The “it’s so dangerous” myth is the one i think it’s important to nip in the bud, regardless of who you’re talking with–even if they’re never going to get on a bike, it’s good to help dispel the complacent notion that cars aren’t also dangerous.

If someone seems seriously interested, i’m always happy to address concerns of biking in “extreme” weather [it's usually easier than driving in it], picking a bike, picking routes, effort demands, etc. But i think the first and most important thing is to clear up the misconception about how daunting traffic is (or isn’t).

Due to the location of our jobs though, we both work in an industrial park that is isolated from the city and prone to city-to-city car commuters, there are a lot of people who would not consider bike commuting due to the extreme distances. This is a systematic problem in Southern Ontario that requires people to make choices about where they live and where they work to make cycling to work a possibility. I think high gas prices will help, but it will be a long transition until people change jobs, move or at least consider distance more when finding a new place to live.

I have however succeeded in getting coworkers interested in mountain biking. Since last year when I started at the company, I have helped 3 different people buy new mountain bikes, and we even put a 10-person corporate team in a 24 hr race. It was a great experience that not only helped our camaraderie at work, but also opened some peoples eyes to the wonders of the bicycle. Of those three, only one has started occasionally riding to work (the other two live a good 1 hr drive away) but all three of them are more aware of what is possible with their bikes.

His supervisor called me up and said, “Your brother just rode here from downtown in this awful wind! Someone needs to put that guy on a mental health hold!”

I said, “Tell ‘em good luck catching him.”

With gas prices rising and lots of people waking up to the idea of peak-oil, there will be much more interest in transportation that gets 20 miles to a bowl of oatmeal, doesn’t fund nasty organizations or governments (China excepted), keeps you fit and doesn’t pollute.

Let’s help them quickly get past the first efforts of an ill-adjusted department store mountain bike where they try commuting on dangerous roads in an unsafe manner. Share the knowledge of what works so they can steer clear of what doesn’t. Nobody will ditch the car for long if riding isn’t fun or at least satisfying.

“But it’s SO dangerous!”

“You didn’t ride in this heat/cold/rain did you?”

Just today someone asked me if I would continue riding in the heat of summer. (I’m in Tucson.) This after I was asked all winter why I was riding in the cold.

I especially get, “Oh, you didn’t ride toDAY, did you?” at church, because I ride to church then change my clothes. People always ask me if I rode in my dress, and I say no, I changed when I got here. It seems like the same people asking, too, but maybe not.

Another thing I get at church is, “Why didn’t you TELL me you needed a ride? We live out that way.”

When I’m leaving a place, I get very solemn warnings to be careful. I used to say thanks, now I say, “You be careful, too!” It’s not like people don’t die in car accidents every day in this town.

I do have a few friends who are always positive and encouraging, and I love them for it. If people can’t say, “Atta girl,” I wish they’d just say nothin’.

Mindy