Warren McLaren, 23 July 2010, Australia: TreeHugger - Cars & Transportation (bikes)

For longer than I care to remember I've been a cycle commuter. For short to medium distances I can't think of a better way to travel.

I lived on the inner city fringe for roughly 20 years. For half of that time I didn't own a car. I rode everywhere, for everything. To work, to play, to study, to lecture, to shop, to eat. I rode to first dates. I rode to awards ceremonies. I rode to business appointments.

Like any activity undertaken on a constant basis, things will eventually go wrong. I have had my fair share of such 'events.'

These days I live not in the city, but the country, and a couple of days a week I work in an organic wholefood store, about 28km (17.5 miles) from home. It would take roughly 1.5 hours to ride such a distance, but as a hands-on father of an under one year old child I don't, alas, have that time free. So I ride to the town's rail station and catch a lift on the train three stops along, and then ride to work. The timing of the rail service happens to be perfect and the trains even have dedicated bike closets to stow my trusty metal steed.

But sleep in, and "perfect" goes right out the window. I awoke at the precise time I should've been pedaling to the station. Sure, I can drive, as a fall back, but not when I've allowed my car registration to lapse--I use my car so irregularly I was pondering if I really needed it.

So yes, cycle commuting is brilliant. (most of the time)

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