Bike talk – What Baton Rougeans are saying about cycling

Mike Futrell

Chief Administrative Officer, ?Office of the Mayor-President

“When I was growing up, biking was cool. Then I didn’t ride for a long time because, frankly, the opportunity in Baton Rouge wasn’t there. But as a society, we’ve come back to it, because we see the benefits to air quality and to our health. It’s only in the last couple years that Baton Rouge has turned on to bikes again, but it’s where we needed to go. It’s become cool again.”

Michelle Mayer

Owner, Fleet Feet Sports

“I’ve done everything from sprint triathlons to Ironman-level races, but I also really enjoy long bike rides with friends. It’s amazing how close you get to people on long bike rides. The Alligator Bayou route is great because it has nice, smooth blacktop, but we definitely need dedicated bike lanes on our major roads.”

Tim Barfield

Executive counsel to ?Gov. Bobby Jindal

“I’ve been riding since 2001, primarily road bikes for exercise and recreation. Cycling is a great way to stay in shape, enjoy being outdoors and have a little competitive fun. Given the other pressures and stresses of life, it’s a great way to recharge my mental batteries.”

Mark Upton

Federal Public Defender, Baton Rouge Office

Board Member, Baton Rouge Advocates for Safe Streets (BRASS)

“I rode all the time when I attended LSU, then stopped for about 15 years. My wife and I were on a trip to Italy, and we saw all these bike clubs, some with 70- and 80-year-old men riding, in Florence. I said, ‘I can do that.’ I pulled my old 10-speed out of storage and rode around University Lake. That first ride killed me, but now I ride close to 100 miles a week. I ride at 5:30 in the morning before going to the office on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and that feels great. It sets the whole rest of the day off right.”

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