I have a terrible sense of balance, so bikes have not worked for me since college. Mr. G. bought a motorcycle last year, so we use that and it gets close to 90 miles a gallon. Yes, I'm petrified on it, but his truck's gas cost was killing us, so I'm dealing.
I walk a lot.
There are tons of bike riders and bike lanes in this city, so I was all fired up to join the masses when I moved here. The husband got the bike all tuned up and took it for a test spin. He got hit by one of the many ridiculously crazy drivers on that first go. Luckily, he wasn't hurt, but the bike is now unusable. We happen to have really awesome public transit here, so using a car isn't an issue, but it would have been cool to have biking as an option.
You're very brave and smart. Gas isn't going to get any cheaper, that's for sure.
We moved last year, and when we settled in we noticed that we were minutes away from a bike trail that can go downtown, or out to the ferry (we live in an island). It was once a railway, but is now a loooooong, wooden road just for bikes and walkers. I love this, because my two 6 year olds are kamikaze riders, weaving and jutting at sudden and unexpected intervals, despite being competent long-distance riders. I feel neurotic whenever we have to cross a major road. But they all love riding their bikes. Saying this, I realize that the more we ride, the less I fear watching them ride.
Although we're in an unrban-ish part of San Antonio, there are huge swaths of our neighborhood that are basically unbikeable. And I'm scared too of the crazy drivers who frighten me when I'm in a CAR, I can't imagine how I'd feel on a bike!
But I can bike to the little shopping center down the hill and I do as often as possible.
Gas prices are going to continue to change how my family gets around, I'm sure.
I have a bike, I like to bike, I've even written about bicycle commuting. But I get lazy, the bike has a flat, . . . and then months go by without my spending any time on the bike.
But here are a couple of pieces of advice:
1. DON'T worry about going whole-hog with bicycling. Just start replacing your SHORTEST or EASIEST car trips with bike trips. At every step along the way, you can decide whether (or when, under what weather conditions, etc.) you're willing to up the ante for distance or ease.
2. Certainly when you're getting started, DON'T travel along major streets. Not ever. Cross the big avenues at traffic lights -- going with traffic, or even walking your bike across as a pedestrian. The best success I've had as a regular bike commuter has come when I've spent 99% of the time on quiet residential streets where *I* was the fastest thing going. It's a heck of a lot easier to navigate a mom pushing a baby stroller, a guy walking his dog, etc. than it is to navigate genuine car traffic.
I just started using my hand-me-down bike for my commute, and minor errands. I live in a suburbia about 40 minutes outside DC, so my biking terrain is everything between the WOD trail (reclaimed railroad right-of-way that's been paved: totally awesome.) and freeway shoulder. I've found two things that make me feel safer. One is knowing my route, both by car and bike. While it's true that familiarity can breed complacency, I can anticipate the actions of drivers much better when I've been a driver on that section of road at all different times of day. I also find that I can't relax and enjoy my ride at all until at least the third time I've done a new route, which can make it hard to get started.
The second thing that makes me feel safer is being brightly colored. Those painfully yellow cyclist jackets really work. People will see you faster, and from farther away than if you wear any other color.
The only other thing I can think that might be helpful is to make sure you get hybrid tires. Sometimes, the ability to go on dirt or gravel when you weren't really planning to is a major safety feature.
OH! You know when I got my bike, I was so excited to ride with the boys, but it's NOT easy in this neighborhood. Just riding to the gym is terrifying. There's no good place to cross from parking lot to parking lot, and the parking lots themselves are fraught with people backing up without looking and speeding through like they're vying for first place.
The only store we've managed is the gas station... which is kind of ironic, I think.
And what? There's a BAKERY? Where's that?
Thanks, y'all. There's a lot of good advice (and terrifying anecdotes, and envy-inspiring motorcycle stuff) in here. I'll make sure my tires are dirt-ready just in case, and I'll definitely be staying away from busy roads!
Stefani, it's Dream Bakery and it's addictive--kolaches, cupcakes, Persian cookies. I would live there if I could.
Hm, advice? Be very alert - always expect some a**hole driver will turn into you at any moment. This is why I try to avoid bicycling when i'm very tired. And don't be afraid to yell if you think someone's getting too close/doesn't see you. You'd rather be thought of as a jerk than be hit, right?
I was scared out of my wits to start biking, since i live in Boston, home of the observant and respectful driver. But you do it a few times, first on empty/back roads, then busier ones, then at commuting times, and you build your skills and courage.
Oh, and definitely road wheels or a mountain bike for stability and the ability to veer off the road if you have to without crashing. And for the love of god/dess, get a comfy seat!
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