Onondaga (WSYR-TV) -- It started as a way to save money on gas, but has turned into a lifestyle for an Onondaga County Community College professor. Next month, he’ll make his 1,000th commute to work on his bicycle.
Even with the snow on the ground and the winter chill in the air, Larry Weiskirch has rarely missed his daily commute to work on his bike – no matter the weather.
“99 percent of the time the weather is good enough, the roads are in good shape,” Weiskirch told NewsChannel 9.
The 47-year-old microbiology professor started biking to work everyday four-and-a-half years ago after gas prices started to rise.
“Not only am I not buying gas, I’m not paying for the maintenance of a car. We were actually able to get rid of one of our cars,” Weiskirch continued.
Larry's commute is 2.5 miles and takes about 20 minutes one way, but it includes a challenging hill around McDonald Road.
"I never thought that I'd be riding my bike to work every single day because the first day I did it, I was pretty tired, I'd go up a big hill,” Weiskirch said.
Mildly asthmatic, Weiskirch surprised himself after the first day turned into a second and a third and far beyond to bring him to where he is now, about to hit his 1000th commute to work on his bike next month.
"It's fun to ride a bike, you're out in the outdoors, you get exercise, I think it's a win-win to ride your bike,” he said. “I hope to keep doing this as long as I can."
