Bike Utah Valley

Being a part of this new site and working with Brad has been an awesome experience so far. During the last few months, I have begun to view cycling in a different light. I used to be the kind of rider that thought “real cycling” meant fancy gear and Lycra.  So, of course, things like tan lines and road rash were badges of honor. Lately though, I have started to understand that if we are serious about changing the way we live and how we get from place to place, cycling needs to become accessible to a much wider audience than it has been in the past.

The way we all think about transportation is changing. I began commuting to work by bike two years ago. During the last year my bike, Rocinante, has shared the rack at the office with more and more bikes. This is a terrific trend, but I still believe there are many people who could travel by bike who decide not to. Because bicycles, for whatever reason, haven’t become true substitutes for cars yet.

Switching to bicycles over automobiles will not be easy.  Not only do we ourselves need to make major adjustments, but so do our cities and roads. This site’s mission is to advocate these changes for both groups. As a contributor, I want to help motivate those of us who would like to change. So, from today I will follow what I call the “15-Mile Rule.” All personal trips within a 15-mile radius of my house will be made by bike.

What about you? Even if it’s only two miles away, maybe you can think of two or three places you could get to by bike? Visit 1world2wheels.org and learn about how you can go by bike.