Bike To Work Week Pulls Up To State Street Station

Seth Osborne was headed to Liberty Safe Haven on 210 State Str. to see his case manager to help him apply for disability Tuesday morning, when a free breakfast array caught his eye.

That drew him over to what ended up to be a celebration for Bike to Work Week, aimed at encouraging more people to get around town on two wheels. He was encouraged. But first he needs the wheels.

“I desperately need a bike to maneuver,” Osborne said. ​“Thank God that the buses are free right now. As part of the unemployed, indigenous piece of the downtown population of destitute and disabled, a bike would be a beautiful thing that I can’t afford.”

Osborne, who is in his early 50s, is homeless; he said medical issues keep him from working. He used to bike and said that it would provide him needed exercise with lower impact on the broken lateral metatarsal that is slowly healing in his foot.

“I’m looking for a bike non-profit that helps homeless and unemployed and otherwise desperate people get a bicycle so we can maneuver throughout this city more co-efficiently,” Osborne said. ​“A bike would allow me efficiency and a chance to get to my various, four specialist doctors. I have to keep reactivating my injury as I go and beg for money on the streets of New Haven.”

He was one of the 50 people who showed up to the State Street train station Wednesday morning for the event. He asked Doug Hausladen, executive director of the New Haven Parking Authority and vice-chair of the New Haven Coalition of Active Transportation, how he could obtain a free bike.

“If it’s not free then I’m not interested,” Osborne said.

“You should contact the Bradley Street Bicycle Co-op,” Hausladen replied. ​“There are several organizations around New Haven that can help on an individual case-by-case basis. There’s no one resource so ask around. It’s important to note that there are fewer funds now than there were 10 years ago. That’s why social services need to be funded.”

Hausladen passed Bradley Street Bicycle Co-op’s information to Osborne so that he can get get in contact.

Eliraz Shifman Berman, bike education coordinator for the New Haven Coalition for Active Transportation, added that Bradley Street Bicycle Co-op brings in used bikes to refurbish to sell.

“As an organization, they might be able to work something out for someone that doesn’t have the money to buy a $300-$400 bike,” Berman said.

Elm City Market provided the food for Wednesday’s State Street event. On Monday, the Bike to Work organizers set up breakfast at ​“Central Patio” at Central and Fountain in Westville, with the food provided by Pistachio Cafe. On Tuesday, Fair Haven residents met at the Grand/East Pearl parking lot for another neighborhood breakfast. Thursday will feature a meetup at 470 James St. And on Friday, the 200th birthday of the Farmington Canal will be celebrated at the Lanson Memorial. The week of bike-to-work promoting celebration, which is part of a broader New Haven Bike Month, will wrap up with a closing party at the East Rock Brewer.

During the Bike to Work Week event on Monday in Westville, veteran riders David Backeberg, Paul Proulx, and Mark Abraham were sitting on the benches of The Central Patio after cycling over to the event, enjoying the outdoors and appreciating the public promotion.

Proulx,a longtime cycling advocate and an active year-round biker, woke up at 7:40 a.m. and rode down to the Westville event from Wooster Square. He moved to New Haven in 2004 and quickly found himself behind the handlebars to pedal all around the city.

“Bicycling got me much more active,” Proulx said. ​“For one, because of parking. Makes it way easier. It’s healthy for you. It just makes sense.”

His advice to riders is to always wear your helmet, don bright colors, and put a light on your bike for when it gets dark.

“Biking is a lot less expensive than driving,” said Mark Abraham, who lives in Westville and runs the nonprofit Data Haven. ​“And you can save a lot of money. Right now is the time to get out and enjoy the outdoors.”

Hausladen and Berman, speaking Wednesday on the ​“Word on the Street” segment of WNHH FM’s ​“LoveBabz LoveTalk” program, encouraged the public to attend a Saturday event in the Hill, where their team will be teaching new cycling skills. The event takes place at Cornell Scott-Hill Health Center, 400 Columbus Ave., from 2 – 5 p.m.

“Come down and bring your bike. We will provide four hours of free education,” Hausladen said. ​“We’ll do some helmet fittings, some air and brake checks, and we’ll get on the bikes and ride.”

“We want the youth to be more comfortable biking in their community,” Berman said. ​“It’s fun but it also has a purpose. New Haven has a lot of narrow streets, one-way streets, and I think the main idea is learning how to navigate that.”

While Saturday’s program is aimed more towards the youth, all ages are welcome. 

Devaris Castelare was just getting off of the train when he decided to sign up for Saturday’s educational event for him and his son. Castelare said that his bicycle is sitting at home in the basement. He has a tire that needs to be fixed; the event made him motivated to ride again. He lives in New Haven but works out in Wallingford; he is now determined to ride again, he said.

“This is wonderful. It’s powerful and encouraging,” Castelare said. ​“I wouldn’t have been inspired to ride a bike if it wasn’t for this event today, because now I’m really thinking about it. I know that riding a bike is healthier for the body and also healthier for the world.”

“You have to be consistent,” Castelare said. ​“My son is going to love this on Saturday, and it’s something that we can enjoy doing together.”

Marlee Antill has also started riding her bike again because of Bike to Work Week. She works for SLR International Corporation, and decided that it was time.

She has already started riding to work this week from her home in Westville and celebrated Wednesday’s event by speaking with other attendees about making the switch. She said that her biking commute is about three and a half miles and takes her about 20 minutes.

“I just think that New Haven has a long way to go to really become an accessible bike city. The more that people are showing their interest, that will inspire city officials and community members to make sure that happens,” Antill said.

For those who don’t feel like pedaling, Bike to Work Week was also promoting e‑Bikes, including a new loan program from Connex Credit Union. E‑Bikes are electric and more affordable than a car. (Click here for a previous story about that program and about New Haven Bike Month in general.)

“Up to $20,000 personal loan. Five years, no payments for 90 days,” Hausladen said in pitching people to pursue the e‑bike loans. ​“People can ditch their car if they want, buy the electric bike, and take 90 days and make their first payment. It’s a great way to buy an electric bike and become a Credit Union Member and spend the money at the Devil’s Gear Bike Shop downtown or College Street Cycles.”

“We’re seeing new bike lanes under construction,” Hausladen said. ​“Long Wharf, Crescent Street, the Yale Avenue Downtown Crossing on South Frontage Road, and the Orange Street intersection. The bike that you feel most comfortable on is the bike that I would recommend.”

To learn more about New Haven Bike Month, click here.