Cyclist Commutes to Work through Acadia's Blueberry Fields
by Deb O'Donnell

My daily commute by bike from my home in Southwest Harbor to my job at Jackson Laboratory in Bar Harbor features some of the most beautiful scenery in America.

I bike from June through September, rain or shine. I leave my house at 5 a.m. for the 16-mile ride. My route takes me through blueberry fields, then on two miles of a gravel road through Acadia National Park, with critters such as deer, coyote, owls and fox along the way. I hop on the main road by Echo Lake. Some days, eagles soar over the choppy waves; other times, it's so calm that I can see the tiny wakes left by diving loons.

I ride through the picturesque village of Somesville, with its white bridge over the stream that flows into Somes Sound. I climb up Eagle Lake Road, by the entrance to Cadillac Mountain, then enjoy a long downhill with the mountains as a backdrop. The whole ride is "pinch me, can this be real?"

Jackson Laboratory has bike racks at the front entry and lockers and showers for employees in a new fitness center. I carry panniers on my bike so I can bring my clothes in each day - and pick up groceries at the end of the day.

In the afternoon, I have a short ride into Bar Harbor to board one of the free shuttles (equipped with bike racks) that go all over the island. This is a great service provided by Acadia National Park and LL Bean for commuters and tourists alike. I meet the most wonderful people from all over the world! It takes about 40 minutes but offers some time for conversation, reading, reviewing the day or next day's plans. I jump off at Echo Lake and bike a couple of miles home.

I belong to GOMaine, which allows me to call a cab in case of emergency. That makes a big difference to me, as I have a daughter with an illness that may require me to get to her quickly.

My bike commute helps me feel like I am doing my part to help the environment. It saves me about $5 a day on gas. Biking allows me to clear my head and be fresh for work in the morning and then for my family when I return home.

Upon arrival, my 10-year-old son often asks me if I would like to go for a bike ride. I wouldn't miss it! The love of biking is contagious.

I have been blessed to do this commute since 2004 with only a couple of flat tires and a few folks who would rather hug the white line than the yellow. Work already had been done to make my route bike-friendly, with "Share the Road" signs and wide shoulders.

Many other roads on Mt. Desert Island are more challenging for biking. We have a long way to go to make biking safe so that everyone can choose to commute this way.

Deb O'Donnell works as architectural project manager for Jackson Laboratory's engineering department. The "Maine Cyclist" will include columns about bike commuting in future issues. If you would like to tell your story, please email Shoshana@BikeMaine.org.

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