Meet our Members - Liza Bautista

HUB members are passionate individuals, families and organizations who are committed to making cycling in Metro Vancouver safer and more accessible to everyone. This month caught up with Liza Bautista who holds a HUB family membership and who rides her bike daily despite never having ridden a bike until she turned 30.

1) Why are you  a HUB Member?

We have a family membership, because my husband and 7-year old son also cycle daily for work, school and such.  We love how great Vancouver is becoming for cycling, and support HUB for playing a big role in that.  

2) What is your favourite bike route in Metro Vancouver? Why?

Being able to use the seawall during my work day commuting between offices and going to meetings.

3) What do you love most about biking to work?

My desk job is so limiting physically, and working on the computer all day is not the healthiest option for anybody. Biking to and from work ensures that I still have some good cardio activity each morning and evening - my ride home includes a pretty major hill.  It boost my energy for the whole day and helps me to think clearly.  I don't have to take the crowded bus on rainy days, and my bike is beautiful and I like how fashionable I can be riding around the city.  
 

4) Were you always a cyclist and if not how did you get the confidence to ride your bike on a daily basis?

I wasn’t allowed to ride a bike growing up in the crazy, lawless driving culture of downtown Manila.  I learned how to ride at the age of 30 here in Vancouver as a kind of a prenuptial condition with my husband.  I remember the first time I stayed upright on a bike and wheeled on my own pedalling power in our back alley.  It was exhilarating! I expanded my riding until I was confident enough to commute by bike to my office on Terminal Avenue.

Cycling has helped my health a lot, and now everyone knows me as an all-weather, all-terrain bike rider even though I started so late. Before I got on a bike, I was un-athletic and never thought that could be how the world sees me.  I have had a couple of crashes, including a fairly serious one when we were on vacation in Mexico.  But those injuries didn't faze me, I love riding my bike.
 

5)  If you had a tandem bike, who would you want to share your ride with?

I need a bike for three - me, my son and my husband.  We love to ride together as a family.

Want to #joinHUB? Memberships range from only $10-$40 a year and support better more connected biking throughouth Metro Vancouver!  Sign up or renew your membership today!