By Staff
A couple of weeks ago I read about someone getting a “ride your bike to work” campaign going.
I think this particular event has become an annual thing for some people and has caught on in several areas.
But I've given this some thought and I've come up with a few things that must be considered before undertaking this activity.
First, who ever started this and decided to do it in May, doesn't live in the Deep South. I do and I realize that even early May is no guarantee that you'll have cool weather. Seriously, I've decided any area that finds folks walking around in shorts, short sleeves and flip flops at the family Christmas gathering, certainly won't have thousands of people jumping on a bike in May.
Second, bicycles these days are usually built for cyclists, not riders. There is a difference and if I fall into either category, you can bet I fall into the riders category. Just take a look at the picture with this column. Do I look like someone who rides a bike for exercise? I didn't think so. The seats generally found on bicycles in 2008 come nowhere near accommodating the size of my backside. I'm thinking the only chance you'll have at getting me on a bicycle is making sure it's one of those nice, old bicycles - you know, maybe the kind with baskets on the front and little daisy reflectors on the spokes.
Finally, I think it's great for those who live in big cities to ride bicycles to work if they can. They have lovely sidewalks and meandering streets that lead from the front door of their apartment building to the office. That's not the case for me. I live on the Ridge Road, exactly five miles from where I work. If you've ever driven on any country road around Brewton, you probably already know the State Troopers would have a field day writing tickets if they'd just show up on those roads. There is positively no way I'd ride a bicycle on Ridge Road through East Brewton across Murder Creek Bridge and across a set of railroad tracks just to get to work. I can't imagine anyone slowing down much for a big lady on a bicycle.
The only up side to riding a bike to work is that it would certainly save gas. With the cost of gasoline bumping near the $4 mark this week; I'm giving some thought to riding a bicycle all the time and not just to work.
I've just got to figure out a different route and how in the world that little basket on the front is going to keep my coffee from spilling on the way to work.
Lisa Tindell is the news editor for The Brewton Standard. She may be reached by email at lisa.tindell@brewtonstandard.com.