Case Study: Lauren’s Commute
Lauren Bermudez, Transportation Program Manager with Downtown Memphis Commission, has an unparalleled passion for commuting by bicycle! Her love of pedaling started in elementary school when she received a hand-me-down bicycle from her sister. Thinking back on the fond memories, Lauren recalls spending her summer exploring on that blue Walmart mountain bicycle. From that point on, it was nearly impossible to get her off of two wheels!
Slowly, bicycling became more than just a fun activity. Lauren discovered that it was an efficient way of commuting, and for many years it was her only means of transportation. Even though she now owns a car, , Lauren still commutes by bicycle at least once a week to her downtown office for many reasons, including that it is “a total stress reliever.” But office commutes are far from the only time she utilizes a bicycle. “My family and I usually ride bikes or walk to destinations on the weekend, whether we're going to the park, a restaurant, or a friend's house,” she tells us. We loved hearing this encouraging reminder that anytime you are going from point A to point B, you can use alternative transportation.
From her many years of experience, Lauren has had the joy of seeing continued improvement in bicycling infrastructure. New bike lanes – especially protected bike lanes! – are consistently added throughout the city. Lauren lives near Peabody Avenue and the landscape of the road creates a safe environment for anyone using the street, even if they are not in a car. “This means narrowing the roads so that it's less natural to speed while driving, ‘hardening’ right and left turns to make it safer for people crossing at intersections, and providing protected bike lanes and safer sidewalks. That could be a curb- or barrier-protected bike lane, and more trees on wider sidewalks to insulate people away from traffic.”
Furthermore, Lauren was excited to share a little more about the work she is doing. “I'm really proud of the Downtown Memphis Commission Sidewalk Grant Program where we work with commercial property owners to educate them about fixing their sidewalks and help them to pay for repairs,” she says. In addition, “the DMC Beginner Biking class started this summer and is the city's first-ever free adult cycling class for new cyclists or those who want to get comfortable after a long time away from riding.”
The DMC Beginner Bike class is a great place to start if you are looking to bicycle for the first time. After completing the class, Lauren recommends practicing your commute trip first. “Do it on a Saturday or do it on a day where you can take your time. Find a destination near work, like a shop, park, or restaurant, and practice riding there first so you know your route and how long it takes you. And don't stress about it, riding a bike means having fun. That's the whole point.”
Lauren is a great example that alternative commuting methods do exist in Memphis, and can often be a much more enjoyable experience!