Q&A by Haley Stupasky

Hometown: Austin, TX

As an active participant in the cyclist community of Eugene, Savannah enjoys going to biking events around town and expanding her social circle. Biking not only gets her from point A to point B, but it also satisfies her desire to lessen her impact on the environment.

What sets Oregon apart from where you come from?

I come from a big city in a hot state where most of the people are constantly trying to find ways to beat the heat. In Oregon I find people are a lot more outdoorsy and connected with nature because the climate and landscape are so conducive to that kind of lifestyle.

What were the first things you noticed about Oregon when you moved here?

I moved here in February of 2008, so the first thing I noticed was the cold, rain and snow; things that are nearly unheard of in Texas. At first I was so excited, but after awhile the winter weather began to wear on me. The spring made it all worth it though, because all that rain brigs all of the beautiful nature to life!

In your opinion, what about Oregon attracts people from all around the world to live here? To visit?

I think the community and the landscape of Oregon are extremely attractive to newcomers. Things like Saturday Market, the ducks, the awesome hiking spots, the eco-friendliness, and the positive people make Oregon what it is. There is a lot more interconnectivity in places like Eugene that in big cities like Austin.

Talk more about Oregon as a whole and why you think it is different than other places around the world. What things do you see here that you don’t other places?

Oregon as a whole is really pretty tolerant of many alternative lifestyles that are shunned or oppressed in many other places. Equality, GMO free food, legalizing marijuana, being green…these are all things widely supported in Oregon that are still relatively less recognized in places like Texas.

What is it about Oregon that makes people want to bike? How does the culture in Oregon encourage biking as a way of transport?

Well first of all, I think the fact that everything is pretty accessible by bike and the fact that it isn’t sweltering hot all the time makes biking seem more practical. Oregon also has a good infrastructure for biking; plenty of bike paths and people who are at least a bit aware of bikers than in other places where cycling isn’t as comment. Furthermore, I think that the environmentally conscious mentality of the people in Oregon makes biking more legitimized and almost expected.

How does biking impact your social life?

Most of my friends bike, so a lot of the fun things we do together involve bikes in some way. Whether it’s an organized bicycle event like the Moonlight Mash or biking to each other’s houses, cycling plays a huge role in how we socialize.

How do you think we can mobilize more people in Oregon to use this form of transport?

I think fun bike events are a great way to encourage more people to hop on their bikes and join the crowd. When people see how fun and convenient biking can be, I think they will be inspired to do it more.