Member Profile: Vanessa, Ella & Cora
Vanessa Amerson, San Luis Obispo
How long have you been a Coalition member? 2008
When did you start bicycling? When I was 6 on a cruiser with wooden blocks on the pedals
Why do you bike? I hate Cars and parking and paying for parking. And I like saying “good morning” to neighbors and chatting with friends
How many bikes do you own? 5, all very different
How often do you ride? Commutishly about 10 trips a week
What kind of riding do you do? Costumed SLO-hemian, Amateur Ballet
What do you think the most important thing the Coalition has done in our area? Joined the people to create a voice of advocacy
What changes/improvements have you seen since you lived here? Bike Blvd, Bike Kitchen, Bike signal, Bike parking
What additional changes would you like to see? Better Bike facilities at the Elementary and Jr. High Schools
What’s your favorite ride? To and from school with my daughters
What’s your advice to encourage others to get on their bikes? If you find a bike you love you are more likely to ride it and a bike doesn’t have to be expensive to fall in love with it.
How do you get involved with Coalition? I encourage parents and kids to practice riding together at Kidical Mass
What’s your favorite Coalition program? The Bike Kitchen
Anything else you want to add? Biking makes happy easily accessible.
Cora, San Luis Obispo
When did you start bicycling? When I was 4
Why do you bike? Because it’s fun
How many bikes do you own? 2
How often do you ride? Very often with my dad and most of the time with my mom
What kind of riding do you do? Regular riding
What do you think the most important thing the Coalition has done in our area? Help with Kidical Mass
What changes/improvements have you seen since you lived here? None
What additional changes would you like to see? I want everyone to like me
What’s your favorite ride? Kidical Mass
Anything else you want to add? Ella’s bike is shiny and mine isn’t
Ella, San Luis Obispo
When did you start bicycling? When I was 5
Why do you bike? It’s fun
How many bikes do you own? 2
How often do you ride? Whenever I’m with my mom
What kind of riding do you do? Kidical Mass riding
What do you think the most important thing the Coalition has done in our area? Keeping people safe when they’re riding bicycles
What changes/improvements have you seen since you lived here? I’ve seen a lot of people on bikes.
What additional changes would you like to see? A BIG sign in front of Bike Valet that says “Bike Coalition”
What’s your favorite ride? SLO Little 500
What’s your advice to encourage others to get on their bikes? All you have to do is pedal
How do you get involved with Coalition? I tell my friends about Kidical Mass
What’s your favorite Coalition program? Kidical Mass because sometimes the Childrens Museum brings crafts and you can put them on your bike
Anything else you want to add? When people help out at the Kitchen they help people get their bikes fixed and that makes people happy.
