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Thanks to the participation of thousands of bicycle enthusiasts from across the nation, the Alliance has replaced nearly 12,000 car trips with bicycle travel in the Clif Bar 2 Mile Challenge. So who are the two-wheeling women and men who have logged 92,500 miles for the Alliance Gold Team?

Well, one of our most dedicated riders, is Pete Beers. For the purposes of the 2MC, Beers goes by the nickname Dirt, but in the real world he lives in Falls Church, VA, and works as a software product manager for a large company in Washington, DC. Since the start of the Challenge, Pete has logged nearly 11,700 miles, replaced 666 car trips and saved 10,775 pounds of globe-warming carbon dioxide.

To get to know our Gold Team members a bit better, we’ll be posting 2-minute interviews with some of our 2 Mile Challenge leaders this summer. To kick us off, here’s a glimpse into Pete’s passion for bicycling…

What was the first car trip you replaced with a bicycle?

The question is backwards. I started replacing bicycle trips with car trips for a little while in high school and for a little while after graduation. Since then, I primarily ride everywhere and occasionally replace a bike ride with a car trip. I ride 300+ days and over 10,000 miles per year. I drove my car a few times last year.

Why do you ride instead of drive?

The DC area has been said to have the second or third worst traffic congestion in the US. I’m one of the few people that I know who not only enjoys, but LOVES the hour+ commute to work every day.

What’s your favorite two-mile trip?

Three words for you: Westover Beer Garden. Great place to enjoy a cold one with friends and loved ones.

Why did you take the 2 Mile Challenge?

It isn’t a challenge for me to leave the car at home. The 2MC gives me an easy way to show people how easy it is to leave the car at home. It is really fun too!

If you could make two changes to make your community more bike friendly, what would they be?

The “If I had a magic wand” answer is easy: 1) Triple the price of gasoline for personal consumption; and 2) Double the price of personal automobiles. My practical answer is to work to show people that they can live better by turning pedals. I’ve had a little success at that. I’d love to have more.

Join Pete; sign up for the Alliance Gold Team today!