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Community Corner

Local 'Rabbits' Take to the Trails

Increasing gas prices have caused many Mount Vernon commuters to bike to work.

Every April, Brady Palmerino starts chasing down “rabbits” — his nickname for fellow bike commuters — as he pedals his way to work at the Pentagon.

“I like to ride as hard as I can,” Palmerino said.  “Everyone’s a rabbit.  No one’s allowed to pass.”

Races with fellow commuters help the Mount Vernon-area resident blast through his 13-mile trek.

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Starting when the cherry blossoms bloom and ending when autumn leaves cover the Mount Vernon Trail, Palmerino bikes to work instead of driving or taking the Metro. 

“It’s good if you have a high stress job,” Palmerino said of the past seven years he has spent bike commuting.  “No one can upset you because you’re feeling good.  I think it’s the best start to the day.” 

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In a recent Washington Post article, the League of American Bicyclists said that the D.C. metropolitan area has seen an 86 percent increase in people bicycling to work from 2000 to 2009, double the U.S. growth rate. More commuters are expected to take to the trails this spring due to increasing gas prices.

Palmerino’s neighbor Rob Johansson has ridden his bike to work on the trail along the Potomac River for the past nine years.

“It’s multi-tasking basically because you can get your exercise and get into work in roughly the same time,” Johansson said. 

Johansson rides the 15 miles to his office at the USDA main building at Independence Avenue and 12th Street in about 50 minutes.  He enjoys the scenery while he’s pedaling. 

“I just ride at my own pace,” he said. 

Palmerino leaves by 7 a.m. His best time is 39:30 minutes for the 13-mile commute. 

“It all depends on which way the wind is blowing,” he joked.

That’s compared to a 45-minute commute if Palmerino drives to the Huntington Metro station and takes the train. Add 10 minutes for a shower and he’s ready to work. Lightning or a hard rain are the only elements that drive him off the trail from April to November.

Biking is better than a train ride.  “You’re sitting there like a sardine,” he said of the Metro ride.

Johansson and Palmerino are getting more company on the trail these days, said Chris Harris, manager of local bike shop Spokes Etc. on Belle View Blvd.  Fledgling bike commuters are buying a new bike or having their old one tuned up.

“We’ve seen more bike commuters with the rise in gas prices,” he said.

Both Johansson and Palmerino ride “road bikes,” which are fast, light racing bikes.  But mountain bikes with their sturdy tires are good if you do a lot of city riding, Johansson said. 

“It’s nice to have a mountain bike for that because you can jump over curbs and potholes,” he said.

TIPS FOR A SAFE COMMUTE: 

  • Keeping work clothes at the office for a quick shower and change lightens the load, Johansson said. “I keep all my suits in the office,” he said.  “Every so often, I’ll take them home on the Metro with me.”
  • Find a bike that fits you — don’t just buy any bike, Johansson advised.  Go to a bike shop to find the right size.  “You don’t want to be uncomfortable when you’re riding because otherwise you won’t do it,” he said.
  • Tune up your bike if you already have one.
  • Figure out your route before hitting the road.  Ride it on the weekend.
  • Wear a helmet.  Obey all traffic rules.
  • Watch out for pedestrians, even if you ring a bell or call out that you’re about to pass them.  “They’ll turn around and walk into the middle of the path,” Johansson said.  “Just don’t expect pedestrians to be smart about the fact that you’re coming.”
  • Turn off the IPod and cell phone.  “They have no clue what’s going on,” Palmerino said of cyclists who are listening to music or chatting.  “I think it’s dangerous.  A car can just hit them and they wouldn’t know it.”
  • Have a patch kit on hand and know how to repair a tire. Don’t forget to have a patch kit for yourself too.  “If you’re riding have some bandages with you and some Neosporin—and I’m talking about the big bandages,” Palmerino said.  “There’s definitely some hazards out there.”
  • Be predictable.  Stay to the right as other cyclists may want to pass you. “We want to know what to expect when we come up to you,”  Palmerino said.

WHEN IT RAINS:

The Woodrow Wilson Bridge is the place where cyclists hang out during a thunderstorm.  “You’ll find 40-50 cyclists huddled under there,” Palmerino said.

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