Why I Ride: The Bike Campaign Promotes Biking Throughout Yolo County

The Bike Campaign has commissioned a series of articles about a wide variety of local people who ride their bikes and why they do it. While these stories are presented here in honor of National May Is Bike Month, The Bike Campaign plans to continue to produce articles about Davis’ unique biking culture into the future. Enjoy reading these stories about your neighbors and friends. If these folks are new to you, keep on the lookout; perhaps you might see them riding in a bike lane, a bicycle race or tour, a greenbelt path, or just around town. The Bike Campaign is a Cool Davis Coalition member.

Why I Ride – Scott Thomsen

Scott Thomsen, Principal of Ralph Waldo Emerson Junior High School in Davis, commutes to work from Woodland most days, rain or shine, on his e-bike, which can reach 27 m.p.h. He leaves at 6:30 AM and arrives at 7 AM. He has a system that includes packing his tie, snacks and briefcase. With his highly reflective Showers Pass raingear, he is prepared for a downpour (something he learned to do by inverse when he arrived at school drenched early on).

“Technically, I don’t have a car,” said Thomsen. His wife Wendy is a Montessori School teacher in Sacramento and commutes with the family car. They ride together recreationally. In 2013, the Thomsens rode their bikes from San Francisco to the Santa Monica Pier, covering approximately 500 miles in 7 days.

Why does Thomsen ride? “I ride to relieve stress. Riding to work each day is a great time to think things through and to practice conversation,” he said. Sometimes he rides with students part of the way.

For the full story, visit The Bike Campaign website.