I do all of our groceries by bike, all year round. Even in clown-car heaven in southwestern Ontario. Just think of it as a challenge, and feel proud of yourself for beating the system each time you do it. Some things to think about:
- more energy and CO2 is expended by all of the clown car shoppers than by the trucking it took to get the goods to the stores. Congrats on doing your part to mitigate that.
- use an abundance of caution entering, exiting, or getting through parking lots. They are worse than the roads for distracted driving and minor accidents, and there's no such thing as a minor accident on a bike. Don't ever expect that anyone can see you. Pick your path wisely and keep all senses on high alert and you'll be fine.
- baskets and panniers are great, and it's also amazing how much you can fit into a good knapsack.
- much of the stuff that takes up the most space (and weight) is stuff you might want to think twice about before buying: bottled water, soft drinks, liquid detergent etc.
- plan your trips with lists based on the specials in the flyers.
- make two trips for double the exercise and health benefits!!
