Today is the 12th time I’ve pedaled in in the last 6 weeks. I set a goal of 500 miles on the bike this year so I added a cyclometer when I started — this week I’ll hit 200.

I’ve definitely picked up a few tips from here and elsewhere, but knowing I’m not alone is the best benefit. With the rising gas prices I’ve actually encountered 3 other commuters here in NE Indianapolis!

Through Tour de Cure and Bike To Work Day I’ve also met up with some other cyclists at work who have MUCH longer commutes than me but are going to be making it a more regular thing.

Keep the faith all… You’re not alone!

My biggest revelation recently, and this might be like what a Master of the obvious I now am, but I have always used side walks when convenient, have seldom scared pedestrians, except for the ‘bobbing nabobs,’ and now realize that street riding is the only way to garner respect from cars, get anywhere, and even avoid police hassles.

Certainly someone has proposed that the rightmost travel lanes should be occupied by two wheeled vehicles; i recently broached that in a bike group I occassionally ride with and they turned out to be complete ‘milquetoasts!!!” Subsequently I was TICKETED for riding on an pedestrian free sidewalk, now all I do is ride right down the exact center of the rightmost travel lane. It is mine!!! Maybe if we exact the painful reality from our SUV loving friends that, at least with urban areas, the right lane should be for primarily bicycles. I might put a sign on my bike, facing rearward: ” I was already ticketed for riding on the sidewalk, honk if you think that’s unfair!!!”

More importantly, today a coworker asked me about the route I take because he brought his bike today and wants to ride home! (His wife dropped him off at work with the bike)
Mostly my coworkers think I’m crazy/broke/deathwish/alloftheabove… I’ve tried statistics (I read then researched that you’re 4x as likely to die in a swimming pool than biking) but that doesn’t make ‘em stop questioning my sanity. I’ll try the environmental activist approach next.

Love the site, thanks!

I live and commute in Chicago and I work at a trading firm filled with people who drive giant cars, live in the suburbs and all that crap. I started biking to work and they thought it was strange. Playing on their ‘political sensibilities,’ I simply said that I’m saving tons of cash in gas and doing my part to break our dependence on foreign oil. That really convinced them, now two coworkers are dusting off their bikes, and another is biking part way to work as well.

If you get flack from your coworkers, couch your reasons for commuting in terms they can understand and agree with.

Red

Regardless, I am still the only one I see who uses a bike pretty much daily for my every day tasks. I know others are out here. I talk to them via email. I see some of my commuter friends on occasion, but not daily.

Co-workers think I am insane, eccentric, or just plain stupid. I have a hint that some of them think perhaps I’ve lost my license or wrecked my car, but use this “macho” bike thing to cover it up. The truth is, I really don’t need to use my car all that often, especially for quick runs to the store or to the bus stop.

I get emails and comments on my silly little personal blog, from people who are either new, or even merely considering bicycle commuting. They see my adventures and somehow know that they’re not alone, and that they won’t get killed as long as they wear their helmets.

I say the more of us that are out there fighting the good fight and living to write about it, the better!