August 20, 2008

Bike riding is much more popular these days. But many people need a little help before they get back on the bike. That's why Charlottesville has a bike mentor program.

The program held an event Tuesday night to teach mentors how to help new riders get on roads, and do so safely. Mentors help people choose the right bike, make sure it fits, and make sure it's safe. It's also an effort to get more people to use pedal power.

Shawn Strubbe is a bike mentor: "We're talking about any kind of destination, it doesn't just have to be work. And I think people are afraid, when they hear bike commuting as something they have to commit to doing every single day, versus, if people just want to bike commute once a month we want to help them do that to we just want them to drive less and bike more."

For more information about the bike mentoring program contact Alliance for Community Choice and Transportation at 434-295-6554 or www.transportationchoice.org.