Daniel Barrette got a lift to work with Lynn Despatie June 5. The mode of transportation they used might surprise you, though.
Despatie rides a type of bicycle originating in Holland called a Bakfiet featuring a box in front of the handlebars.
With Barrette as her passenger in the box, Despatie drove the bike from École publique Hélène-Gravel in the South End to the downtown area, where they both work. The ride ended up taking about 15 minutes.
The pair undertook the unusual commute as part of the week-long Sudbury Commuter Challenge, which runs June 4-10, where people are encouraged to leave their cars at home and use alternate means of transportation.
Despatie and Barrette both have young children who attend either daycare or school at École publique Hélène-Gravel, and both regularly use bicycles to transport their kids there.
Despatie loads her two kids, aged two and four, in the box of the Bakfiet. Barrette's three-year-old rides on a seat in the front of his bike, while his six-year-old uses a ride-along bike trailer attached to the back.
“I think when you see another parent who's riding with their kids on their bicycle, you sort of have a friendship that's through the bicycle,” Despatie said.
“We've always said hello, and then eventually we got to know each other a little bit more, and Dan came up with this crazy idea for the commuter challenge, and I was in. So it's great.”
Riding in the Bakfiet was pretty comfortable, said Barrette, who was able to fit in the box easily because he's small in stature.
“I felt bad because Lynn was doing all the work, and I couldn't really do anything,” he said. “All I had to do was sit in it and enjoy myself.”
At one point Monday morning, the Bakfiet hit 40 km/hour as they rode down the Regent Street hill — the road's speed limit. Barrette put his hands up in the air as if they were riding a rollercoaster.
Both emphasize the benefits of ditching your car when you can and taking advantage of alternate means of transportation, such as cycling.
Despatie said her kids love riding in the Bakfiet, often singing or greeting people they see along the way.
“I knew the kids would love the bike,” she said. “I didn't know to what degree they would love the bike. They're always excited. They want to climb in all by themselves.”
Taking part in the Sudbury Commuter Challenge allows people to see just how fun walking or riding your bike to work can be, said Barrette, who's executive director of Rainbow Routes Association.
The organization promotes the development of local trails as well as the importance of active transportation.
“I think it's great,” he said. “I strongly encourage people to do it.”
