Bike Commuting is Freedom
I was leaving work on my bicycle yesterday and on the way out stopped to have a conversation with a coworker. “It’s just simple, isn’t it” she said. I agreed with her, but I continued to think about how simple it really was all the way home.
We have complicated our lives to the point where frustration is a daily overwhelming feeling for many of us. We sit in traffic on the highways (aren’t they supposed to be faster?), we cuss at other drivers. We watch what we eat but can’t help but gain weight, we have no outlets or time for stress relief, we DRIVE to a gym to workout, and we get to spend precious little time with our families.
Today I had a problem on my hands. My car was being used by my oldest son. I had ridden my bicycle in to work, but I had 4 large poinsettias, my dirty bike clothes from the ride in this morning and a piece of equipment to carry home from the office. I also needed to pick up my 6 year old from kindergarten on the way and could stand to stop for a gallon of milk and a loaf of bread. What’s a busy mom to do?
I decided to leave the poinsettias and equipment at work. I still won’t have a car on Monday. I’ll get to that in a minute.
I left work, meandered down mostly residential streets and through a lesser trafficked industrial area. I enjoyed the time to think. I could feel the brownies I had eaten with my lunch disappearing from my thighs (That is a WONDERFUL feeling!) Crossing the parking lot that is 635 on an overpass was strangely satisfying and I am sure the cars sitting still in the fast lane below thought the grinning, waving biker in her hi-vis yellow vest was just crazy.
Drivers are very friendly on the roads. Every once in awhile I meet an ill informed individual, who can’t see past his steel cage. I try to wave nicely at those people and smile. Maybe they just aren’t having any fun.
I arrived home, refilled my water bottle and attached the child trailer to my bicycle before heading to my son’s school. The kids on the playground were just absolutely fascinated by the trailer and wanted to take turns sitting in it. I retrieved my son, stopping at the grocery on the way home.
On Monday – I will drag the kiddie trailer behind me – with a few days worth of clean clothes inside – for the 12 miles to work and leave it with the valets so I can pull my cargo home in the afternoon.
Although it seems like more trouble to plan ahead and use my bike to get around, I certainly experience a lot less frustration. I don’t sit in traffic, I can stop for a break whenever I want, and truly – riding takes me only a few more minutes than driving would! I’ve lost weight, I feel stronger and more confident.
This weekend, I will go on a 3 hour ride with my husband and some friends, and we will ride a 2nd time together with the kids. Another wonderful thing about cycling is that anybody can do it. The grandparents come up and we all go ride together, my son and grandson love riding in the kiddie trailer, although my 6 year old has recently learned to ride under his own steam. I think Santa will be shopping for a new bike.
Just like when we were kids and that new bike meant total freedom, my bike still means freedom for me…freedom from the usual daily frustrations of life.
