Fort George Brewery employee Victoria Sheehan rides out of the Lovell Building on a new Kona commuter bike, purchased by the brewery as part of a bike-to-work program.

Victoria Sheehan rode her new black Kona Rove bike out of the Lovell Building, ready to hit the road on a sunny Friday.

Along with 35 others at Fort George Brewery, Sheehan has agreed to commute to work at least 40 days a year on a new bike purchased by the brewery to support employee health and reduce congestion.

Fort George co-owner Chris Nemlowill said he had seen a couple of other breweries increase bike commuting and thought it would be a good idea in Astoria, where he rides from his hillside home to the downtown brewery.

“I definitely feel like it will clear up a few parking spots downtown around Fort George,” Nemlowill said.

Fort George offered free bikes to all employees of at least one year, giving out 35 in total. The brewery has constructed a bike shelter across Duane Street.

Ed Jones, the owner of Bike Envy in Warrenton and a sales and distribution employee at Fort George, assembled the bikes.

“A year or two ago, me and Chris were talking about doing this, getting people on bikes,” he said.

The brewery had already sponsored Kona cycling teams, he said, and Nemlowill had purchased bikes for he and his dad to ride. “During the summers, I bike to work,” he said.

Some employees will have it easier than others. Nemlowill said he rides his bike from his hillside home in Astoria. Sheehan lives in Warrenton and said she will bike through Lewis and Clark and over the Old Youngs Bay Bridge to avoid traffic on U.S. Highway 101.

“If this weather holds up, I’ll be riding to work everyday,” she said.