BikeSD Member Profile: Kate
In less than two years we’ve grown from nothing to an organization of 400 dues paying members who believe in our vision to transform San Diego into the world’s best city for bicycling. So we thought we’d highlight some of our amazing members in this ongoing series. First up, Kate who was kind enough to share her thoughts with us.
Q: What is your name and what do you ride?
A: I’m Kate and I ride either a Peugeot Mixte ot a Torpado Roadie
Q: What made you start riding in San Diego?
A: I grew up here so I rode to school and work during high school but I became lazy when I got my car after graduation. I transferred to San Francisco during my junior year of college and I didn’t bring my car with me. In San Francisco, I loved not having to rely on a car to get around and missed riding when I moved back to San Diego. I started doing casual rides posted on MeetUp and now I count how many consecutive days I can leave my car parked in one place. TL;DR: I loathe driving.
Q: What do you do for a living?
A: I’m a Phlebotomist and a HIV counselor.
Q: What do you like most about riding in San Diego? What do you like least?
A: San Diego is relatively flat and you can’t beat the weather. Right now it is an exciting time for biking in San Diego because the infrastructure is booming (and there better be more to come!). I believe that the infrastructure solidifies the city’s commitment to the health and well-being of the community. I want my city to reflect the values that I share.
What I dislike is the fact that cycling isn’t normalized here like it is in other places. It’s getting better– I just saw a woman on a beach cruiser but she was going in the opposite of traffic and riding on the sidewalk. I believe we can convince people to take short trips on their bikes if they see other people doing it safely. It’s imperative to make the streets safer and guide cars, pedestrians and cyclists with infrastructure.
Q: Why are you a BikeSD Supporter?
A: I’m a member and a supporter because I believe that BikeSD is a catalyst for change.