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Ride Your Bike, Save The EarthMay, 2006by David Meek, CBC President 2006Been to the gas station lately? As I write this column on Earth Day I paid $2.86/gallon and the talking heads on the news are predicting $3.00 plus by the summer vacation season. Well I don’t know about you but I have been changing my ways over the last few years. I am saving money, helping mother earth, sticking it to the man, and having fun all at the same time. What a concept, only in America? Wrong! Actually the presidents own words are “America is addicted to oil”. This thirst for oil must be reduced; unfortunately, it is personal financial hardship that will drive the thirst down. From an environmental standpoint, we take this toxic slime that is safely sealed under the earth’s crust and pump it out then smear it all over the surface like butter on toast. If you question how toxic it really is try drinking some and see what happens. You may think that it is being burned up and that the impact is not that great but in reality this only changes its state and the slime on the earth’s crust just keeps getting deeper. Well enough of the environmental wacko stuff. We as biking enthusiast can easily incorporate bike commuting into our lifestyle and shame on us if we don’t lead by example. We ride thousands of miles a year for fun and fitness, now it is time we add commuting into the mix. Over the years the CBC and its affiliated organizations laid the groundwork for the urban bike routes that you see in Chattanooga today. Let’s use these routes and any route that works best for you to get to your destination. Club riding offers motivation and social interaction but do not overlook the personal, physical and financial reward when you go it alone and use your bike for transportation. I know that for some commuting to work by bike is not practical but if you live within a ten-mile radius of work you are a candidate. Here is a good example, I drive six miles to work by car it takes fifteen minutes, when I bike it takes me twenty-four minutes. This is doable for many of us and the warm weather is the perfect time to get in the swing. You can get as serious as you want with a dedicated bike decked out with all the trick accessories. Or keep it simple and just do as I do and ride your regular road bike and use a large bike type backpack or school size backpack. Regulate your speed to control warmth in cool weather and perspiration on warm days. Plan ahead, watch the weather forecast, keep extra clothes at work and don’t be too proud to ask a friend or coworker for a ride if the weather turns bad. I find that people feel that by helping you from time to time they too in a small way are contributing to this good cause. The term Commuting is a common term used for biking to work, school or wherever but I like the term transporting because we need to emphasize the wherever more. Anytime you use a bike in place of a car is the same to me. You may not be able to ride to and from work on a regular basis but you can use your bike for transportation when time is not of the essence. Ride to do your errands, go out to eat, the possibilities are endless if you keep an open mind. This weekend I plan on going to the famous Bug-A-Puluza show at Camp Jordan in East Ridge; if I bike to it, I’ll get a good 40-mile weekend mileage ride all while having fun. Or here is a great idea, ride your bike to the weeknight or weekend club rides. If you have to travel far then choose a shorter or more leisurely ride option and offer inspiration to others. My most admired bike racer is Floyd Landis; He began his racing career by riding to the local races winning the race then riding off into the sunset with his winnings in his backpack. This lifestyle worked for Floyd so why don’t you give it a try. Anytime you plan to go somewhere ask yourself can I do this on my bike? No matter what form you use to reduce fuel consumption be it biking, carpooling, or being organized and aware of how many miles you drive, you will have a trickle down effect. Supply side economics prove that for every gallon of fuel you do not use will equal one less gallon pumped from the ground in the future. So go hug a tree, get on your bike, and commute.
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