I've always loved traveling by bike, and I've gotten back into it in recent years. A few years ago, I was bemoaning the facts that (1) I wasn't riding as much as I'd like to, (2) I wasn't getting any exercise, (3) I didn't see how I could fit any kind of exercise into my busy life.
Then I did a little creative thinking. First of all, we all need exercise. So even if I went to a gym, it would be a benefit to me. But I don't like gyms, and I knew that if I joined it, I wouldn't go, and it would be wasted money.
Secondly, it took 30 minutes to drive to work. It took about 55 minutes to cycle to work. So for a "time cost" of 25 minutes, I would get a 55-minute workout. Since I need exercise anyway, and since I have to travel to work every day, by combining the activities, I'm actually saving time!
I don't do it every day, but I do it more often than before, and I plan to increase it further. My life is happier, and so is my bank account.
And a few of us have formed a local non-profit to promote cycling. One of our foci is on transportation cycling. We are working with our local governments to improve the policies and facilities on the roads. And we are giving public presentations and going to schools to talk about the advantages of traveling by bike. People have been receptive.
So I walk the walk. I go to the supermarket and to Costco with my bike. I tow a kiddie trailer, which has a huge capacity, and it's surprisingly easy to tow, even when it's full of cargo.
