Bike lights have improved so much over the 30+ years I've been commuting by bike. Positively certain that the lighting has helped me survive and be noticed.

At one time I wondered why I don't see many bike commuters. Today I question other things. Because I've come to accept that the vast majority of humanity are not able to ride a bike to work, I am simply grateful that I have it in my life.

There are so many reasons for people not to ride to work. First of all they need a bike, and second they need to be close enough to work to ride.

My ride home avoids the clogged streets. All those people who drive cars motivate me to ride. I try to be grateful for that motivation.

When I have the occasional luxury of getting off early in the afternoon, or when the days are long, there is nothing better than extending the commute ride into the countryside, getting onto some single track or dirt roads, and putting in some more miles and climbs. Those evenings are great to come home from. Grateful to have the job and the happy home too. It just makes it worth it right there to ride to work, and be ready to take advantage of a windfall of a little precious time to create another ride on the way home.

Who here doesn't configure different routes to and from work by bike? Variety is salutory. In the morning I generally stick to the shortest and safest route. But the return trip can be anything. Sometimes I let the traffic lights show me the way, as I try to keep moving. Other times I compose a route like I might compose a song and try to stick to the cue sheet, and even then I end up improvising.

There are many things to see and feel on a bike ride. Not all of it is good, that's for sure.