In this series we stop people along the bike lanes in Vancouver and have chats with them about their thoughts on cycling, their bikes, and more.
Name: Lauren Krakau
Brand and Type of Bike: Norco Club from October 2012
Tell me about your daily commute.
6 1/5 km each way. I go through about half of it in residential areas and the other half along the seawall. The false creek area is probably my favourite part because you get to hear and be around a lot of the urban wildlife.
Where do you like biking the most?
I like doing central valley greenway in the summer. I haven't actually made it all the way out to New West but that's one of my goals for a day trip this year.
How often do you bike?
5 days a week commuting and then if I go out on the weekend for fun, or if I go out after work grocery shopping and so on. At least 10 trips a week for sure if one way is one trip.
Do you feel pretty safe when you lock up your bike?
As long as I have a U-Lock through the tire and the frame I feel pretty secure. Although when I know that I will be away for more than 2-3 hours I make sure to bring it inside.
How long have you been a cyclist for?
Depends how you define cyclist. I'm a Vancouver commuter cyclist since May 2012 when I lost access to my U-Pass when I graduated from UBC and realized how much a monthly bus pass actually costs.
But I have been biking with my family since I was 4-5. I have a scar on my eyebrow from then, when I rode a tricycle into a picnic bench.
What is your favourite part of biking in Vancouver?
Not being stressed at the end of my commute. Over-packed bus commutes can be rather intense whereas if you are on your bike and you don't want to be around people you simply adjust your route by half a block. And in a car you're isolated but when you are on a bike you can actually interact with other cyclists if you want to. So it is a good compromise between being surrounded by people you don't want to be and sharing the road with people who probably also enjoy biking.
What would you like to see change in cycling in Vancouver?
Less animosity between drivers and cyclists. I know that is a really tall order but there are certain things that if they were handled differently could affect that. Like for instance, more knowledge for drivers concerning the need for bike lanes in our city.
Do you consider yourself to have a biking style?
I don't believe that you have to change what you wear for biking. I think one of the great appeals of biking is that I don't have to change into fancy shorts or pants if I don't want to. I wear jeans, waterproof shoes, a hood, and a helmet. Add some rain gear when needed but otherwise I don't think you need any special gear. I just wear what I am wearing everywhere else.
