Katie Cappellini Promotes Biking for Health, Utility and Fun
Katie Cappellini's lively "Rock the Boat" campaign last year propelled her into seat on the Sylvania City Council, where she's currently promoting a new urban bikeway to stimulate economic development in downtown Sylvania. She also writes a regular feature column, "What I Think," in the Sylvania Advantage. And best of all, she's a biking mom in a biking family. We managed to interrupt a family bike outing recently for a brief conversation on the many facets of biking in her life.

How long have you been riding?
Katie:   I started riding in college as means of transportation in Chicago.  I lived off campus my last two years so I rode all through the winter. My bike was usually the only one at the bike racks in the snow. After Chicago, I moved to San Francisco, where I was on my bike almost every day after work, riding over the Golden Gate Bridge, mountain biking in the Marin Headlands. Many of my weekends revolved around the Sierra Mountains - biking, skiing or kayaking. The hills in San Francisco were lots of fun for biking, and I bought a road bike as well and would ride early morning loops in town with friends while we trained for triathlons.
I understand you had a pretty long and entertaining road trip on your way to settling in Toledo.
Katie:   Tom (my husband) and I shipped our bikes to Portland, Maine and planned a bike route visiting friends and family through New Hampshire, Vermont, New York, Pennsylvania and Ohio. We averaged 70 to 100 miles a day carrying full camping gear. We climbed the White Mountains in New Hampshire, the Green Mountains in Vermont, the Adirondacks in New York - the whole trip was going up or down until we arrived in Ohio. Stacks and stacks of pancakes, 12 taco lunches and huge pasta dinners and we still lost weight. Since my kids are only 9 and 11 now, we haven't yet attempted anything quite so extreme as a family. We  stick to local trails and stay off the major roads. It's not uncommon for Tom to ride 200 miles a week after work, though. He still rides through the winter even though our kids laugh at all of the additional cold weather clothing her wears, including a ski helmet and goggles.

How many bike do you have in your stable now?
Katie:   I've lost track of how many bikes we have. Many of them are old classic cruisers that Tom has collected. But my favorite is a tandem that I ride around town - I call it my minivan - dropping my son or daughter off at baseball practice, a friend's house or as quick transportation to the store.
I hear you're pushing for a new bikeway project in Sylvania.
Katie:   Yes, the Sylvania bikeway/riverwalk, or whatever it will eventually be named, starts where the bike path on Monroe ends at the corner of Monroe and Silica. The idea for the Sylvania bikeway was hatched in our new City Council Economic Development sub-committee. We envisioned a historic downtown district where people come to shop and dine but also to walk, bike and enjoy the river that runs through our downtown district. 
What do you see as the role of biking in public policy?
Katie:   As a Sylvania City Council member I support improving conditions for walking and biking, as it's not only vital for a healthy community, it leads to cleaner air and less traffic. As a mother I prefer bike trails that are completely separate from roads as they are so much safer for all aged bikers. In terms of public policy, we talk about government's responsibility for providing and supporting a strong infrastructure for our citizens and business owners which traditionally has included roads, water and sewer service; but I think that as bike/pedestrian ways play an increasingly important role in our society they should be included as a necessary infrastructure item.
      You can see what else is on Katie's mind at her website, http://www.katiecappellini.com or by picking up a copy of the Sylvania Advantage.


© 2010 | 2011 Bob Beach