It worked in Ghana…

by Michele Beasley

The metallic scraping sound beneath my car was the signal to finally get my brakes fixed.  My mechanic asked if I needed a ride home and if I wanted my car back that day.  I said No to both- a forced ‘carlessness’ was welcome. I took Caltrain up to San Francisco for work, and later that evening walked the 1.5 miles from the station to my apartment.  To celebrate this simple pleasure, I picked flowers and stuck them in my hair- because that’s how I roll.

Usually, my mode of travel about town is to walk.  It is under-rated.  Oh, the things you see!  And I have to admit, I am a Nervous Nelly when it comes to riding my bike on the road….with cars….and big trucks.  People are texting, putting make-up on.  Will they see me?  The last time I rode a bike regularly was in Ghana, and it was usually me, my bike and a dusty, lonely trail through the bush.  No cars for miles.

But I want to ride my bike.  A few of my colleagues and friends commute by bike and I know that is the greener, healthier way to travel.  If my job is to, among other things, try and address climate change, well the truth is, that starts with me.  I need to green my commute, and getting over this fear of road cycling requires some serious tackling head on.

So that next morning, I’m off!  My ride starts off with a slight downhill which I find exhilarating. I love the feeling of zipping along on my bike, the strength in my legs.  At work, I feel more productive and happy.  I feel like a better person.  Actually, I am giddy.  I love the fact that part of my commute doubles as my daily dose of exercise, and the other part is where I am able to catch up on reading. And when I get home, I am still energized, ready to embrace my evening. Even better, I sleep like a log that night.

Silly as it may seem, I feel a real sense of accomplishment…and a kernel of truth grows inside me:  I could get used to this.  Cycling on the road with cars was not nearly as scary as I imagined it to be – things usually aren’t.  I like this growing independence from my car. I make a commitment to do the bike-Caltrain combo once a week.  One has to start somewhere.

Oh, and then I got the bill for the brakes- Ouch!  $550! The money that goes into owning a car on a yearly basis is ridiculous. If I didn’t need a car for work, could I ever consider giving it up for good?

{Note: appreciation to Copenhagenize Cambridge for the Cycle Chic introductory image.}