Many people may know the face of Uschi Henelt, a long time Campbell River resident.
She has been riding a bike her entire life. Born in East Germany to a family without a vehicle, Henelt recalls widespread use of bikes for daily transportation. Her family eventually fled to West Germany where biking remained a critical transportation method for getting to work, play and weekend outings.
As a local resident, Henelt spent many days biking all over Campbell River and Quadra Island with her kids in tow. Biking became a primary mode of transportation that she has continued throughout most of her life. At 70 years young Henelt now works with the Recreation and Culture department, in a variety of children programs, and whenever she can, she bikes to work.
Biking to work for her is not a short jaunt as she commutes in from the York Road area – that’s roughly 15 kilometres each way.
“Getting to work is a priority but biking is more than that,” she says. “I get to see things I wouldn’t necessarily see when driving. It is also a great way to relax and get some exercise. I wish more people would ride their bikes, and they don’t have to travel on main roads, there are lots of side streets people can use to commute. There are so many awesome rides in this area, and I am seeing more and more people riding which is fantastic.”
Henelt accredits her ability to ride frequently to the fact that she works part-time. But she is actively living her passion for biking, cross-country skiing and hiking. Biking has become a way of life for Uschi and should inspire us all to get on two wheels.