Advocacy for Alternative Commuting

So being back on my bike has inspired me to become more of an advocate for alternative commuting, more specifically cycling which will be the main focus of most of my blahg topics in weeks to come. My main reason being well... I guess I have several reasons-

First and foremost, simplicity. The busyness of todays world has in some way consumed just about all Westerners and many others around the world, yours truly included. Frankly the whole thing disgusts me- people regularly working 50+ hour weeks, not having time for anything including the family that they supposedly work so hard for, hell it's amazing that some even find the time to go SUV shopping for that chariot whose payments depend on that high profile, top priority job. Life is too complicated and in many cases too difficult in today's material world, which we as consumers have had a strong hand in creating. Alternative means of commuting force me to minimize what I perceive are my needs and recognize my true needs in turn making my life simpler.

Environment. The jury is out people. Or is it? Regardless of what you believe has contributed to it, whether it be emissions, mother nature or terra, global warming is real. If you can honestly look me in the eye with a straight face and tell me that you believe that automobile emissions are not harmful for our planet then you are a fool. Enough said.

Fitness. I was recently asked if I ever feel tired after riding to work and my response was this, "From day one it (bike commuting) has never left me tired, only more alert and I have more energy when I get home which I don't if I drive as I literally fight sleep on the drive home. " I will add that I often do get hungry and am ready to eat the moment my feet hit the ground. But in regard to fitness, I did lose some weight on the bike. I can't say for sure how much and I definitely gained some muscle definition in the legs.

Have you seen the price of gas these days? Ya, tell me about it. I bet that you probably already knew that bicycles require no fuel other than the food that you put into your body. Not to mention all dependencies on anyone but yourself are out the window, or rather over the handlebars. Self sufficiency? If you ask me, it definitely has its perks.

Many people won't even turn a cheek to alternative commuting because it's inconvenient or not as cool looking as their Yukon. Seriously, nothing looks more ridiculous that one person driving around in full sized SUV. Now that we've covered that, how about that inconvenience? Say my wife calls and needs me to pick up a loaf of bread on the way home, that's what my messenger bag is for right? Or what about a rear rack? Or ever panniers? Sure not everything about this is convenient but if you do a bit of smart planning it can work. Depending on how far you want to take this, you can get a bike trailer which on average can haul up to 100 lbs.

Realizing that alternative means of transportation are not convenient for everyone, they are convenient for more people than are aware. And while you may live a little too far from work to ride a bike or do not have bus service in their neighborhood, you may want to consider carpooling or hybrid commuting. Driving to the park and ride and taking the bus the rest of the way to work or cycling from the park and ride or cycling to the park and ride and taking the bus the rest of the way. So, I challenge you to explore your options and do your part, who knows you might become obsessed like I did and make a hobby of it.

What motivates me to Ride?

A recent post on one of my favorite sites, Commute By Bike, got my "wheels turning" so to speak in regards to why I prefer my bike over my car. This was echoed this morning as instead of "Springing Forward" I "Fell Back". Succumbing to the evil ways of the Daylight Savings Time change, I awoke to see the alarm clock that I had updated prior to going to sleep last night read 7:10. 7:10, that's only an hour and ten minutes later than I normally wake up on a work day and only about 5 minutes or so later than the time I normally leave. The first question to pop into my head was, "Do I drive?" and the first answer was, "Hell no! Just ride faster." Good answer. Since "I ain't got time to stink" (props to Jesse Venture in Predator, yeah I twisted the line a bit) I promptly jumped in the shower washed as fast as I could, got dressed, took my vitamins, packed what seemed to be a month's supply of foot into my messenger bag and I was off, only to turn back when I noticed that I didn't have my ID badge for work or so I thought. I couldn't, for the life of me, remember where I put that badge after my wet ride home on Friday but the only logical place I could imagine was my messenger bag so I said, "Screw it" in hopes to find the badge when I arrived at work which I did. About 10 minutes into my 7.9 mile ride I decided to call work and leave a voicemail to inform them that unless I could locate the hidden nitrox booster on my bike, I would most likely be a few minutes late. Well, only a few minutes couldn't have been a more accurate estimate. I arrived with a time of 28:21 on my bike computer and walked into the office only 5 minutes late, time that would easily be shaved off of my morning break.
So why did I do it? It's hard to pinpoint just one reason. Up until last Wednesday, I had garaged my bike and was driving for the last 2 months. I did this in favor of the Body For Life Challenge in fear of possibly "overdoing it" and burning muscle or stressing my body out, resulting in higher cortisol levels, causing me to store more fat. Well about last Wednesday I just couldn't take it anymore, with daylight savings time looming, the cost of gas on the rise and having recently been sick I couldn't have been more ready to be back in the saddle. So I did it and needless to say, I have yet to see any negative impacts in regards to the Body for Life, as I have dropped over 1% of body fat in the last week. I arrive at work in a better mood and at home in a better mood with much more energy, believe it or not. When I drive to work, I literally fight sleep on the way home.
Much like the rest of the country, the rising of cost of gas prices sickens me and I feel fortunate to be in a situation which allows me to do something about it which to me means not buy their damn gas. Yes I realize that maybe the lack of my contributions won't cause prices to fall and maybe the oil companies are so loaded with evil greed that if the entire world quit driving it wouldn't make a difference. But maybe my reasoning is a little more selfish because if they want to charge that much then maybe I don't want to buy their damn gas. I do believe in Global Warming but as always, remain a skeptic to some degree. I don't know if I'm 100% sold on the fact that emissions from our cars are a major contributing factor but I can tell you that regardless of my skepticism, I strongly feel the toxins being released into the air by our cars are not doing us or this home that we call "Earth" any favors.
A major factor that motivates me to get up and ride my bike to work every day is the thought that I'm depending on nobody but myself; no attendant at the pump, no cashier inside the gas station, no delivery truck driver, no oil exec, etc. There's something about the simplicity of man working with machine. And in the busy world that we live in where everyone is addicted to stuff, yours truly included, and everyone is so busy trying to get rich to afford more stuff, the euphoric state that is riding my bicycle is one that I would not trade for all the stuff in the world or the ability to arrive at work early every day. From a mental standpoint, if all of those who are in a position to curb their cars and ride a bike more, could only realize that this option and take the plunge, this world would be a better place.
While cars have their advantages in some situations I am thankful that in my daily travels the bike has the upper hand. There are many out there who don't realize the opportunity that lies before them and the advantages of it, I challenge you to explore your options and do your part, if not for the world, for yourself. Ride a bike!