Moving day for many Americans usually involves a truck, strained backs, and sore muscles, but when Bill Carey of Louisville, KY recently moved with his family to their new home he did so not with a big truck or even a rented van. Instead he made his family’s move with the help of Bicycling for Louisville, and a crew of volunteer cyclists who rode with the Carey’s possessions from old home to new.
This was not the first time that the cycling group has helped a family move, rather, this year saw the Third Annual Move-By-Bike, which occurred under gray skies and a bit of rain last month.
“There were about a dozen bikes and trailers involved,” Mary Beth Brown, board president for Bicycling for Louisville told BikeRadar. “Each person made three or four trips. We probably would’ve had more people and made fewer trips if the weather cooperated better, but that’s February in the Ohio Valley for you.”
Heavy plastic storage bins, waterproof tarps and even trailers meant for children kept the possessions dry during the three mile ride that even included hills with grades up to 7-percent. Of course not everything could go by bike. “There was an upright piano that we didn’t try moving,” said Brown. “We considered it, but the rain was more a deterrent than the weight or size.”
Brown also says that for those moving a short distance a crew of bicycles could be a good way to do it. “This is a fun way to draw attention to the versatility of bikes and by moving people in winter you can double-whammy everyone with proper gear and clothing for the low temperatures and precipitation,” she added. “This fun event proves that bikes are not only a feasible mode of transportation, but are powerhouses and efficient users of energy.”
Part of Bicycling for Louisville's Move-By-Bike crew
In addition to doing a good deed the riders certainly worked up an appetite. Instead of providing the requisite “moving day” pizza, other options were considered for food. Brown says, “Our bikes ran on coffee and bagels from local businesses, you can't get much more sustainable than that.”