Go Green, Save Money, Get Fit. Go Dutch and Ride a Bike!
Posted by Sarah · March 10th, 2008I just came back to Austin, Texas after a semester studying abroad in Amsterdam, The Netherlands. I am convinced Amsterdam is the coolest city on the planet. Not because of the drugs, prostitution, canals, or tulips, but because of the bicycles! The Netherlands is below sea level so the entire country is mostly flat, which makes it the most bike friendly country in the world. It is an amazing sight to see. People young and old are cruisin’ through the city on their bikes. It doesn’t matter if you a have a dog and three kids, you can just attach a wagon to your bike and throw them all in.
Only the Dutch know how to use a bike to replace an SUV. They say you aren’t Dutch until you know how to take a child, groceries, and flowers all on your bike and ride it home. Everywhere you go in Amsterdam is bike friendly, there are bike lanes everywhere and even bike traffic lights. They even make bikes for physically handicapped people. Ah Utopia!
In America, however, bike riding can be more of a nightmare than a Utopia due to the lack of bike lanes, the excessive amount of humongo vehicles, and the lack of respect that drivers have for cyclists on the road. Because of this, most of the beautiful bicycles in America stay hidden in the corner of a garage and are never used. However riding a bike in the United States is possible! Here are some tips on how to ride a bike in a car infested city:
1. Use bike lanes whenever possible. Go to any local bike repair shop and you can usually buy a map that highlights where all the bike paths and lanes are located in the city.
2. Find alternate routes. You rarely have to ride your bike on a busy street. You can almost always find a more pleasant, scenic, and quiet street in surrounding residential areas. This way you don’t have to worry about being in the way of cars and fear losing your life.
3. Use bike lights. It is very important to have a bike light on the front and back of your bike when riding at night. It is really hard to see bicyclists in the dark if you are in a vehicle. Do your part to prevent accidents and stay safe.
4. Learn bike safety hand signals. Its really important to learn bike etiquette. Just like cars have to let everyone know when they are turning, cyclists have to do the same. Here is a link that teaches the basics of bike safety hand signals. http://www.bikemiamivalley.org/safety1.htm Start out by riding around your neighborhood. Make short distance goals such as riding to the closest park, swimming pool, or convenience store. If you can avoid busy streets and the location you are going to is less than a mile, don’t waste gas, just try out riding a bike. I found that if I need to go somewhere during traffic hours or go to a place where it is really difficult to find parking, I usually get to the location faster on a bike than in a car! It’s true; you should try it out. Pretty soon, bike riding will become a habit, you’ll save tons of money on gas and car maintenance, you’ll have hot, buff legs, and you’ll feel good about being environmentally friendly.
Also, did you know that 4 out of the 11 most friendly bike cities in the world are in the United States? http://www.virgin-vacations.com/site_vv/11-most-bike-friendly-cities.asp So dig out your bike from the dusty garage, put some air in the tires, and ride on!
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Tags: green living | Posted in General |
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