Alyice on June 17th, 2008

Bicycle Conservation

The bicycle is the most civilized conveyance known to man.
Other forms of transport grow daily more nightmarish.
Only the bicycle remains pure in heart.
– Iris Murdoch

When I was growing up we walked everywhere. If it was too far to walk, we took a bus. And only on very rare occasions did we pay for a taxi-cab. For us, cars were luxuries we simply couldn’t afford. And not owning a car was a sign of our financial struggles—of being on the verge of poverty.

We walked a little over a half mile to school in the pouring rain and in the heat of the sun and the only time we ever rode the bus was when we were bused to a new school district in hopes of giving us “poor kids” a better chance.

Grocery shopping was always an all day excursion. While we had a local farmer’s market available for stocking up on things we could carry home in our arms, the real grocery shopping took place nearly four miles away. We’d wake early, put on our walking shoes, and take a leisurely stroll to the supermarket. Once there we spent a good hour or two stocking up on groceries. After paying for the groceries, mom would call a taxi-cab. Riding in the taxi-cab was always the best part of the trip—aside from being able to pick out our favorite cookies from the nearby bakery.

Upon entering junior high, mom was finally able to afford a reliable, used car and we were living the good life. While we still had to walk to and from school, grocery shopping was much, much easier—as was visiting my grandmother in another city.

Upon entering high school, we moved to a better area of town which meant my commute to school was a short quarter mile walk one way. And by this time, mom had leased a rather nice “luxury” car—and had the option of trading it out every two years, which she did like clockwork.

When I graduated from college, however, it was right back to taking the bus. I couldn’t afford a car of my own so I’d walk nearly a half mile to the bus stop, take the bus to college, then walk nearly a mile to my job. After work, I’d walk back to the college and then take the bus home.

So by the time I could actually afford a car of my own, there was no turning back. I never wanted to see another bus again. And I definitely didn’t want to be caught dead walking or riding a bike around town, or anywhere else for that matter.

Then one day I had kids and found bike riding to be a fun way to get them out of the house and into the fresh air. It was no longer a sign of poverty. I did, after all, own a car.

We’d ride down to the local park where we’d picnic and play on the playground equipment, then we’d bike back home and take a nice little nap. On days when my husband was off, we’d make it an all day excursion and ride to the beach. Once there we’d play in the water, eat at a local eatery, and then begin our journey back home. If the weather was bad or it got too dark, we’d call mom to pick us up.

But I just couldn’t get myself to walk around town. Every time I attempted do so I’d hear this small little voice say to me, “Look at that girl walking down the street. She must be really poor. She can’t even afford a bicycle.”

Years passed and we moved to a small town of 10,000 in the northern part of Wisconsin. Everything was within walking distance: the grocery store, the library, the video store, the movie theater, and even the local beach/lake and rivers. It was so quiet, so peaceful, and so beautiful that one couldn’t help but walk around town just to enjoy the serenity of it all. Finally, the stereotype that had continued to play in my head disappeared. I was no longer intimidated by walking, I rather enjoyed it.

Fast forward to today. I now live in a town of 2,000 people and everything is once again within walking distance. I love my early morning bike rides, my afternoon jaunts, and my evening walks. The mornings are for clearing my head and helping me appreciate what God has given me. The afternoons (thanks to summer) are for connecting with my daughter—a ride that I truly cherish as she opens her heart to me and I learn more about the person she’s becoming. And the evenings are for de-stressing and reconnecting with my husband.

So today, as you search for more ways to conserve energy and save on the ridiculously high cost of gas, I’d like you to think about how far I’ve come and encourage you to take a second look at bicycling and walking for yourself—for your families.

In the words of Grant Petersen, “Think of bicycles as rideable art that can just about save the world.”

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Comments (6)

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Tina L Miller says:

I DO however, want to offer a word of advice. (I was one of those friends in Wisconsin, and I WELL remember the biking excursion I went on with Alyice and her family during which, I SWEAR, their goal was to kill me and leave me to die in the woods because they KNEW I was OUT OF SHAPE and yet they took me out on this bike ride in the country, on dirt and gravel paths, for like TEN MILES or MORE during the HOTTEST part of the entire summer. I thought I was going to DIE!) And that is: If you haven’t biked in a long time or you are out of shape, take it slow and easy. Go for little bike jaunts for fun and pleasure before you decide it would be a good idea to bike 10 miles to and from work each day, for instance.

Tina L. Miller
Posted at 10:59 am June 18th, 2008
Alyice says:

Ha Ha! You are so funny! You exaggerate but I bet it did feel that way to you, so I’ll let you keep that memory. Besides, it makes for a good story.

We did, however, learn that you need to bring plenty of water on long bike rides, take mini-rests when needed, and mostly importantly–don’t rush it, have fun.
Posted at 2:45 pm June 18th, 2008
Wyanne says:

Love the new blog…great job!

Logan and I have a new tandem bicycle, now, if I can just get her to pedal along.

Love,
Wyanne
Posted at 4:22 pm June 18th, 2008
Liz says:

I stumbled onto your blog this afternoon, and I agree. I miss biking, walking… anything other than being stuck in my car over an hour every day.
Posted at 4:49 pm June 18th, 2008
Alyice says:

Wyanne, I am so jealous! I’ve always wanted a tandem bike. My husband promises me we’ll get one in retirement.

Liz, read your post about all the horn honking while you’re driving because you are going slow. I think that horn honking will lessen as the gas prices rise and more and more people start going the minimum speed limit versus the maximum speed limit. In fact, my neighbor said she started driving 55 mph instead of the 75 mph we can drive and she’s noticed a big drop in her car gas bill–of course, it does take her nearly double the time to get to her destination.
Posted at 5:30 pm June 18th, 2008
Kelly H. says:

Alyice,

I had a bike. Never used it because it was way more cool to walk! We didn’t want to get anywhere fast, we just wanted to be seen by our friends–especially the friends with cars, who would stop and pick us up. I eventually became a driver and picked up all my cool friends…back when gas prices were under a buck!

(Hey, was that bike trail over on the western side of WI, near Sparta? I lived there briefly and rode that trail. Found a wild plum tree along the path–delicious!)
Posted at 12:04 am June 20th, 2008