OK so the gym is maybe a 5-min ride away, but a little background: while I am able, technically, to operate a bicycle, that's true only in the strictest sense. I can ride but not well; never really had any opportunity to ride much growing up. Lately I've been just doing loops around the neighborhood trying to get more comfortable during low-traffic times - the idea of riding on a real street with real traffic and real people around is terrifying. Taking a hand off the handlebars to signal is very, very risky. But the other day I actually biked to the gym in non-strictly controlled conditions and Did Not Die! Woohoo!
Ultimate goal is to bike to work (5 miles) and sell the car. Baby steps...