Bike to Work Week: Faculty Gear Up for Sustainability
Carleton faculty and staff share their passions for biking as they prepare for Carleton College Sustainability Office’s first annual Bike to Work Week.
From May 16-20, Carleton is hosting its first annual Bike to Work Week. Faculty and staff will have the opportunity to sign up and participate, logging their trips and mileage throughout the week. Individuals with the most enthusiasm and dedication will be recognized, and everyone will receive fun prizes for participating. The celebration will culminate in a joint celebration with Bike Northfield at Bridge Square, where participants can pick up prizes and free bagels and coffee. Check out our profiles of the faculty and staff participating throughout this week.
Dan Hernandez
Biology Professor
Dan Hernandez is a biology professor and has biked to school or work since college. In the state of Minnesota, where winters are known for their polar vortexes and -30 wind chills, Hernandez states that he bikes to work as often as is practical. As you can see from the picture, this includes many notorious Minnesota winter days. Professor Hernandez’s favorite place to bike is the Northfield exterior bike trail.
Constanza Ocampo-Raeder
Sociology/Anthropology Professor
Constanza Ocampo-Raeder is a professor in the sociology/anthropology department and she always bikes to work. Having purchased her very first car only 7 years ago, Ocampo-Raeder believes that biking, walking, or trains are the way to go. Ocampo-Raeder says her favorite thing about biking is that it feels like flying, a feeling that is amplified when her boys join her in biking and even wear their capes. Professor Ocampo-Raeder’s bike is a red tricycle, which allows her to carry around her two boys in the back basket and the front rider.
Peter Balaam
English Professor
Peter Balaam is an English professor and despite his passion for walking, he began commuting to work on his bike for the physical pleasures. He also was determined to bust the myth that our automobile culture builds up within our senses and our ideas about what is and isn’t feasible. Professor Balaam states that he feels like he’s locked up when he’s in a car, plus on a bike you can master short cuts, get places fast, enjoy yourself more, and even ditch the cops (joking, of course). Balaam bikes to work whenever he can, even during the winter. His favorite part of biking is that it wakes up his body and works his legs, feet, hands, heart, lungs, tear ducts (especially in the winter), nasal passages, skin, and even his inner ear (for balance). Balaam’s favorite place to bike besides his commute to work is out Wall Street to the hilly farm fields east of campus, which he describes as topographical and “ Midwestern sublime”.
For more information about Bike to Work Week, or to sign up to participate, visit: https://apps.carleton.edu/sustainability/action/biketowork/