Still Going

Despite the fact that I've not posted any updates in more than a year now, I have been doing quite a bit of biking since then. For the year of 2007 I bicycled 95 times to work, a roundtrip distance of about 24 miles (total distance of almost 2300 miles). I've modified my basic mountain bike a few times over the past 15 months and have become adept at keeping enough food and clothing here at work so I'm well fed and not looking too frumpy - though I must admit I'm frumpier than I used to be.

My colleagues at work no longer think I'm crazy, or at least keep those thoughts to themselves now. Occasionally on a bitter cold, snowy or rainy day on which I've biked to work, they will remark upon that, but for them I guess I'm just odd. And if they don't wonder why I do it, I certainly do sometimes. I have at least two good reasons: 1.- That I enjoy it, and 2.- I think it's the right thing to do.

Reason 1 is pretty easy to explain, for most people, even those who might not ride a bike. It's great to be outdoors, feel the wind in your hair, zip along under your own power, see your neighbors, your neighborhood, wildlife, beautiful sunrises, sunsets, and scenery, and to experience all the personal health benefits cycling affords. Sometimes it's tough when the weather is really cold or wet or snowy ... or when you experience inconsiderate or dangerous drivers, but normally it's great.

The second reason is more complex. I think cycling anywhere to reduce our need for automobiles is a step toward a better society. We consume far too much in our society and the personal automobile is not only one part of the consuming, contributing to our foreign dependence on oil, but also encourages other problems in our community such as isolation from/in our communities, sedentary lifestyles, suburban sprawl and the destruction of natural environments due to highways and parking lots used by automobiles. Automobiles make it easy for us to travel independently and easily, but this is not always a good thing. We are too often swayed to shop more, for things we don't need, and do things that don't really fulfil us. Historically, automobiles have also replaced other public transportation that is more efficient per rider, encourages community and mild exercise, and less environmentally destructive. I could go on, but that's for another blog.

For now I will keep on biking (I'm 14/21 now in January) and hope for warmer weather.