PEDALLER ON THE ROUTE
Eric Gallo-Miscevich and his new ride helps keep the fleet balanced for Bike Share Toronto,
As Eric Gallo-Miscevich cycles down the Martin Goodman Trail on Queens Quay, it takes a moment for onlookers to understand what they’re seeing.
At first glance it looks like the 19year-old is riding three bikes at once; two of them seem to hover off the ground in front of him, their wheels not moving, while Gallo-Miscevich pedals away. But in fact he’s the operator of Bike Share Toronto’s brand new bike-hauling cargo bike.
Gallo-Miscevich admits the machine attracts some odd glances. “Some people look like they’re seeing an alien,” he says.
While his Seussian contraption may look odd, it’s a practical solution to a persistent problem for Bike Share Toronto. Because most users head in the same direction at the same time of day, some bike stations end up with too many bikes and others with too few.
It’s Gallo-Miscevich’s job to “balance” the 1,000-bike fleet by shuttling bicycles from overcrowded stations to empty ones using only the power of his pedals. He can fit two Bike Share bicycles onto the cargo bike, each one weighing 45 pounds. Moving them around is gruelling work, especially during this week’s heat wave, but Gallo-Miscevich is an avid cyclist and loves the job.
“It’s very fun,” he grins. A student at Queen’s University for most of the year, he says he took the summer gig at Bike Share because he wanted something “out of the ordinary.”
The cargo-bike idea was borrowed from New York City’s Citibike program, which pioneered their use. Before Bike Share introduced its version last week, the program was dependent on three cube vans to redistribute its bikes. The trucks are still being used, but during rush hour they can get stuck in gridlock, but by using bike lanes Gallo-Miscevich and can often do the job quicker.
“The cargo bike has significantly increased our service abilities,” says Scott Hancock, general manager of the company that operates Bike Share. The system’s balance has improved even though ridership is up 35 per cent over this time last year.
The introduction of the cargo vehicle hasn’t been completely smooth, however. Although he’s an experienced cyclist, it took Gallo-Miscevich some time to get the hang of the heavy-duty ride, which was custom made for Bike Share by local cargobicycle specialist Paul Larsen. “A few times it almost flipped over on me,” Gallo-Miscevich says.
On an average day, Gallo-Miscevich makes between 30 to 40 trips between stations. To cope with the heat, he carries a two-litre sack of water strapped to his back, which he can drink from through a tube while he rides. To keep himself fuelled, he tries to eat plenty of pasta.
Despite spending all day wheeling around the city, Gallo-Miscevich still likes to bike in his free time, at least whenever he’s not exhausted. His arduous day job has given him a whole new appreciation for his 10-speed bicycle. “After I get off this bike, I feel I can fly on my bike,” he says.