With its sprawling layout and maze of roadways, Baton Rouge is built for and composed almost entirely of commuters and car owners.
Getting around on foot is a laughable concept, and many people tremble at the thought of riding a bike through the “Mad Max”-esque dystopia that is Baton Rouge traffic.
However, there are a few brave souls who have jumped on a bike instead of into a car, and have remained safe, unscathed, and even happy with the lifestyle choice.
One such avid biker is Mark Martin, LSU Hill Memorial Library’s photographic processing archivist, who has been using a bike as transportation for twenty years.
Martin said he started off looking for alternate means of transportation after completing graduate school because the costs of owning a car were too overwhelming, and eventually found his way onto a bike. He said he has used a bike as his sole form of transportation for about a decade now.
“To me, using a bike has been hugely positive,” Martin said. “I’ve saved money, I’m healthy for my age…I certainly know the city better, and it’s fun. It’s just fun.”
Beyond that, Martin said he’s reaped plenty of benefits from getting to know the community to increasing his awareness of how traffic functions.
Once accustomed to it, he says, using a bike as transportation is a liberating and positive experience.
“I think most people think Baton Rouge is impossible to ride a bike in, largely because they don’t ride a bike,” he said.
He said many people see the traffic on Perkins Road and other major roadways and think biking isn’t an option. But in reality, moving one block over will reveal a hidden Baton Rouge – quiet, nearly deserted streets, perfect for biking.
Martin said that, contrary to popular belief, these routes allow him to get from place to place just as fast, if not faster, than the average car user. Those scared of using a bike for time management purposes might be pleasantly surprised, according to Martin’s experiences.
“For a five-mile ride…I don’t imagine there’s more than a two-minute difference,” he said, explaining that the time car users spend getting their car started up, driving through traffic, and finding a parking place cancels out any extra time it takes for him to bike the same distance.
Ultimately, Martin said riding a bike solves more problems than it creates, and in his experience, those problems haven’t wound up to be that big of an issue at all.
“Just going for a ride can take care of so many problems,” Martin said. “You cannot be angry or stressed while you’re riding a bicycle, when you become accustomed to it.”
Whoever is willing to work through a shift in their lifestyle, Martin said, won’t regret it.