In a time when gas costs almost four dollars per gallon, pollution is a legitimate concern and health is an emerging priority, commuting via bike seems like common sense. At Gustavus in particular, biking is becoming increasingly popular amongst students and professors alike.

While there are many different reasons behind biking to campus, one of the most common is to save time and money.

“Since my office is at one end of campus, I can’t underestimate the time savings factor,” Jim Dontje said. “A rough estimate is that using my bike to go to meetings on campus has saved me 200 hours (or eight days) over the past five years. The cost savings over my lifetime of bike commuting is not just in gas saved.  Most wear and tear on cars comes from the first few miles, so eliminating short trips makes cars last longer.  And there have been a number of years in my life when my bike commuting means my household owns one less car.”

Owning one less car is important to those who wish to reduce their carbon footprint and highly effective in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Even if a commute is predominantly made up of shorter trips, they quickly add up to hundreds of miles saved over the course of a year.

“I love putting fewer miles on the car, spending very little on gas and compensating for my carbon footprint for long roadtrips to wilder places,” Pam Kittleson said.

For students who bike to and from campus, the advantages look a little different. While many Gusties find it difficult to make time for exercise in their busy schedules, commuting by bike solves for that problem by promoting a healthy lifestyle and providing an aerobic workout. Additionally, it saves money in the form of not paying for a car, gas or a parking permit on campus.

While there are many advantages that come along with cycling, there are some hassles and obstacles that must be overcome in order to successfully commute to campus on bike.

“Ice on roads or bikeways, frozen brakes, and arctic winds cutting through gloves…I don’t have the right tires for dicey winter roads,” said Pam Kittleson while discussing the challenges she faces while commuting during the winter.

“Winter is a challenge.  I don’t mind the cold. In fact, it is usually more comfortable temperature wise. I can always put on more layers.  But, ice and snow make for challenges.  I usually ride until the roads get icy and then quit until they clear,” Chuck Neideritter said in reference to his own winter commuting experience.

Despite the sometimes challenging and frigid conditions that cyclists encounter in Minnesota, the benefits of biking are insurmountable. It provides riders with both a mental and physical release while saving money and the environment.

“For me, the advantages of biking are numerous. The obvious economic and health benefits are great, but there are also more subtle reasons. I love the time that it gives me to decompress and “air-out,” Pam Freeman said.

“When you leave work you are thinking about all the things that need to be done or mulling over the activities of the day, but the time on the bike is a great period of both intense focus (e.g. you have to pay attention on the ice) and letting it all go and just enjoying the scenery. Your head is always better by the time you reach home. I don’t seem to get that same kind of clarity if I have to drive to school. Plus, I really have no excuse for NOT biking in,” Freeman said.

Whether it is rain, shine or snow, Gustavus faculty and students alike manage to make biking to campus work for them. It provides cyclists with a great workout that is convenient and relaxing after a stressful day of classes or teaching. Additionally, it’s an easy way for students to save money and be conscious of the size of their carbon footprint. After taking all of these benefits into consideration, the only real question is “why not?”