Reyes Promotes Efficient Travel in Takoma Park

In a city bogged down by traffic congestion, Jo Reyes has found a solution to avoid the frustration: biking.

As the owner of in Takoma Park, Reyes has been able to transform his life-long passion into a city-wide momentum for more efficient traveling through selling bicycles, motorized bicycles and cargo bicycles.   

"Since we started this store, people have come to realize that there are other more efficient ways of commuting," Reyes said. Takoma Park residents have become increasingly more interested in the sensation of motorized vehicles in order to stay consistent with the sustainability movement that has swept the city.

Reyes, a Filipino native, has been interested in cycling since his childhood years. After moving to America at 15 years old, he explored his interests in automotive mechanics.

"It's my passion: taking mechanical things apart, figuring out how they work and putting them back together," he said. With a passion for mechanics and practicality, Reyes began his career bettering the fuel efficiency of Ferraris. He later took a job with a Ferrari racing team as a mechanic. As a member of The Electric Vehicle Association in the 1990's Reyes furthered his concern with the practicalities of fuel efficiency and environmental issues. "My real concern is not wasting products," Reyes said who considers himself to be foremost, practical.

While he has always been interested in biking, the concept for The Green Commuter began when his physically active wife was no longer able to keep up to him as they went out for long bike rides. Immediately Reyes began researching motorized vehicles, searching for something that would enable those who were unable to bike long distances. He bought his wife a motorized bike and was later encouraged by residents and business owners to open a speciality bike shop. "It's a transitional thing, it levels the playing field for those who wouldn't regularly commute by vehicles," Reyes said.

Reyes is strongly committed to providing the community with the opportunity to have more efficient methods of travel. He personally commutes nearly 50 minutes each day to and from work to demonstrate his efficiency, avoid traffic and squeeze in a daily workout among his hectic schedule. "Electric power makes a lot of sense when you talk about urban commuting, most of our daily commute is less than 15 miles and it's perfect for electric vehicles especially when you sit in traffic," Reyes said.

He is currently developing a project that will allow restaurants and grocery stores such as the Takoma Park Co-Op to partner with The Green Commuter to provide delivery by bikes. With cargo bikes that feature a large storage unit, a months worth of groceries are able to be delivered to customers.

"GE has helped the community by opening a business that will help the community drive cars less and get to there destinations faster and more efficient," Reyes' co-worker, Gary Bailey said.