day 19: my wallet was full, until i got in my car

Today is the beginning of the final week of my commuting "experiment." I will use the term "experiment" loosely because I fully intend on continuing to commute by bike after the month is over. Here are last week's numbers:

• Miles driven: 100
  
• Miles commuted by bike: 90
• Miles ridden on bike for non-commuting purposes: 16
  
• Money spent on gas: $0
• Money spent on car repairs: $350 - this one hurt a lot
  
• Money spent on bike: $0
• Estimated calories burned while biking to work: 1022/day (45 minutes of moderate biking, 2x a day) = 5110 for the week (according to a very simple weather.com calorie burn calculator)

So there is some good and some bad there. The Good: I biked more miles than I drove last week. The Bad: I did so because I had to ride my bike home and back to an auto shop where I took my car to have a new starter installed, thus the $350 on car repairs. Ouch. It stings to have to spend so much money on something I rarely use these days. Additionally, that's $350 I could have spent to buy an old road bike and convert it into a commuter-specific fixed gear bike (that is my plan for a project bike).

A pretty funny experience did come out of it though. My car died in the parking lot of my girlfriend's apartment on Thursday night. Since I don't drive to work, that did not affect my ability to get to work on Friday one bit. That is a REALLY cool feeling. On Saturday morning, she picked me up early and we attempted to roll start my car in her parking lot (one of the benefits of driving a car with a manual transmission). The two of us were unable to get enough speed by pushing the car, but were able to draft two college kids who walked by. Caroline is a trooper for helping me roll-start my car.

Once the car started, I swung by my place and picked up my bike (gotta love the roof-rack), and drove to the auto shop. After leaving my car there, I headed towards home. I decided to take a mini-detour and swing by a car dealership on my way home; and let me tell you, those car salesmen were drooling like dogs when I rolled onto their car lot on a bicycle.

"Hey there son, can I talk you into trading that nice bike for a car today?"

Obviously, a guy riding a bike is in desperate need of a car...

And boy did they try to sell me a car. No luck for them though. I bet they had a nice chuckle about it after I rolled away at the behest of my own legs and energy.

"The Bigger, the Better" is a Lie
Last week, I wrote about the perplexing state of American auto usage while reminiscing about the bike being a symbol of freedom to a young boy. Another thought about cars that perplexes me - and coincidentally scares many people away from bike commuting - is that they keep getting bigger! The logic of many soccer moms or elderly citizens is that they desire a safe car for them and their family. Unfortunately, Americans are tricked into thinking that a bigger car means a safer car. And in order to "keep up with the Joneses," we are constantly having to buy cars that are bigger and bigger in order to keep our families safe.

The really unfortunate side effect of this is that you end up with people (who NEVER need to transport 8 people) driving Suburbans and Excursions. You have kids buying these big cars for who knows what reasons. And you have college students driving huge SUVs with massive tires, talking on the cell phone while they drive, and blaring music. The common theme behind this all: they are distracted drivers. And distracted drivers are a cyclists worst nightmare.

All of a sudden, bike commuting becomes a dangerous and unfeasible option in most cities because people can't responsibly handle the car they drive. My Dad always warned me to be careful when I would go out driving: on a road trip or just to go out at night.

"Be careful," he would say.

"Oh, I will," I always replied, usually adding some information about precautions I had taken to help ease his mind.

"Yeah, but unfortunately it's not you that I don't trust - it's all the other idiots on the road."

Same thing, every time. And he has a point. And I hate that he has a point. But the way I see things: the more cyclists that are on the road, the more drivers will start to take notice of them. I never hope for anyone to have be martyred for a cause - and it is extremely sad that cyclists fall victim to accidents with cars (no matter whose fault it is) - but the only way for cyclists to gain a spot on the road, alongside the cars, is to be present. And the only way for cyclists to remain safe on the road, alongside the cars, is to behave in a predictable and visible manner - making sure that you are easily seen, and making sure that you obey the same rules any driver would be expected to obey.

Happy and safe riding - the Velorution depends on it!