Last year I read a very well-intentioned but somewhat harsh diary about commuting to work by bike. The diarist made the case that the environmental problems we are facing demand that pretty much everyone abandon their cars in favor of the bike. I'm sure we've all seen diaries like that on this and other sites
This isn't that kind of diary.
One of the commenters of the diary mentioned above stated that he was a contractor who had to haul his tools with him to his job sites. Several others mentioned long commutes that would be unsafe by bike. I get that. Not everyone can commute to work by bike. Due to my long commute, for example, I don't get there by bike (I take a van pool).
However, many more of us can knock our driving down quite a bit by doing our shopping and errands by bike. And this I can write about from personal experience, as my weekend and evening driving is essentially non-existent these days... unless I'm dealing with a Michigan cold snap or snow storm, that is.
E.C.S.T.A.S.Y. — End Consumption, Save The Air & Sea, Yinz!
A support group and discussion forum for those who want to kick the habits of consumption that are damaging the world we live in.
I changed the "Y'all" to "Yinz" in honor of the great city of Pittsburgh, that I spent a couple of nights in recently. :)
This diary fits in the ECSTASY series because one of the primary items we need to consume less of is oil! Since many many trips we all take are within a few miles of our homes, most of these could be done by bike! Another way it fits is that when you're hauling stuff by bike, you are far less likely to buy stuff you don't need, because you know that you have to pedal it home!
First of all, if you're going to start biking to do some of your shopping, you don't really need anything special. A bike, bike lock, helmet (recommended), and a backpack will do. I would suggest taking your bike to a nearby bike store if it's been awhile since you've been on it, so they can check the brakes, etc. You don't need special clothes. There is no biking law that says you have to look like Lance Armstrong when you head out the door.
It's good to start small and work your way up. If you're going to the drugstore for toothpaste & your precription, for example, hop on your bike.
However, if you are going to hauling more than a few pounds, it's a good idea to get a few things for your bike to help with this. Backpacks aren't really made for biking, so any substantial weight will cause you to get tired pretty quickly.
The first thing I'd suggest is a rear bike rack like this one:
They are fairly universal & will fit on most bikes. Ask your neighborhood bike store if they will install it for you. Also, make sure that you put the rear reflector on the rack, if there's a place for it.
From there, you have a bunch of choices on how to haul stuff. You can get a small bag that fits on top of the rack for smaller items. You can get a basket like this one that folds away when not in use:
Or, you can get a pannier! The one I have detaches from the bike and has a shoulder strap so it's easy to take it with you while shopping.
There are literally dozens of different types of panniers you can buy, so it's easy to find one to suit what you're going to use it for.
Next, find a good route to whatever store or desitnation you're going to. Bikers have a great tool at their disposal for this, since the directions section of Google Maps now has directions for biking! This feature attempts to direct bikes away from the main arteries in towns in favor of side streets or those roads with bike lanes. It also includes lots of biking trails that you may not be aware of. This is perfect for new bikers who may not be comfortable biking in traffic.
The short answer here is that this isn't hard. Biking offers lots of great benefits, from exercize to the ability to see things about your town that you would never see from a car. And as more people start biking more often, and advocating for more bike-friendly streets, our cities will start moving in the direction we need them to - producing less CO2 and other pollution!
And for some bike-related inspiration, I offer a quote from The No Impact Man, Colin Beavan:
"Transportation by bike means you are riding in, not driving through like a car. You are life-experiencing, not sight-seeing. You are in it and of it, and the beauty goes so deeply inside you that you could weep, and you just never want to get off the bike again."
Finally, for even more inspiration, here's a great video from the folks at peopleforbikes.org:
Here are a few important links from the ECSTACY series:
- Annie Leonard's crucial movie, The Story of Stuff.
- An invaluable tool for calculating the ecological footprint of your lifestyle, from the good folks at Redefining Progress. What's your score?
- The Reverend Billy and the Church of Stop Shopping
- SCRAP - a creative reuse center, store and workshop space.
Donations of high quality, low cost, re-usable materials such as textiles, paper, jewelry findings, wood, buttons and plastics are collected from businesses, institutions and individuals then sorted, displayed and distributed by SCRAP for artists, educational and community groups.
For more creative reuse centers around the country, click here.
If you have a resource that should be included in ECSTASY diaries, please include the link and a few words about it in the comments.
The ECSTASY series thus far:
February 28: Introducing ECSTASY.
March 7: The Work of Julian Lee and Juliet Schor: Two Voices of Sanity.
March 10: G2Geek's Measure The Power.
March 14: Earthfire promoted Annie Leonard's appearance in Washington, DC
March 21: RL Miller tells us about Chickens
March 24: G2Geek prompts an unbelievable discussion about the
difference between Consumerist Time and Hunter-Gatherer Time.
March 28: citisven shares a thought-provoking and aesthetically satisfying look at the ways that one person's trash is another person's art materials.
April 4: WarrenS gives us the good word on Making Homemade Musical Instruments.
April 7: G2geek talks about what makes for robust and sustainable technology.
ECSTASY diaries will appear most often on weekends and Wednesday evenings. All diaries dealing with the problems of living in a Consumerist society are potential candidates. If you think you've got something to contribute, please contact WarrenS and he'll schedule you in.
The next diary planned is expected on Wednesday, April 14, when we will hear from from G2geek on the subject of Measuring Your Consumption.