there are 97 teams with over 700 faculty, staff and students participating, including several from 91探花Medical Center and the health sciences schools. The challenge, which runs through Jan. 31, tracks the number of trips, number of miles and number of new commuters recruited.
Prizes include REI gift certificates, free Flexcar memberships, Improv Comedy Theater passes, bike fenders from the Bicycle Alliance, bike equipment from Hall Health and Cascade Bicycle Club passes.
The team with the most times riding in the rain will receive the “Soaked to the Gills” traveling trophy.
Individuals who ride at least eight times in the month will be invited to a Celebration Award Luncheon & Fashion Show.
Every day thousands of 91探花faculty, staff and students commute to campus by bicycle. The Ride in the Rain challenge encourages all cyclists, new and seasoned, to join in a positive experience. For more information about the challenge or to see the list of participating teams visit:
Dr. Janet Eary, professor of Radiology, is team captain for the Molecular Imaging team from Nuclear Medicine, and she encourages her fellow 91探花faculty and staff to try biking to work.
鈥淚 am a bicycle commuter because I enjoy the exercise and the chance to be outdoors in all of our kinds of weather,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 also really enjoy the time alone to think and work out my busy schedules.鈥�
Cyndi Robinson of the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine has been a bicycle commuter for 17 years, 11 in Seattle and six in the Bronx, N.Y.
She is captain of Rehab Medicine鈥檚 faculty and staff team 鈥淭he Mod Quads鈥� in the Ride in the Rain Challenge. They in turn challenged a group of Rehab Medicine students, which calls itself 鈥淭he Concentric Contractures,鈥� to take part as well.
Robinson commutes a total of 24 miles a day from her home in Shoreline, spending half her time at 91探花and the other half at Harborview Medical Center.
The best things about bicycle commuting, Robinson said, includes never getting stuck in traffic.
鈥淚鈥檓 wide awake by the time I get to work in the morning,鈥� she said, 鈥渁nd if I’ve had a tough day, all frustrations are worked off by the time I get home.鈥�
Catherine Cooper of Family Medicine lives in Auburn. In the summer, she rides 10 miles on the Interurban Train, then buses the rest of the way to her office at UWMC-Roosevelt. In the winter, she rides the Sounder train or bus into Downtown Seattle, then bicycles to campus.
鈥淲hat I like best about biking to work is how it makes me feel physically and mentally,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 also like that I am doing my part for the environment and to reduce traffic. I have also connected with other staff through this challenge and that is always a plus.鈥�
Dr. Jim Fine, chair of the Department of Laboratory Medicine, is a member of the Brachius Maximus team that includes his daughter, Essie Fine, a 91探花medical school student.
Fine commutes about three days a week from his home in Madison Park using a recumbent bike. He generally goes through the Arboretum and can enjoy the flight of eagles as he passes through on the way to UWMC.
Kati Bell Koszegvari from UWMC adminstration has commuted by bicycle for 10 years, traveling from Ballard on the Burke-Gilman Trail. She is a member of the Soggy Turtles team.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a chance to be outside and get some exercise while commuting at the same time,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 can see wildlife by the Ship Canal and the honeysuckle blooming along the trail.
Jennifer Shultz, a 91探花medical school student, says she doesn鈥檛 mind riding in the rain. She is captain of Deuce Dervishes III, one of four School of Medicine teams.
鈥淚t鈥檚 really not as bad as it seems,鈥� she said. 鈥淪lap a couple of fenders on the ol’ bike, wear a light, waterproof jacket, maybe pack an extra pair of socks and pants, and you’re good to go. Sort of makes you feel tough.鈥�
Other UWMC-related teams include: Family Medicine Chain Gang, captained by Catherine Cooper; Family Medicine Cranks, captained by J. Elizabeth Jackson; the Mongols from the School of Medicine, captained by Emily Johnston; The Rain Gang from UWMC and the School of Nursing, captained by Trez Buckland; Special Pros, captained by Linda Caron of 4-South; Training Wheels, captained by Dr. Adam Cohen of Pediatrics; We Must Increase Our Rust, captained by Kristen Tappan of Pathology; and Wet Lab, captained by Elaine Ploegstra of Lab Medicine.