Meet our Members! - Emma

Cramped shoulders. Suspicious smells. Bookbags and briefcases rudely thrust into your face as dozens of commuters vie for their seat on the bus.

Is this really how I want to start my day?

My name is Emma, and I've been cycling to UBC from for the past year and a half. Why did I start? I certainly wanted the exercise, the feel of the wind on my face, and the opportunity to reduce my carbon footprint. But ultimately, I just don't like buses.

I used to bus from East Van to UBC every day. The two hours on the bus left me irritable, restless, and fatigued. So I bought myself a bike and gave up the bus forever.
 
My first ride from East Van to UBC was extremely challenging. My underdeveloped muscles burnt as I pushed myself up what seemed an impossible number of hills. I never realized the elevation gain on the bus! At one point, my legs gave up entirely and I had to push my bike up a particularly steep hill - just as my old bus whizzed past me. Ouch. 

But even though my legs gave up on me, I refused to give up on my bike. I found that I had more focus, better sleep, and increased self-esteem. I felt great, despite the fact that the bus still passed me every ride. 

Week after that brutal first ride, my bike (affectionately named Hedwig) and I were challenging the same hill ... and the same bus. Passing that bus, powered by nothing but my own strength, was gratifying beyond words. 

I bike everyday, rain or shine. When I get where I'm going my hair might look disheveled and my clothes may be sweaty, but I always feel fantastic. 

Vancouver is a beautiful city, blessed with the most temperate weather. Fellow HUB members: we CAN build a city of cyclists! Our advocacy can (and does) improve health, the environment, and the livability of Vancouver! 

Happy cycling!