On the fifth day of the Daily Footprint Project, I relied on my magic key, a bit more than usual.
Three meetings back to back in the morning, a trip to the gym, another trip to Whole Foods, and last an outing to the restaurant with Prad. I calculated. That’s 27 miles, all in the Prius. Each trip an average of five miles, not counting our night out. This is pretty typical for me. I conduct most of my business locally.
Then, comes the question. Why not bike? The answer is, I am considering the idea. Emphasis on ‘considering’. The truth is, I looooove my car. What is there not to like? The immediacy, the convenience, the privacy, the spaciousness, the experience of moving around in my little cocoon. I can get on the phone while I drive, listen to NPR, spread my stuff on the passenger seat. I don’t have to worry about the other cars so much, I am not as invisible as on a bike. I can cram a lot more activities in the day. I am free to go wherever, freeway if I please, don’t have to plan. No need for a disgraceful helmet. I can wear a dress without having to worry about it flying off. I had never thought about all the advantages, until now. Ask my sixteen year old daughter, car = freedom. Not what the green people want to hear, but the truth nevertheless.
Compare with biking. It has been a while since I have used a bike. I lost my bike in our move two years ago, and even before that, I hardly ever used it. I have to go back years to remember what it is like to bike in the outdoors. What is so good about biking, that would make me want to switch, aside from the obvious environmental benefits? Biking is also about freedom, just like cars. Only, it is a different kind of freedom. No need to refill with gas. No more being stuck in traffic. A bike is small and light, it can fit anywhere. Parking becomes a non issue. Biking can be another way to exercise. It is a way of getting in touch with the environment, the city, nature, neighborhoods. Biking is zen, as in simplicity.
Driving, biking. Two very different kinds of experiences. Driving has the advantage of already being a part of my life. I need a little nudge to make room for biking. That’s where city based initiatives like Velib‘ in Paris are so important. They help jump start the process. I have forgotten how good it feels to be on a bike. The other aspect I want to bring up, is the need for cities to create a safe environment for bikers. In my town, there are only a few routes I could take, where I would not have to worry about sharing the road with cars and trucks.
Daily Footprint Project Daily Log Day #5 Water personal: flush toilet 2 wash face 2 brush teeth 2 wash hands 4 two showers at the gym mom: communal: rinse dishes 2 Electricity/gas personal: electric toothbrush 4' microwave tea 2’ microwave oatmeal 4’ laptop on all day mom: toast catherine communal: lights Food personal: oatmeal with organic milk organic apple organic persimmons tea cup of coffee at coffee shop organic orange left over noodles dinner at restaurant mom: egg toast communal: Waste personal: toilet paper paper cup at coffee shop (almost forgot to include) mom: toast communal: three newspaper wrappers molded cream cheese in fridge plastics (we take to recycling center now) Transportation personal: drive to 1st appointment 3miles drive from 1st to 2nd appointment 5 miles drive from 2nd to last appointment 4 miles drive from last appointment to home ½ mile drive to gym round trip 6 miles mom: communal: drive to Whole Foods 4 miles drive to restaurant 4 miles Non food shopping personal: mom: communal:
La Marguerite 
I understand your pain.
I am fortunate that in my 4-mile bike ride to work, 3 miles of it is on a paved, straight, wide hiking/biking trail. And the worst part of my trip is traveling on surface streets, and having to pay more attention to cars than they pay of me. But it’s hard – when I am driving, I now (since I started biking) make myself pay more attention to bikes and even pedestrians, and I’m seeing them more often. I think I was probably not even seeing them before. Scary! We definitely need to get more bikes on the road, so cars pay more attention, and/or have more trails so that bikes DON’T HAVE TO go on the roads. Write your congresspeople!
I haven’t biked in since the time changed and it got darker. I’m a little leery of it.
Christine, thanks for your comment. Actually, I am about to join you in the cyclist crowd. And really curious to see what happens! Like you though, I will not be one to brave the nights or rainy days with my bike.
My fantasy is that my town would have a bike or walk only day. Maybe an idea I can champion?
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