Extending one’s biking reach with multimodal mobility isn’t uncommon here in Provo, with UVX stations smartly spaced along the 830x route to Orem and FrontRunner providing a bike car on all trips as far as Ogden, Utah. But occasional multimodal trips from Provo to Europe, who’s doing that? It appears that BYU graduate Conner Simmons is, and we're not talking about vacations, his main interest is entrepreneurial, charitable pursuits.
After meeting Conner at BikeWalk Provo’s “Cargo Bike Round-Up” in mid-May, I sat down with him in a quiet corner of the Provo City Library to learn more. Conner was actually on his way to Logan, Utah to meet up with a friend that afternoon, and he generously accommodated me into his busy schedule just before leaving town. What did he have with him? Two foldable bikes, carrying bags, and a collapsible biking helmet—this multimodal user was really ready to roll!
“I’ve been biking in Provo for a year now, since living in my campervan,” Conner begins. “I want to have the ability to freely move about, minimal constraints are key to my life, simple.”
Conner graduated from Brigham Young University’s School of Accountancy in 2020, “in my parents’ driveway because of COVID,” and has since owned a bed and breakfast (Mural House), an assisted living facility in Bountiful, and is the founder of Chamba and HappenStance, two nonprofit, fundraising enterprises. He started biking three years ago in Layton, Utah where he grew up, and continues to travel with a bike in managing the operations of his businesses.
“The Brompton enables me to do all around biking; I prefer biking to have a more positive environmental impact and to get exercise into my day.” Safety and a sense of community are important to Conner, “I’ve realized how dangerous driving is.” A year and a half ago he ran over a turkey with an automobile and “didn’t want to endanger any more animals… or people.”
Conner’s other two wheeler is a Kwiggle, a 22 pound German made foldable that he transports in a shoulder-strapped storage bag whenever he’s riding his Brompton and needs an extra bike. “The Kwiggle is what I take on airplanes.” He flies often, and he is able to bring the Kwiggle with him on board flights as carry-on baggage. As for the need of a bicycle helmet, Conner carries with him an Overade PLIXI folding helmet that neatly fits into his Brompton Metro Waterproof Bag, a standard-size handbag that comes with a front carrier block and that can be easily and quickly clipped onto the front of his Brompton (of which he demonstrated to me).
“If I’m going to the airport, I have the Kwiggle on my back… or, if I’m meeting a friend to bring them a bike,” Conner explains that that is just what he’s planning to do after our interview.
In May of this year Conner organized an event, a “Slow Down Social,” at the Utah State Capitol to watch the sunset. With 250 people attending the “off-screen, screen free sunset” his intention was “encouraging people to be aware of technology and to connect with people in real life.” Recently, Conner flew to Southern California to see if he could “get the rights or license” to use the renowned character “Waldo” for charitable purposes. He portrays Waldo internationally on the streets of cities or at events, and many times while riding atop his Kwiggle.
“I look just like Waldo! I do a lot of community events to get people to have a positive impact and do something meaningful ‘off-screen.’” Conner has ridden his Kwiggle in six countries, “people like to see it” and he expresses further, “I wish we did biking like in Europe… Germany, Denmark, The Netherlands. I feel a part of the world around me.”
Any last words, I ask Conner? “Biking is community building!”
