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Berks bicyclists mark anniversary of bike to work program

By Holly Herman, Reading Eagle, Saturday May 21, 2016

For Michael Golembiewski, Friday morning marked the five-year anniversary of riding his bicycle to work.

To celebrate the milestone, the 50-year-old Berks County transportation planner joined 35 other bicyclists in the third annual bike ride organized by Commuter Services of Pennsylvania and Reading Health System in recognition of National Bike to Work Week, May 16 to 20.

Riders traveled through the tree-lined streets of West Reading and into Reading via the Penn Street Bridge. The group passed City Hall and Reading Area Community College before winding back to Reading Hospital.

"It was a perfect day," Golembiewski said after the ride. "Every day I ride my bike to work is a perfect day."

Golembiewski said it takes him about 15 minutes to ride from his home in northeast Reading to his job at the Berks County Services Center in downtown Reading.

"It wakes me up," Golembiewski said of his bike commute. "There is no traffic when I leave my house at 7 a.m."

Matthew G. Boyer, executive director of Commuter Services of Pennsylvania, thanked all the bicyclists for participating in Friday's ride. Based in York, Commuter Services works to reduce traffic congestion in the region by helping commuters find alternatives to driving alone. Those alternatives include biking and carpooling.

"This is an event to spur more people on to riding bikes to work," Boyer said, as he welcomed the bicyclists back from the morning ride. Boyer then presented two Trek bicycles to the Wyomissing police force bicycle patrol unit. The bikes were provided by Reading Health System, Penske Racing Shocks and private donors.

Wyomissing Police Chief Jeffrey R. Biehl said he was thankful for the new bikes, noting the old bikes were outdated.

"We had a bike patrol for the last 12 to 15 years," Biehl said. "The new bicycles will be put to good use."

Officers Richard Karstien and Kevin Quinter, members of the borough's bike patrol, said they will use the bikes to patrol parks and streets. Quinter noted that he recently participated in a 250-mile annual Bike Ride for Law Enforcement from Reading to a police memorial in Washington.

At the close of Friday's event, Boyer gave out T-shirts, water bottles, pens and other items to the participants.

Carla Thompson took off her bike helmet to relax for a few minutes before heading back to her Reading home.

"I am a regular bike rider," she said. "This is what I like to do best. I love riding."

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