By Augie Colantuono

*Save money on gas

*Easy parking

For most of us, when the winter comes we put our bicycles away until the summer returns. But for a few, their bikes stay out all year round.
Tom Jakubaszdk, a senior business major at Buffalo State College, says he has always ridden his bike in the winter.

“I thought it was a good idea to ride my bike all the time because it saves gas money. If there’s something you just gotta do real close, then I always ride my bike,” Jakubaszdk said.

He uses gloves and a hat to stay warm and is cautious of the dangers that come along with the harsh winter weather.

“Nobody clears their sidewalks, so you gotta ride in the street,” Jakubaszdk said. “Then in the street, there’s cars and ice, and it’s easy to get hit.”

He thinks riding in the summer is better but is able to recognize what he calls advantages to riding in the winter.

“You don’t have to mess with parking. You just come right in to school and throw it on a bike rack,” he said.

Corry Barron, a junior broadcasting major, says he has never ridden a bike in the winter and he first noticed people on their bikes while riding around in his car.

“I was driving down Elmwood and downtown. I would just see different people riding bikes, I guess they didn’t have bus passes,” Barron said.

He has no plans to ride a bike in the winter soon, but says if the moment called for it, he would.

“It depends,” Barron said scratching his chin.

“If I were in dire straights and I had to get somewhere that I really needed to go, then I probably would, but nine times out of 10 I’ll catch the bus instead.”

Peter Laforce, an officer here at Buffalo State College for the past 20 years, says he has never had to report any bike accidents but still thinks it’s not a good idea to ride in the winter.

“Obviously the weather would dictate whether you should ride a bike or not,” Laforce said.

“If it’s snowing and there’s snow on the roadway you shouldn’t be ridding a bicycle on a snow covered roadway. It’s unsafe, you don’t have control of you bicycle. Other than that, if they just obey the rules of the road, as bike riders should. It’s not a problem as long as the roads are clear and dry.”