SVBC Member Spotlight: Maria Ristow

We are happy to spotlight Maria Ristow in the latest Member Spotlights series on our blog!Maria was born and raised in Chicago, and has always viewed driving as the transportation of last choice. As a youth, her and her four siblings walked, biked and took public transit to school, parks, the beach, the library, and Cubs games. Now as an adult, she continues to ride with her friends,  dubbing themselves Team Vertical, as it's their goal to remain vertical when out riding. Along with being a a member of SVBC, Maria is a member of Western Wheelers and has joined the Long Distance Training rides to start preparing for the Climate Ride this summer, where she will be riding with Team SVBC. (Would you like to join her on Team SVBC? Contact Team Captain Shiloh Ballard)Are you an SVBC member, and wish to showcase your bike club’s work, events, and/or concerns? Contact us!How did you get introduced to Silicon Valley Bicycle Coalition?I was introduced to SVBC by, of all people, developers of a project in Los Gatos. I was concerned about connectivity from the proposed new housing and commercial businesses to the rest of the town. Not only did they address my concerns, but they pointed me to SVBC, where I found a large, supportive organization forwarding issues I cared about and much more!What kind of activities and/or trips do you use your bicycle for?I use my bicycle for almost anything I can-- certainly for pleasure and exercise. I biked over 7,000 miles last year. That included two touring rides, lots of training and then just local riding for commuting and exercise. I volunteer as a commissioner or representative to various organizations in Los Gatos, and I do NOT drive to those meetings: Safe Routes to School, the Transportation and Parking Commission, and the BPAC. I bike, rain or shine, to my health club-- it seems silly to drive to a gym! I also raised my children to walk or bike to school, and they would comment about how they felt more awake when they arrived than on the rainy days when they got a car ride.You'll be on Team SVBC again for this year's Climate Ride. Hooray! Can you share what's your favorite part of the Ride, who you will be raising funds for, and why?I'm so excited to participate in my second Climate Ride this summer! One thing I love about this type of riding is the opportunity to explore new roads in such an intimate way. Touring on a bike allows me to smell, hear, and see my surroundings as I move along. It's easy to stop along the way: for an amazing view; to check out flowers, butterflies, birds, cows, horses, goats and more; sample tasty local treats; have a beer; dip my feet into the ocean or a river. The Climate Ride is a venue to meet other interesting and passionate people, concerned about our environment, who also love biking. I felt like I was at "camp for adults" last year, as someone else cooked my meals and carried my gear! All I had to do each day was fold up my tent, roll out each morning on a long, beautiful ride with amazing companions, arrive to great food and cheerful volunteers, put up my tent, and relax. It's a great reminder of how little materially one needs to be happy. The final aspect I enjoy about the Climate Ride is the generosity of my donors-- I am a believer in the work of SVBC, and I'm proud to do my part to publicize and assist such an effective organization.Among your friends and people you know who don't ride a bike, what do you think would help encourage them to get out there? For people I know who do not (yet) ride a bike, I think there are different reasons. For many people, I think it's a matter of creating new habits and overcoming the idea that it's easier to jump into the car. My husband just in the past two years has been bike-commuting, after he bought a better bike, lights, a backpack for his laptop, and committed to riding no matter how "busy" he was. (He's always busy.) He now resents when an offsite meeting requires him to have his car. Biking is a habit that enhances his life, even when he's at work past 8pm. Other people have a perception that it's too difficult or dangerous. Getting them out for a few rides, on the right bike and on a low-stress route, can make a huge difference. Working to get more kids biking to school involves convincing the parents sometimes more than the students.What do you think needs to be done to achieve 10% of trips taken by bike by 2025 in Silicon Valley?To achieve 10% of trips by bike by 2025? Focus at LEAST as much on bike infrastructure as for cars. Safe lanes, parking, traffic signals. Cyclists need to be a legitimate part of traffic. As watching freeway carpool lanes zip along inspires some people to share their commute or buy an electric vehicle, then I think watching more bikes move past traffic jams and through filled parking lots might inspire a few people to opt for two wheels over four.Share with us what a dream day on your bike looks like. A dream day on my bike? I'd start from my house, meet a few friends, and head up into the Santa Cruz mountains. I love climbing through the redwoods. We'd have to visit Big Basin State Park then head to the coast. It's almost impossible for me to be near the ocean and not dip my toes. We'd eat lunch and watch the waves, then find another route home back over the hills. We'd end with cold beer and chips and salsa while we figured out dinner.What would you say to someone considering becoming a member of SVBC? Some one considering joining SVBC? Just do it! What a great way to support and plug into an incredible organization that is all about equity and safety and advocacy and education. I look to SVBC as a resource, a champion, and ally. Between discounts, events and information, membership is a great deal!Will you join Maria and the other 2,000+ members of SVBC? Join today and support our work to make our streets and trails safe for all users, improve and expand bike infrastructure where you live and ride, and get more people riding!