View Full Version : Anyone find excuses to leave the house and get on the bike?
I'm only in my second month of being car free.
I've noticed that I find reasons to leave the house that I would not have thought of when I had a car.
I am about to ride down to the library to pick up a DVD or two. I often think to go to the library on my bike, but I hardly ever used to go in the car.
I also find myself more likely to run to the grocery store on my bike if I get a craving for something than when I had a car.
I think it is because I like to find reasons to go for a ride.
Anyone else make up errands or other activities to do just so that you can get out onto your bike?
Let me add this piece:
I think that I really enjoy going places on my bike. I love the sense of connection to the location and the sense of the relationship between places that I get by riding.
It feels so much more intimate.
Additionally, I feel proud to accomplish things on my bike even though I know that they aren't actually difficult.
What say you?
I am about to ride down to the library to pick up a DVD or two. I often think to go to the library on my bike, but I hardly ever used to go in the car.
Funny, just this afternoon I was walking my bike through the library to the workroom and heard a little boy say, "Mom! Why is that man bringing his bike into the library?"
I stopped and told him, "I work here and my boss wants me to keep my bike inside so there's more room on the bike rack for people who ride their bikes here."
Clearly astonished, he asked me, "You drive to work on a bike?"
Back on topic: Yeah, I've been known to manufacture an errand or two. Although more often, I take the long way to my destination. Took me 16 miles today to get to work, which is only 2.4 miles away. How does that happen?
nedgoudy
06-12-06, 11:31 PM
Post Office.
Bank.
Grocery Store.
Community Meetings.
Visiting Friends and Family.
Just for a nice ride.
chicbicyclist
06-13-06, 03:11 AM
I agree, I actually *gasp*, enjoy going to the grocery store almost everyday to pick up what I need on that day. I even have one of the employees that work there inquire about my electric bike and she asked me to help her install one for her so she can use her bike more.
wahoonc
06-13-06, 04:59 AM
I enjoy riding and will hop on the bike for the 2 mile round trip to the grocery store. My wife has a retail store in a town about 20 miles from our house, I will ride to that then ride home in the truck:rolleyes: and ride around the small town where the store is located. (and to keep it on topic :p ) we are planning on moving to that town in another year or two then I can go carfree:D
Aaron:)
crtreedude
06-13-06, 05:11 AM
Does moving my office out of the house so I can commute count? (There are other reasons - like the availability of phone...)
Funny, just this afternoon I was walking my bike through the library to the workroom and heard a little boy say, "Mom! Why is that man bringing his bike into the library?"
I stopped and told him, "I work here and my boss wants me to keep my bike inside so there's more room on the bike rack for people who ride their bikes here."
Clearly astonished, he asked me, "You drive to work on a bike?"
Back on topic: Yeah, I've been known to manufacture an errand or two. Although more often, I take the long way to my destination. Took me 16 miles today to get to work, which is only 2.4 miles away. How does that happen?
Libraries are cool. I use their computers to post on the Bikeforums--part of my "simple life." Funny, there are more bikes at the libraries than at any other businesses o facilities. I guess carfree folk are just a little smarter than the average cager? :)
San Rensho
06-13-06, 11:58 AM
I do a bit of the same thing. I will normally default to the bike just because it is so much easier than: finding my keys, wallet, etc., walking down the driveway, opening the gate, walking back to the car, getting in, having to park a long distance away and then do it in reverse. With my bike, I go out the door, bike the 1/2 mile to 2 miles that have to go, park in front of wherever I'm going to.
Artkansas
06-13-06, 12:14 PM
Who needs an excuse? :p
BenyBen
06-13-06, 12:30 PM
I make up reasons to go ride as well. My gf likes to provide me with reasons to ride to. She loves having a willing errand boy! :) With the baby now, those errands tend to mutliply. For Sure I could plan ahead and make one trip instead, but I don't have to be conserving gas, and I got plenty of fat cells to burn. :)
Plus it's fun that way.
Bizurke
06-13-06, 01:33 PM
I do it all the time! Just yesterday I left my house to go ride a couple miles to a gas station just to get a $0.59 bottle of water. I have plenty of water in my house but I just wanted to go somewhere and take a ride in the cool of evening.
Libraries are cool. I use their computers to post on the Bikeforums--part of my "simple life." Funny, there are more bikes at the libraries than at any other businesses o facilities. I guess carfree folk are just a little smarter than the average cager? :)
Naturally, I'd like to agree with you. :) But you got me thinking about it a bit.
This is an older neighborhood, built-up before the Depression. It's human-scaled and pretty pedestrian-friendly. Yet within a mile radius of our branch, I can think of only two other places with bike racks.
One is an LBS, and we all take our bikes inside anyway, right? The other is a grocery store that's a little intimidating traffic-wise, for most folks to ride to. And besides, their rack is one of the old style from the 50s and 60s where about all you lock is your front wheel. I shop at their rack-less competitor for that reason.
Everyplace else--diners, post office, gyms, barbers, all the little stores, businesses and such, it's catch as catch can with regard to locking places. At the hardware store the only thing I can lock to is their display of wheelbarrows. Not very secure, but an effective alarm system anyway.
