I spend one hour a day exercising.
When I'm finished, I've traveled to and from work by bike. I've gone door-to-door faster than I would have by bus. I have not spent a dime on gasoline, parking or bus fare. Nor have I contributed to air or noise pollution.
I derive great pleasure from the efficiency of my bicycle. I call it the "environmental aesthetic" (pleasure) rather than the "environmental ethic" (morality).
Modern bikes are light, take up minimal space and give maximum output for minimum input. (At my age - 62 - minimum input is very important.)
Bicycling could be a part of the solution to some of our nation's most severe problems - traffic congestion, air pollution and obesity.
Sixty-four percent of adults and 15 percent of American children are overweight. The cost of obesity to the health-care system and to our benefit premiums is staggering.
While cycling is by no means a complete solution, it's good for the body, the mind, the pocketbook and the air we breathe. It allows individuals to do at least a little something to stave off global warming as well as reduce our nation's dependence on foreign oil.
Commuting by bicycle is not without some risk. Here are a few tips, some of them admittedly learned first-hand:
- Watch out for potholes. I know that Mayor Greg Nickels has made sure most of them are filled, but I did find a big one recently.
- Wear a helmet and brightly colored clothing.
- Make sure you have a good rear-view mirror and flashing lights for night travel.
- Wear bicycle rain gear and warm, light gloves for the winter commute.
- Be considerate of pedestrians: Don't surprise them by speeding past.
- If you're tired and it's dark and wet outside, don't feel ashamed about loading your bike onto the front of a bus and letting someone else do the driving.
- Conversely, when the weather's good, take the longer, more scenic routes home.
For more information, visit www.cascade.org.
Jim Street is a former member of the Seattle City Council.[[In-content Ad]]
