SANTA CRUZ -- Jessica Coles, an assistant manager at Westside Animal Hospital in downtown Santa Cruz, figured riding her bike to work was a good way to stay active and save a few bucks. Free bike maintenance is also available at selected sites, as are free massages and even acupuncture. That solution -- downsizing from four wheels to two -- will be on display Thursday for Bike to Work day, when 7,000 county residents, including schoolchildren, are expected to take part. But her commitment to her new method of commuting sets her apart: She sold her Toyota Corolla to a co-worker, opting instead for an old beach cruiser with a basket attached for errands. "I went from paying $420 a month to having it in my bank account instead," Coles said. The rain is something Coles is still getting accustomed to, along with other wrinkles that come with not having a car, such as visits to out-of-town friends or distant appointments. Organized by Ecology Action, this fall's event day includes a hearty breakfast available at 16 sites throughout the county for bicyclists.
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