For the week of July 3 - 9, 2002

Rideshare’s 1st Annual Errand Run demonstrates power of feet over vehicles

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The Errand Run is an event of the Smart Moves program, a fun summer long event to encourage walking, biking, carpooling, and riding the Peak Bus and KART in an effort to reduce the number of vehicle trips in the valley.

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Wood River Rideshare announced the results of the 1^st Annual Errand Run held Sunday as part of the Ketchum Criterium. The Errand Run was organized to demonstrate that some things are better done by bike or on foot than in a car.

Also, $5 of every entry fee into the Criterium was donated to Wood River Rideshare for the Peak Bus service. The money donated will be used to purchase and install bike racks at Peak Bus stops to encourage people to ride their bikes to and from the bus stop.

The Errand Run is an event of the Smart Moves program, a fun summer long event to encourage walking, biking, carpooling, and riding the Peak Bus and KART in an effort to reduce the number of vehicle trips in the valley. Participants help reduce congestion and pollution, conserve parking spaces and improve people’s health and fitness.

Two different lists of errands were run Sunday, one for a person on a bike and a person in a car, the other for a person walking and a person in a car. Participants had to stop at each store on their errand list and pick up tags showing they went to the stop. Cyclists had to obey the same traffic laws applicable to drivers and drivers had to obey the speed limit, park in a legal parking space and turn off their car at each stop.

Laurie Leman, a gardener, biked the seven-stop, eight-square block bike versus car errand run in 11 minutes. It took Lauren Carr, a caterer, 20 minutes driving and parking her pickup truck.

The start was on the corner of First Avenue and Sun Valley Road in front of the old post office. Leman and Carr each had to stop at Chateau, the library, William’s Market, Business as Usual, the post office, Sun Summit Ski and Cycle and then back to the start.

Jill Morse, a physical therapist, walked the four-stop, four-block foot versus car errand run in 8 minutes. It took Valerie Lewis, a bookkeeper, 13 minutes driving and parking her vehicle. Their list of errands included the Coffee Grinder, Atkinsons’ Market, F-Stop and the Ketchum Flower Company.

First and second place winners in each category were awarded medals and each of the event’s participants, including the 10 volunteers stationed at each stop, were given small gifts in appreciation of their time and effort.

The Smart Moves program continues until Sept. 6. Any one can participate whether you are going to work, to church, to the park or running errands. Participants track the number of round trips taken by foot, bike, car pool or on the Peak Bus and KART. Every 10 trips accumulated is an entry in a drawing of great prizes at the end of the summer season. Anyone interested in participating in the Smart Moves Summer Program is encouraged to call 788-RIDE.

 

The Idaho Mountain Express is distributed free to residents and guests throughout the Sun Valley, Idaho resort area community. Subscribers to the Idaho Mountain Express will read these stories and others in this week's issue.