Originally Posted by
Gresp15C
Ah, now I'm going to put the pressure on you.
Really, this isn't directed at you, but it does raise an interesting question: Once we have "won" the commuting debate, then it will be time to address other possible bike uses that are "commuting" in the sense that they have a specific destination or utilitarian purpose.
One thing for me is that if I drive, then it's a chore, but if I hop on my bike, then the fun begins immediately. Also, I've found that if I choose my route carefully, some shopping areas are actually more bike friendly than car friendly, especially as I can park my bike right in front of each shop.
Get a shopping bike: One that you can ride in your street clothes, park anywhere (kick stand), not worry about getting stolen, and load with crap. I prefer baskets over panniers for shopping, but whatever. It's always good to have one more bike anyway.
I did a good bit of that, for about four years when I was car-free. I still take a bike some times. But a mile and a half, or two miles, doesn't make that much of a ride. It seems easier to hop in a car for those, than for the commute. It also isn't as significant in the larger scheme of replacing autos on the road, not for a regular commuter. That's another thing I think that the article has wrong.