It’s a bit like trying to feed your kid some delicious, nutrious food, but he refuses to open his mouth.
“Just try it. If you don’t like it, that’s fine, you don’t have to finish it. But just try it.”
No go, as he sits there with his arms crossed and jaw clenched.
And that brings me to, quite logically, biking to work.
If I thought it would be tolerated, I’d use this column every week to extol the virtues of cycling and do my best to cajole others to join me — but it wouldn’t, so I won’t.
However, given this is Bike to Work Week, I feel somewhat justified in indulging the evangelist in me to make the case for the human-powered two wheels over the gas-guzzling four.
Let’s start with some stats.
The polling company Insights West released a survey yesterday with the headline “Majority of British Columbians Say Rising Gas Prices are Affecting Them Negatively, Many are Making Changes in Their Daily Lives as a Result.”
It goes on to say how people are altering summer holiday plans and cutting back on other essentials.
But if the cost of gas isn’t enough to make you put the brakes on driving, read our story about “mobility pricing,” (p.16) a strategy to reduce congestion by charging people based on how, when and where they drive their cars.
In other words, if ever there was a good time to cycle to work, this is it — and the fact summer’s here doesn’t hurt.
I know a lot of folks simply can’t bike — tunnels, bridges and distance make it untenable. Although, I could launch a counter attack to that, as well. There’s no reason we couldn’t have a comprehensive transit system that integrates bikes.
But, while some of us lobby for that future nirvana, there are plenty of us who don’t have that excuse. According to Statistics Canada, the image of Richmond as a “bedroom community” is long outdated. The majority of residents also work here, yet only a fraction of them commute by bike. I find that a head scratcher. Richmond’s flat, the weather’s fine — for the most part. And it actually doesn’t take much longer to bike than ride most places.
For some people, I think, there’s a notion that if you show up to a meeting on a bike you look “unprofessional.” But if the mayor of Vancouver can arrive with his pant legs tucked into his socks and sweat on his brow, perhaps we need to change our definition of “professional.”
When I was reporting, I often arrived at assignments in a bike jacket, helmet in hand. Granted, the fashion bar is lower for journalists — lower still for print journalists. Still, I’d invariably be greeted with a “well, aren’t you healthy?” or “go green” type comment. If anything, people admired it.
I could list all the noble reasons for cycling and offer suggestions on how to make it work. But, the best thing I could say about cycling is simply that it makes me feel like I’m 10 again.
So why not uncross those arms unclench that jaw and just try it? It really is delicious and nutritious.
