Greg Atherton started his working life as a bicycle delivery boy for a drug store in Vancouver at the age of 14.
He says he always enjoyed riding a bicycle but was never a fanatic.
However, for the past six or seven years, Atherton has ridden his bike from home on the Quesnel Hixon Road to work at the hospital just about every day.
“I had to get to work somehow, so why not in an environmentally-friendly way,” he said.
He enjoys his ride and says his bicycle ride home is a chance to wind down after work.
“I just put my mind in neutral,” he said with a laugh.
Atherton said he’d always been dedicated to fitness and riding his bike to work just fit.
“I do run a bit but bicycling is easier on the knees,” he said.
Atherton recognizes he’s somewhat of a rare breed as only three or four other hospital employees ride their bikes to work consistently.
“I get a great deal of satisfaction knowing I’m not harming the environment,” he said.
“Heck, it’s only 10 minutes longer than driving and I don’t have any parking worries once I get
to work. In fact, I park my bike undercover.”
He also said he’s able to bypass the rare traffic jam in Quesnel.
For winter biking, Atherton added fenders for mud and snow and just recently changed out his studded tires.
“This year’s snowfalls were a challenge and there were many days I couldn’t ride the bike to work,” he admitted.
“Other year’s it’s been better.
“But the worst are the head winds. They make the ride a lot more work.”
Although Atherton’s bike is a standard mountain bike he jazzed it up with a headlight, fenders, taillight and a mirror. But possibly the addition of a speedometer has given him the most satisfaction.
“I can tell how fast I’m going,” he said with a grin.
“I can get up to 50 km an hour coming down into Two Mile Flat.”
Atherton is one of several local people nominated in the Commuter Challenge 2011.
The challenge is to nominate someone you know who rides their bike, walks, runs or in any way gets to work, school or around town under their own steam regardless of the weather.
The challenge is sponsored by Baker Creek Enhancement Society and the Quesnel Climate Action Group who will vote on who the best commuters are on Clean Air Day, June 8 and prizes will be awarded.