The Roving Reporter
As the cycle ends...
Posted by: Amy Reiter
Sunday, July 13, 2008 11:35 PM
I could have cycled to Springfield (well, almost). Or gone to the Indiana state line and back. But mostly I went up and down the roads of Champaign-Urbana (and a few in Savoy), to the tune of 72.7 miles this week (with about 9.2 miles of that today).And the last ride of this weeklong experiment in going bike-only was one of the best -- cycling home after work to perfect weather at sunset, with a cool breeze encouraging me forward and quiet streets.
Bicycling just about everywhere was harder than I'd anticipated, and there were certainly times when I wished I'd been driving. But I also saw how some of the times I normally drive I really don't need to -- like when I'm going to the grocery store for just a few things, or when I'm meeting a friend for an early dinner just a few miles away.
I also saved about $20 in gas this week -- though I'm not saying $20 equals 72.7 miles in my car, more that I skipped most of the distances I might have otherwise driven, choosing nearer, more bike-able places instead.
In pretty much equal parts, I find myself looking forward to more bike riding this summer than I'd been doing before this week, as well as to how much I'll enjoy using my car for some of the things I do.
During this week, I've heard more about how many opportunities there are for cycling around here (from Prairie Cycle Club, http://www.prairiecycleclub.org, to the new bike lane on First Street)
and felt great support in the form of blog posts, e-mails and comments from people in the community for the project. I so appreciated them.
Amy
Comments
Congratulations Amy on finishing your week of living car-free. One tool I have found helpful in determining which errands/trips are within a close distance is the Clif Bar 2-mile Challenge. You enter your location and it generates a circle that shows everything within 2-miles of you. This is the website: http://www.2milechallenge.com/;home.html
Posted by consider on July 14, 2008 at 4:32 PM
I would like to add my congratulations also. I hope you continue to ride your bike whenever possible. I also hope you have encouraged others to try it. It's not easy at times but there are many benefits to yourself and our environment by using leg power instead of gasoline power. You should be proud of yourself.
Posted by ashrat on July 14, 2008 at 5:07 PM
The whole thing was weak. Very little about other people biking. Nothing about whether bike sales have increased.
It was all "I, I, I." Are the editors on vacation?
Posted by Wenalway on July 16, 2008 at 8:53 PM
Wenalway, have you tried a laxative? You are far too critical! Amy, good for you! Thanks for a great week!
Posted by kidlightning on July 25, 2008 at 11:26 PM
Congrats for raising public awareness that bikes are an alternative transportation method.
Posted by tevans on July 26, 2008 at 1:25 PM
