Carlos Elliott, manager of the Army and Air Force Exchange Service gas station at Misawa Air Base, Japan, ditched his car in February 2004 and rides his bike into work most days, even in the snow. (Jennifer H. Svan / Stars and Stripes)

MISAWA AIR BASE, Japan — Inspired by one of his students, University of Maryland University College professor John Klock convinced the Misawa UMUC branch to promote a bike-to-work week to begin after the Memorial Day holiday.

Klock said the idea is to promote a healthy lifestyle, protect the environment, reduce fossil fuel dependency and save money.

A life sciences and biology instructor, Klock said he tries to ride into work every day from his off-base home. But he got fired up about trying to encourage others to do the same, from the example set by UMUC student Carlos Elliott, the manager, ironically, of the Army and Air Force Exchange Service gas station.

“He would dress up and ride in during the middle of the winter,” Klock said. “When it’s really icy, I don’t ride.”

Elliott, who also lives off base, began riding his bike to work in February 2004 after his car failed a Japan Compulsory Insurance inspection. At about the same time, he was looking to get into shape and work through some personal issues. “I wanted to see if I could do something without relying on a car,” he said. “I was trying to make myself a little tougher.”

Turns out, he did just that, having slogged through Misawa’s relentless cold and snowy winter every day this year on his mountain bike. He conquered Misawa’s icy roads with tire studs ordered from Sapporo in Hokkaido.

His car? He got rid of it.

“I’m locked in,” he said. “I’ve had people try to give me cars … it’s just all about the bike.”

He’ll occasionally take a taxi when it rains — the rain is messy to ride in, he said — or when he goes somewhere with his kids.

For longer trips, sometimes he’ll rent a car or hop on the train.

“Other than that, I don’t see a real need for a car in Misawa,” Elliot said. “I go to Shimoda mall on my bike, Hachinohe … it’s no problem at all.”

Klock does have a car but usually leaves it at home with his wife, he said. He carries his teaching materials in a saddle bag and finds after the 12- to 15-minute ride to base, he’s “completely awake” and energized for the workday.

“I think if people get into the habit of riding their bike a couple of days in a row,” he said, “they’ll actually find that it’s great.”