Here in Philadelphia, we're getting ready for the Pope to visit it in a few days. Large swaths of downtown (or, as we call it, "Center City") will be closed to cars in preparation for public events including an open-air Mass. Lots of local businesses are closing down, figuring that their employees and their customers won't be able to get there anyway.

It's different for me, though; I work in health care. I usually work at an office about 8 miles from Center City, but once in a while I work at a hospital that happens to be in the "traffic box" -- aka no-car zone. Pedestrians and bikes will be OK, but cars will be kept out.

Many of the folks I work with made plans early to get out of town for "Pope-ageddon" weekend. Classes at many local universities have been cancelled for that long weekend. Me? Whenever I tried to make plans, something felt uncomfortable. "Stay available, Jen," something whispered.

Sure enough, a few days ago my department heads were asked to provide double the usual hospital personnel. We have interns and residents who live inside the "traffic box", so they won't have any problems getting to the hospital -- they can just walk. But with cars blocked and mass transit shut down (trains have vastly altered schedules and limited stops), how can anyone else get to the hospital? "Who can help us?" went the cry at the staff meeting.

"I can get there. It's only a few miles from home. I can ride my bicycle." Colleagues turned their heads and stared in open-mouthed wonder and appreciation. "Really, I can. I ride a bicycle. What's your superpower?"