No, Fresno mayor didn’t bike commute to City Hall as video suggests. But stay tuned
Jerry Dyer, bike commuter? Only through the magic of video editing.
Friday was National Bike to Work Day, and Fresno’s mayor found his own unique way to make the public service announcement.
In a 22-second video posted Thursday morning on his official social media accounts, Dyer is shown (in both close-up and drone shots) pedaling along the Lewis S. Eaton Trail into Woodward Park to the familiar vocal of Queen’s “Bicycle Race.” He’s wearing a long-sleeved shirt, tie and slacks.
Looking not the least bit fatigued, Dyer reappears in the next scene riding his bike on the sidewalk outside City Hall. As Dyer pulls up next to the fountain, his voice-over invites everyone watching “to join him and bike to work.”
The video left me with a bushel of questions. Whether Dyer actually rode the 10-mile distance between Woodward Park and City Hall during filming wasn’t one of them. The abrupt editing made that fairly clear, though I would’ve enjoyed a scene of Dyer negotiating a busy arterial with no bike lanes as traffic zoomed past at 50 mph.
Now that would’ve been realistic.
But the video did make me wonder how someone would bike commute between Woodward Park and City Hall. Besides a smattering of painted lanes that disappear at intersections, cycling infrastructure along any realistic route is absent.
None of the north-south arterial streets along Fresno’s spine have a shared-use path with its own right of way. Nor are there protected bike lanes, though there’s been talk (and some movement) on that front for Palm Avenue.
Truth is, Fresno bike commuters are left to fend for themselves.
Other questions I had were about Dyer’s bike. With a thick frame, beefy tires and fenders and battery pack tucked above the bottom bracket, that’s no ordinary ride.
It is, in fact, an electric bicycle — e-bike is the common term — which have integrated motors that help boost the rider’s pedal power and are steadily gaining in popularity.
In my younger days, I would’ve ridiculed Dyer (or anyone) for riding an e-bike. But now, these 52-year-old legs and hard-headed brain see the wisdom of a little help. Especially when it’s 95 degrees and you don’t want to arrive at your destination looking like you just stepped out of a sauna.
Like with any post Dyer’s social media team puts out, the reaction was decidedly mixed. Some posters ogled his cool bike; others ridiculed the video’s obvious staging. He even got criticized for riding on the sidewalk. Social media is a disparate sounding board.
Fresno mayor now ‘hooked’ on e-bikes
I believe Dyer deserves some credit for promoting cycling and cycling awareness. He also wore a helmet, which sends a responsible message.
However, I was a little disappointed to learn how much of a charade the video was. Not only did Dyer not ride a whole lot during its production, he did not ride to work Friday as strongly implied.
“Come on Marek. I’m 63 years old,” Dyer responded via email, after announcing he tested positive for COVID-19. “You want me to have a heart attack?”
No, actually, I don’t. And with an e-bike, there’s really no fear.
Dyer told me he borrowed the e-bike from a friend, expressly for the video, but he’s now “hooked” and wants to purchase one for himself and his wife.
I think that’s a great idea, but here’s one that’s even better: After Dyer purchases an e-bike, he should actually use it to ride to work (for reals this time) simply to experience firsthand the street conditions and traffic hazards Fresno bike commuters face every day.
Then, perhaps, we might start to see the type of cycling infrastructure that would make bike commuting from Woodward Park to City Hall realistic for more people.
Dyer responded favorably to my suggestion.
“That’s a deal,” came the reply.
Terrific. If the mayor wants company, I’ll even make the journey with him. Pedaling under my own power, of course.
This story was originally published May 21, 2022 at 5:00 AM.
