2-Wheel Me

Even though it's still cold by normal standards for April (daily high temperature is barely 50 degrees F) I'm going to start an experiment: if I'm making a trip that is shorter than 10 miles from home, I am going to ride a bicycle.

This is going to be a challenge because: CARS RULE !!! here. Even though biking advocacy groups are working hard to change this and to provide better facilities for bikes, this is not a bike-friendly neighborhood. If I travel more than 4 miles to the west, it's all major highways, no shoulders on the roads, etc.

Rules that I am going to try to follow:

0. If the temperature is above 50 degrees F, then
1. I MUST ride a bike if the trip is 5 miles or less in 1 direction.
2. I will TRY to ride a bike if the trip if >5 and up to 10 miles in any direction (the west may be tough)
3. Office trips are not included - the trip to the office is within the 10 mile radius, but there are no facilities for bike storage or showers.
4. The city limits are technically between 1.5 and 4 miles away, depending on whether I use a paved or unpaved path. Going into the city should require a bike, not a car, unless it's at night.
5. No bikes in rain, snow, or, night in the street (i.e., night riding on the bike path is OK).

This is totally a wussy approach to transportation biking, but US suburbs are, for many reasons, not safe, and getting hit by an SUV is not fun. Plus, in order to get to anyplace, I have to take a long route just to find a road with shoulders.