Bernie van Kampen is out the door by about 3:30am most mornings. She dons her helmet, flicks on her bike lights and rides her trusty silver BMX five kilometres through the dark streets of Cloverdale to her job as a caretaker at Belmont City College. Work starts at 4am.

“I ride my bike every day, even if it’s wet,” the 81-year-old told us. “I’m very conscious about my exercise because I want to be healthy and I do feel healthy which I am very grateful for. I don’t feel my age. I love it!”

“As a child I didn’t get a pushbike until I was in high school and then I rode a lot but not much after school finished. I’m so glad to be riding again.”

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Van Kampen said her five kilometre commutes from her Cloverdale home to the College were often the best part of her day. She also rides her bike to get around different parts of the school as she works.

“I probably shouldn’t ride this BMX bike because it’s a kid’s bike and I look like a bit of a kid, but I don’t care, I am a kid! I’m not embarrassed, it’s convenient and it’s comfortable,” she said.

“I just like the freedom and the independence and the easy bike parking and not worrying about putting petrol in the car and the rest of it.”

“I have an electric bike as well. E-bikes are great but you have to know what they do and how to handle them.”

Aside from riding to work every day, van Kampen often meets her 13-year-old grandson for rides around the city. “It’s a great way for us to spend time together and bond on bikes. We’ve ridden over the new Boorloo Bridge. What a fantastic structure and it’s so great to be completely removed from traffic.”

If you see her, say hello…