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‘Pedalers' urge shift to two wheels next week

By Laurel Eatherly

This document was published online on Wednesday, June 11, 2008

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Cody bicyclists hope Bike to Work Day on Thursday, June 19, part of Wyoming Bike Month, will prompt others to discover the benefits of biking.

Lolly Jolley first discovered bicycling on her brother's hand-me-down as a preschooler in Sheridan. That was about 70 years ago and Jolley hasn't stopped pedalling since.

It wasn't until age 30 that she finally graduated into her first woman's bicycle, a gift from her husband. Ten years later he gave her a 10-speed Schwinn, still in commission 34 years later.

“I just find it a real convenient way to get around town,” Jolley explained. “It's faster than walking but more facile than a car.”

It's precisely this convenience which keep Cody's most avid cyclists committed to this alternative form of transportation.

“Cycling has so many benefits,” says Matt Winslow, a member of Park County Pedalers. “It's good health-wise, good for the community, saves parking spaces and doesn't pollute.”

Mel Fillerup agrees. He commutes to and from work, nine miles round trip, an average of three times per week.

“I ride to go from point A to point B because I'm too cheap to buy $4 a gallon gas,” Fillerup, a veterinarian, says. “I bike year round, even in winter. I don't want to leave a big carbon footprint and when I get home at night, all my frustrations have been worked out on the bike.”

Park County Pedalers, a non-profit organization, was formed more than a year ago and has since been active in promoting cycling awareness with projects such as “share the road” signs and bike rodeos for kids.

They now have more than 100 members.

In honor of Bike to Work Day, cyclists can pick up a free T-shirt from Absaroka Bicycles on June 19.

“I think we all should bike or ride a horse,” Fillerup says. On Saturday, June 14, Pedaler members will begin work to improve a path between Canyon Meadows Subdivision and the Stock land behind the Buffalo Bill Historical Center.

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