Paul Onderick and his wife enjoy biking around White Bear Lake for fun and activity, but when Paul tried to figure out how to include biking in his long daily commute to downtown Minneapolis, it became a hassle—at least until Nice Ride bicycles were installed. Here’s his story.
I’m a patent attorney from White Bear Lake, who wears a suit and tie everyday to work in downtown Minneapolis, and I use the Nice Ride system—frequently.
I’d been working in the IDS Tower for more than ten years, driving from White Bear Lake to downtown Minneapolis everyday. So, I was interested when Nice Ride installed the green bikes and solar-paneled stations in the spring of 2010. I approached one of their friendly street crew members, and found out I’d be able to participate in the bike share program soon.
Growing up in Northern Ohio, I rode bike all over, and frequently rode to work when I lived in Kentucky and Indiana. I tried to find ways to bike to downtown Minneapolis from my home—I missed the flexibility I had with a bike at my fingertips and dreaded the in-and-out parking hassles. I considered bringing and leaving an old bike downtown so I would be able to at least take short trips during lunch. After considering maintenance and storage issues, I decided it was too much hassle.
Then those green bikes hit the street and came to my rescue. In the spring of 2010, I became one of Nice Ride’s inaugural one-year subscribers and continue to take Nice Ride trips frequently. I’m able to quickly check out a bike with my Nice Ride key fob, jump on and take a short trip to get to a meeting or a nice lunch spot. My favorite places to take Nice Ride include Peavey Plaza, the Convention Center, Loring Park and St. Anthony Main.
I appreciate the Nice Ride system for providing the opportunity to get a bit of exercise and for the chance to get out of the office for a change of scenery. Nice Ride allows people to go different places and experience different things while getting there just a little faster. I also really appreciate the chain guard that protects my suit pants. I now have the freedom to get out and explore the city — all in a suit and tie!
Tags: Nice Ride, Nice Ride MN, Paul Onderick
