Five Questions for . . . The B-Cycle Gang!

We will be meeting al fresco at the commuter comfort station on the Omaha side of the Bob Kerry Bridge for our coffee chat this Friday. Joining us will be two representatives from Heartland B-Cycle to discuss the bike sharing in Omaha and future expansions in the system. Jes Slavin and Benny Foltz are passionate about active transportation. We look forward to chatting with them this Friday, May 18th at 8 a.m.

Jes is a long time bike commuter and cycling advocate. She has a BFA in Writing, Literature, and Publishing with a Photography Minor that she now utilizes to create content for Heartland Bike Share as their Marketing & Memberships Manager. She moved to Nebraska from Massachusetts to get a Masters that she isn’t using right now but wouldn’t be living her dream of helping create a more sustainable and healthy culture of transportation without. Jes also loves her dog, Molly, and getting outside for rad adventures. We asked her Five Questions . . .

Benny Foltz was born & raised in rural Nebraska. He holds a Bachelors & Masters from UNO in Recreation Management. In addition to being the Special Projects/Business Manager for Heartland Bike Share, he’s an officer and co-founding director of the Nebraska Bicycling Alliance. Cycling and cycling infrastructure have played a large role in Benny’s life an career. He is on the board of directors for the Nebraska Trails Foundation and a former keyholder for the Community Bike Shop Omaha. He is a league certified cycling instructor and once earned a Gold Bicycle Friendly Business Award from the League of American Bicyclists for a large technology company. We asked him five questions . . .

1. What is your preferred mode of transportation?  

My bare feet  and/or a bicycle

2. What, in your opinion, is the greatest challenge to multi-modal transportation in Omaha?  

Overcoming the general populations mindset that multi-modal transportation should not only be accepted, but that it should be involved and included in all decisions.

3. What, in your opinion, the the greatest multi-modal success in Omaha?  

The fact that multiple groups across the area are working towards a common goal to make the city more multi-modal.  If this effort were to diminish in any way, then the possibility for a lack of multi-modal system becomes more of a reality.  We all have to work together, and then together we can ride (or walk or skate or stroll) safely!  That, and the Bike Share program!

4. How did you come to have an interest in transportation?  

Once I started using my bicycle as a method of transportation, I quickly realized the joys and benefits that accompany the experience.  Almost immediately, it all seemed very logical to ride my bike more and illogical as to why we were driving vehicles so much, especially on short trips.

5. If you could magically change one thing about the transportation systems in Omaha, without limit to budget or feasibility, what would it be?  

Increase education and the importance of what multi-modal brings to everyone and our planet, especially the youth.  Also more compassion and kindness for everyone…and breathing exercises 🙂