Why we don't get Killed

When I'm working on a title for my post, I often reject titles that don't spin in the positive direction. The word "killed" is one of those words that can put the wrong spin on a title, but I think this title works for the topic I want to write about.

We were talking bicycles (as I'm apt to do) and one guy says he would love to put a trailer on the back of his bike and make all sorts of trips to the Farmer's Market and run other errands except he would get killed. I asked him what route he would take to get to the Farmer's Market and he named the biggest road between his house and the market.

I don't ride that road. I don't like that road when I'm in a car -- narrow, four-lane, twisty, with lots of commercial entrances. The phrase "I would be killed" describes this road whether driving or cycling.

The conversation moved along, but later that evening, I considered how I would get to the Market from his house. One route preferred by cyclists would have worked for him. Motorists would only know those streets if they lived on those streets and because motorists don't use that route, it works for bikes.

We don't get killed because cyclists find the "Good Routes". The Good Routes don't have lots of cars. The Good Routes do have lots of bicycles. The Good Routes are pleasant because the people can talk and engage each other at a human pace. They may be longer -- especially in a car -- but they are more satisfying.

We also don't get killed because we are experienced cyclists. We follow the rules of the road and avoid situations that would so much as surprise motorists much less antagonize them.

We don't get killed because we accept a world where other things matter. We think outside the car.

Good Ride, Better Ride

Cycling brings about a lot of good, but like everything else, there are ways to make it better.

A couple of months ago, I posted about "Good Cycling and Better Cycling", but every now and then I get an idea for another "Good Ride, Better Ride".

Here are a few.

- The Good Ride sheds some weight. A Better Ride makes you crave good food.
- The Good Ride gets you to your destination. A Better Ride discovers new destinations.
- The Good Ride save gas. A Better Ride makes other people think "I can save gas too."

I'd like to hear yours.

Good Cycling - Better Cycling

I measure stuff. I count the cyclists on my way to the office. I log my bike miles and the cost per mile to operate the bike. I particularly enjoy watching my fitness improve: weight loss, resting heart rate, how fast I can climb a hill. By measuring, I can see the results of the work I put into my cycling and can judge if I'm making improvements.

A ride that improves my fitness is a good ride. What makes it a better ride? Are there other ways to measure a ride?

Besides physical fitness, I take note of my mental fitness. Even a rainy, cold commute to the office when I could have worked from home is more uplifting than the most pleasant of car trips. A better ride sets our spirit free.

Since most car trips are within a couple miles, bike trips can replace many of these car trips. A better ride would save some gas, reduce demand for road and parking space, and help improve air quality.

Cars remain the dominant mode of transportation in the US and will probably remain dominant -- at least until perhaps September or so . A better ride would make the best of sharing roadways with traffic. Each negotiation for space between cyclists and motorists is an opportunity to earn mutual respect and improve our capacity for courtesy and safety. A better ride would leave smiles on everyone's faces.

I wish I had an odometer that recorded not just the miles, but also the good karma I've created by riding my bike. By any measure, cycling is good karma made real -- fitness, air quality, sustainability, and an improved sense of community -- yet it remains hard to chalk up. Can anyone invent a smile-o-meter?