This is the second post of our Live Car-Free blog series by Alison Turner.
Do you have a bike that you bought for recreation lying around collecting dust? Tune it up and get on it! You don’t need a fancy ride decked out with all the latest gadgets, or a wardrobe of cycling gear—any bike will do. Start out with what you have access to, and make upgrades as you figure out what will make your ride more comfortable.
Bicycles are not just for recreation, they are the most fun and efficientmeans of transportation in the world. If you’re feeling rusty, or never learned, you can take a class from Cascade Bicycle Club or REI. Don’t own a bike? A new bike share program called Pronto is starting in Seattle this fall.
Try biking to your bus stop. There are bicycle racks on the bus so that you can take your bike with you, and some stops have bike lockers where you can leave your bike during part of your commute. Cycling to the bus stop could cut out a transfer, and make your whole trip shorter and a lot more enjoyable. If you get caught in a traffic jam, you’ll have the option to get off the bus and hop on your bike instead.
Most 3(or less)-mile trips in Seattle are quicker by bike than by any other means. Though many people don’t realize it, cycling is the laziest way to get around.
