Helen Scholtz doesn’t have far to go if she has questions about commuting by bicycle.

In fact, the answers are as close as her family circle.

The 60-year-old Bellingham resident talks about her family’s influences, her commute and how it feels to be back in the saddle again.

When she began bike commuting: Scholtz started 15 years ago but eventually stopped. She started again about a year ago because she wanted to get some exercise and help the planet.

“It’s a small step in reducing our dependence on oil,” she says.

Scholtz says the bike she used the first time around didn’t fit her and it wasn’t comfortable, so riding wasn’t fun. This time around she’s on a Softride, which is a better bike.

The right equipment coupled with the right attitude helps her continue with her commutes, which she’s doing two to three times per week.

“I have been thoroughly enjoying it. I want to keep it fun,” Scholtz says.

But she doesn’t pressure herself to stick to a schedule and ride, no matter what. “During the icy weather, I didn’t bike.”

Length of her ride: It’s 4½ miles from her home to work. It takes 20 to 25 minutes each way. It’s a ride that takes her down the Interurban to the South Bay Trail and past the Depot Market Square on her way to the Bellingham Public Library downtown, where she works as a children’s library specialist.

Sure, it takes twice as long to ride to work by bike. Sure, there’s a grunt of a hill on the last part of her ride home. And, yes, sometimes it’s not so fun to ride in the rain and show up at work soaking wet.

But there are benefits, like the scenery. “It’s beautiful,” she says.

And the pocket of time while riding is appreciated, along with the shot of energy she gets.

“It gets me that transition time from work to home and home to work,” Scholtz says. “I like the pace of biking.”

Scholtz also says she feels more connected to the outside world while on her bike.

“I’m smelling things, I’m hearing things I wouldn’t in a car,” she explains. “I’m a little surprised sometimes in traffic how much I have to pay attention (while on a bike). I can’t let my mind wander and meditate on things.”

With a little help… Family members have been big supporters. Son, Ben, found her bike for her; he’s also an avid cyclist. Her husband, Richard, has been encouraging. Other family members have been cheering on her efforts, from niece Wendy Scholtz — a bike commuter who is the Ride Share Service representative for King County — to son, Nick, who doesn’t own a car and gets around primarily by bike, public transportation or carpool.

Ditto for her co-workers at the library.

The riders in the family have been good resources.

“I’ve got lots of people that I can call upon and say, ‘Do you have any suggestions for this?’ ”

Preparing to ride: Scholtz enrolled in sessions offered by EverybodyBike, a local group that teaches people how to commute by bike through classes that focus on cycling skills and rules of the road.

“I would recommend that to anybody,” she says.

State of Bellingham cycling: “I appreciate the kind of effort that the city puts into having biking be enjoyable in this city, making it work,” Scholtz says. “There’s certainly a lot that can be improved, but I feel fortunate that I’ve had people for quite a while who have been raising those issues, demanding it, working hard on it, and people who are in city government who are also interested in facilitating that.

“We’ve got some excellent bike lanes. We’ve got some excellent trails that are mixeduse trails. And I think, for the most part, we have motorists who are considerate and aware.”

Advice for other would-be riders: Get equipment that works for you, that is comfortable and that you feel safe on. In short, get a bike that makes you want to go out and ride.

How long she thinks she’ll continue commuting by bike: “I don’t want to put any pressure on me. As long as it’s fun. I hope that I’ll be healthy and motivated to do it for a long time, but I’m just going to take a week at a time.”