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Don't tell Craig Weinaug that riding a bike to work is too inconvenient, too tiring or too time-consuming.

Far from it.

The way the Douglas County administrator figures it, his daily commute -- ranging from 5.7 miles to 7.2 miles, depending on when he leaves the house -- pays off in more ways than he can count. But it starts with improved health and ends with the ultimate in convenience: door-to-door transportation.

It's multitasking on two wheels.

"It's an efficient way to get my exercise in," Weinaug says, before pulling his bicycle into a stairwell in the basement of the Douglas County Courthouse, 1100 Mass. "I can spend 15 minutes in the car or 25 minutes on my bike. And for those 10 minutes I get 25 minutes of exercise out of the way.

"It makes sense for me personally. It's a more efficient use of my time. I get both jobs done at the same time."

Weinaug counts himself among a growing number of area residents who will pedal their way to the office today, National Bike to Work Day, sponsored by the League of American Bicyclists.

Drawn by advantages ranging from environmental benefits to a lack of parking tickets, workers increasingly are leaving their cars at home in exchange for a ride in the open air, said Dan Hughes, a member of the city's Bicycle Advisory Committee.

Tough climb

Douglas County Administrator Craig Weinaug rides his bicycle to work every day. He starts the 7.5-mile trek around 7:30 a.m. from his house near Quail Run School and arrives at the courthouse about 25 minutes later.

But while interest in bicycle commuting is climbing in Lawrence, he said, don't mistake its speed for Lance Armstrong streaking up the Pyrenees during the Tour de France. It's more like a cyclist determined to climb 14th Street, past The Wheel, on the way to the Kansas University campus.

Stubborn. Persistent. Committed.

And hoping the top eventually comes.

"It's kind of like the bus system," said Hughes, who bikes daily to his job as co-owner of Sunflower Outdoor & Bike Shop, 802 Mass. "It's building, and building slowly. But we're seeing more and more 30-something professionals who say, ‘Hey, I can ride my bike to work.' ...

"Lawrence has enough rec paths, bike routes and bike paths that if you're willing to seek them out, it's pretty easy to get from point A to point B."

More bicycle-friendly features are on the way. Just last year, the city added:

• Eight miles of bike routes, boosting the city's total to 51.5 miles, up 18 percent.

• 6News video: Douglas County administrator enjoys commuting on his bike • Lawrence Bicycle Club • League of American Bicyclists

• 3.75 miles of dedicated bike lanes, more than doubling the 2.75 miles that were in place before 2002. More are coming to North Michigan Street and O'Connell Road.
• 1.75 miles of recreational paths, tacked onto the 18.5 miles that have grown popular among walkers, in-line skaters and other outdoor enthusiasts.

A map of rec paths, bike routes, bike paths and planned paths and routes is available online at www.lawrenceplanning.org/transportation/tranbike.html.

Looking ahead

Keith McMahon, who's been riding his mountain bike to Mount Oread since 1984, appreciates the city's commitment. And he's looking forward to more.

"I wish we had a bike path linking north to south and east to west, or two of each," said McMahon, chairman of East Asian languages and cultures at KU. "But I know it's hard to do that."

Weinaug promises to keep up his end of the bargain, at least individually. He likes the idea of leaving a parking space open, so that another county employee or taxpayer can find a place to park. And public streets face less wear and tear if he's losing weight and riding a bike, rather than retaining pounds while reclining in his car.

"Obviously, it isn't practical for everybody to do," he said. "Most people would look at me -- in fact, lots of people look at me, when I tell them I bike to work over five miles -- like I've got a few rocks in my head. But I'm a county administrator, and they've got to know I probably have a few rocks in my head to pick that as a career."

That also might explain why he wears a helmet.

"Always," he said.