Community Corner

State Commissioners Lead 'Bike to Work' from West Hartford

This year the crowd of bicyclists heading from West Hartford to Hartford on Bike to Work Day included not only Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Commissioner Dan Esty, who participated for the third time, but several other state commissioners as well.

Catherine Smith, commissioner of the Department of Community and Economic Development and Jim Redeker, commissioner of the Department of Transportation met in West Hartford and joined the crowd of approximately 75 cyclists for the trip down Boulevard to the Capitol.

Smith and Esty began their ride in Cheshire, departing before 5 a.m. for the approximately 26-mile trip to West Hartford led by BikeWalk Connecticut volunteer Pete Salomone. Both commissioners are avid cyclists.

Commissioner Redeker, who admitted being talked into buying a bike last year, said he wanted to test out using multiple forms of transportation and drove to Westfarms where he caught a bus with a bike rack that took him to West Hartford Center where he joined the others for the ride to Hartford.

"We had 28 from DOT riding today. We put out a note that we had to beat DEEP," he joked.

It really is a great day when you can start with a bike ride" Esty told the crowd. He said he had also challenged the other state departments and incited a little "public/private" competition as well.

He said he hopes to see West Hartford soon join Simsbury as a bike friendly community.

REI, which is a Silver Level Bicycle Friendly business, sponsored the event which was held in their Blue Back Square parking lot.

State Sen. Beth Bye told the gathering, "Thank you for joining me on my regular commute today." She said she hopes 2013 is the year the Vulnerable User Bill is passed by the legislature.

Mary Collins of the West Hartford Bicycle Advisory Commission, reminded everyone about the "Wheel Fun Day" - a "monster festival" - which will be held this Sunday beginning with a ride down North Main St. from Bishops Corner to the Town Hall parking lot where 40 booths and numerous activities will take place.

Promptly at 7:30 a.m., the entourage departed for Hartford.


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