Cyclists have to have a greater tolerance for non-bike-friendly businesses and a greater committment to finding creative locking solutions. Most people don't have this and so, don't think of their bike as transport.
The library (mine anyway), on the other hand, *IS* bike friendly, and it's a family destination. I love to see our rack filled to overflowing--and it frequently is. When the rack is full, it's the only time people seem to get creative with locking--the fence, railings, signposts--the same things we all lock to daily. (Although the boss pitches a fit if they lock to the trees.)
I guess now I'm making the argument that bike-friendly destinations could be more important than bike-friendly streets or high-priced gas in gettting John and Jane Q Public out of their cages and onto bikes.
blknwhtfoto
06-13-06, 08:09 PM
Yes, I agree TSL. I live in a really bike friendly town(3rd in the nation!) Eugene Oregon. We have lots of bike lanes(although people still seem to think they can walk in them, or drive in them(I got hit two days ago,2500 dollars in damage to the car!Rugby has finally paid off!) . Anywho, there aren't very many places with bike cages(the kind with doors that are actually safe) or good places to lock your ride up in.
When I got my recumbent about 6 months ago, I started making up places to go. now with some panniers, grocery shopping and laundery can all be done without having to sucker a friend into taking me.
LandLuger
06-14-06, 11:43 PM
I don't manufacturer reasons to ride, but when I need to run an errand the thought of doing it on a bike fills me with joy.
Furthermore, rather than hassle my wife about running around in her vehicle, I offer to go in her stead--even insist sometimes.
!!Comatoa$ted
06-15-06, 06:05 AM
If I want to eat more I will ride. If I don't ride I can't eat that much without putting on weight, but I can really up the calories if I spend a few hours really pushing on the bike, and still loose wieght.
SMN21601
06-23-06, 09:25 PM
When ever I need a reason to ride, I just ask my 5 y/o son if he wants to go for a bike ride...of course the answer is always "yes". Besides...passing on the passion to ride is important!
Tomorrow will be my grocery run about 20/30 miles and I am looking forward to that... It beats having your oranges or tin of salmon rolling down the aisle on the bus...Now if I could only fix or repair my bike...Next step!
chennai
06-30-06, 07:58 AM
I think that I really enjoy going places on my bike. I love the sense of connection to the location and the sense of the relationship between places that I get by riding.
It feels so much more intimate.
Additionally, I feel proud to accomplish things on my bike even though I know that they aren't actually difficult.
I agree with all this. (Especially the last point.) But I confess, to me errands are still errands - there are pleasant ones and tedious ones. I don't look for excuses to do them, but doing them by bike is much better for the reasons you mention.
I would add that I feel much more a part of the community. I like saying hello to people and occasionally stopping to chat - even the occasional chat with a driver is usually fun.
caroline_c
07-01-06, 09:07 PM
i find when i do grocery shopping via bike, i do a lot more "bargain hunting". like, a trip to chinatown for cheap fresh tofu, then to the italian market, where the produce is fresher, then to the bakery for that one particular bread... i think people who drive to do their shopping tend to buy more in one place, since using gas to go to different places would cancel out whatever they would have saved. personally, i like turning my shopping excursions into scavenger hunts.
Who needs an excuse to do something fun?
Who needs an excuse to do something fun?
Me! I work full time, attend college full time, and have to be responsible about my recreational rides. But, when you're getting low on sandwich bags, there's no avoiding a ride to the store. Going the long way around is five times further, but the short stretch of bike lane down the shortest path is sometimes occupied by trucks leaving black marks on the sidewalk edge. Yep, no avoiding it, off I go, be back in an hour! I'll just have to finish up that essay when I get back. :D
Lamplight
07-02-06, 12:58 PM
Just the other day I rode to the store only to get one jar of peanut butter. :) Plus I went to a store about 5 miles away instead of the one right down the street. :D
Just the other day I rode to the store only to get one jar of peanut butter. :) Plus I went to a store about 5 miles away instead of the one right down the street. :D
Well PB is high in calories. you have to ride some miles to burn it off.
Ny Cykel
07-16-06, 08:08 PM
This Thread has been FUN to read.:D
I got to go ride now, I will take my ny cykel.
There is only one grocery store in my area that has a bike rack but it's a high-end yuppie upper-crust place in a tony older neighborhood (nothing wrong with that!). The main drag there looks like Beverly Hills so I probably don't even have to lock my bike since the are plenty of Mercedes and BMW's to choose from!
It's about five or so miles there but it's a real treat and worth the ride.
Alekhine
07-16-06, 10:26 PM
I find an "excuse" every day to get on my bike. I try to ride at least an hour most days for fitness' sake, but I also just looooove my bicycles - two of which are ideal for me and were built exactly for my bodily dimensions.
666pack
07-23-06, 09:38 PM
i always try to find ways to little reasons to get on my bike: riding up to friends' houses for a quick chat, library runs, down to the pizza shop for a quick slice (rather than just pop a microwave pizza in when i drove). riding my bike more is even helping in quit cigarettes. i can't bring myself to get up and leave my building unless i bring my bike out with me for a quick ride.
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