Hope for Non Bike People

Here is my confession: I have a car, and I use it.

There are many good reasons to make the switch from driving to biking, especially when you live in the city. However, the most compelling reasons for me are my own assumptions about bike people. When I see someone riding a bike, two main thoughts go through my head:

1. That person cares about the environment a lot.
2. That person is more creative than the general public.
   
   Sometimes a third thought enters:
   
   
3. I want to be that person's friend.

Well, I want to be a creative person who takes care of the environment and has lots of friends! I want to be a bike person!

Unfortunately, biking is probably the single most intimidating thing in my life right now.
Whenever I strap my helmet on and kick the kickstand up on my house's communally shared and tragically uncool bike, I am secretly relieved when there is a problem.

Oh no, the batteries in my headlight died. Guess I'm driving tonight.

Uh oh, the brakes are broken! Oh wait. Not broken. I just have to attach this little wire thingy into this little holder. Okay, I suppose I can still ride it...

Riding a bike, this ubiquitous national pastime that transcends boundaries of age and culture, is just really difficult for me. Even the 1.7 mile ride from my house to The Avenue in Hampden is enough to make me feel like my legs are on backwards once I dismount.

I can't remember how to walk! People must be staring at me. Where are my knees? I can't feel my knees!

Also when I get off the bike, I don't feel like I've really cared for the environment. I don't feel any more creative. And I certainly don't feel a flood of friendship. I just feel like I want to die and/or drink a gallon of water. How can people show up for work this way? Is the rest of the population that much more in shape than I am?

Fortunately, there is help in the area for people like me - those who simply lack knowledge and practice. There's Velocipede Bike Project for one, a non-profit organization that provides free parts, workspace, and education in return for volunteer hours. Basically, this means I could learn how to attach wire thingies to their little holders and build my own bike in a low-pressure environment for free. Free!

I have yet to actually join Velocipede. I don't know if I will. I have my reasons, which are probably even sillier than my reasons for wanting to ride in the first place. Namely, there's the fact that it's in Station North, which is downhill from my house. If I rode my bike there, I'd have to ride back up Charles when I was finished, and I just don't know if I'd make it. But if you too dream of being a creative and popular carer of the earth, you should.