Rethinking Lifestyle

I cherish my memories of learning to ride a bike. The exhilarating speed, the acrobatic feel of a new movement, and the expanding horizons were absolutely thrilling to me. Eventually though, I left it behind and started driving a car. After all, the roads were really designed for cars. It also took too long to get where I wanted to go in a city that defines distances in “minutes by automobile”. And finally, I’m lazy.

But learning to ride my bike again 30 years later has given me that same exhilaration in a completely new way. It has resulted in three personal epiphanies. The first was noticing the physiological difference commuting by bike versus by car. I arrive at work with colour in my cheeks – awake, smiling and ready to start my day. You’ll find it hard to believe but a passing car’s open window trails enough stale air from its cabin to strike me in contrast with the fresh morning air around me. I’ve never yet wished to trade places with the driver.

My second epiphany came while cycling with my wife from La Broquerie to Gimli and back over 4 days. It was on that trip that I realized that a bike is much more than just recreation – it is transportation. I experienced the exact same feeling of freedom and independence I had as a child, taking myself places I had only ever been taken before.

Finally, the third epiphany was the realization that when I was a child, I cycled as a child. Riding a modern, comfortable and well-fitted bicycle with cargo space is an experience I never had on my second-hand BMX. Bikes today are a marvel of efficiency and engineering.

But I won’t conclude this article without acknowledging the opposition you’ll face internally and from outside to deter you from cycling. Despite all its benefits, buying a bike may cost more money than you’ll save in gas. After all, you already have a car that you can’t do without yet – or more likely, that you don’t plan to. That’s OK. You spend more on restaurant meals than you will on this. Begin with the bike you have, and set a goal to eliminate one of your family’s vehicles.

Biking in the rain, travelling longer than 5-minute distances and breaking a sweat are all natural deterrents. Give yourself time to get to your destination. Plan ahead. Get a rack & pannier bag for extra clothes. Start out with small necessary trips – you’ll be surprised how easily people are impressed, saying “You actually biked here?!”

It can be scary to bike alongside automobiles. No question about it – in an accident no one wins, but the bike definitely loses. One of the best things I learned was that for cyclists, residential streets are just as fast as highways. Look at a map of your area again, this time with cycling in mind. Choose residential routes instead, and look for hidden paths where cars can’t go! Wear a helmet with a rear-view mirror. You’ll be much safer when you know what’s around you. Finally, talk to your local representatives about your experience cycling. Ride for a while and you’ll know exactly what to ask for (e.g. dedicated routes, separated lanes etc.) You’ll also learn how to treat cyclists when you’re in a car.

As society matures, we are rapidly becoming aware that many, if not all technologies come with some undesirable consequences. But the bicycle, a human-powered innovation from the early 1800’s, is more relevant today than ever. It is efficient, owner-repairable and a last stronghold against “planned obsolescence”. Daily cycling is an amazing experience that you’re missing out on. All it requires is that you decide that you want it, and refuse to be deterred. If you do, you’ll have a lifetime of rewards to look forward to.