California – Bike unfriendly?

When I moved to California back in June, I felt like being without my car would turn daily life into a walking nightmare. My baby, my rust-ridden, gray 1988 Chevy Cavalier sat at home in New Jersey, far too old and far too tired to make the 2,800-plus mile trek from Northvale to San Juan Capistrano. It didn't take long for me to realize that the public transportation system left a lot to be desired—journeys that would take 10 minutes by car stretched out to an hour, and the local bus stopped running at 7pm on Saturday nights. How was I supposed to have a social life?

Previously, I had considered cycling to be a leisure activity. Probably my favorite leisure activity, I often fantasized about the sunshine and the fresh air taken in on a beautiful weekend ride while at work or at school. During my investigation of all possible ways of getting around, it occurred to me that a bicycle could be more than a really great toy, but a functional, purpose-serving partner to get me from point A to point B. I was initially apprehensive about battling the psychotic levels of traffic or having my bike stolen during a few-hour-long stint of shopping, but after borrowing a gorgeous, shiny blue Specialized Cirrus from work, I accepted cycling as my main mode of transportation. I hit a few speed bumps (no pun intended) and had some revelations that I'd like to share with you.

1) Most towns are ill-suited to cycling as a functional form of transportation, often making something that could be fun a headache. California has plenty of beautiful trails through the mountains, but if you want to go to Ralph's for groceries, you won't have it so easy. Firstly, the roads here are so wide that I feel like a target crossing them. The flashing WALK sign is up for about 30 seconds, not long enough for a bird to fly across the street. I can't imagine how little old ladies or children with tiny legs can get anywhere without a chauffeur. There are indeed bike paths, but the system isn't comprehensive enough to keep me away from both the sidewalk (I've nearly taken out several frightened pedestrians) and the craziness of the always-traffic-clogged streets. Everything is so spread out that even the most direct routes pose challenges of fatigue and safety. How is this solved, you ask? I don't know much about town planning, but I would guess that more bike paths (promoted as an easy and fun alternative to cars) would make moving around a realistic possibility.

2) Cycling in lieu of driving is so much healthier for us and for the environment. This seems obvious, but how many people actually take it seriously? I'm sure if you're reading this website, you have no problem getting enough physical activity, but that extra bit of mileage done outside of leisure riding is always good for you. The fresh air you'll get instead of being cooped up in your car will make you feel good. Speaking of air, the air quality near the freeway is just plain nasty—if I can smell the car exhaust in the air, I can imagine what it's doing to my lungs. Bicycles don't add to that mess. The less you turn that key in the ignition, the less the level of local pollutants in the air grows.

3) Taking the road less traveled will make you a stronger person. I'm not wealthy, but I'm not exactly poor either. I haven't had to struggle to have a fairly decent place to live, or to maintain a job that will allow me to live fairly happily. Upon arriving in California, I had no one to come pick me up if I got stranded somewhere, or no back up plan. Cabs aren't really an option because they take hours to show up, if they show up at all, so I've had to plan carefully not to get stuck in the middle of nowhere (or San Clemente). I need to make lists of errands to run in advance in order to get anything done, so I save myself a lot of effort while riding around town. It might squelch a little bit of spontaneity, but it's helped me to become more organized. Surprisingly, I accomplish my to-do list on a more frequent basis because I'm forced to think and plan. Although it has added a little bit of stress into the mix, going places is more of an adventure on the bike than it could ever be in a car. I've noticed scenic spots on the side of the road that I never would have noticed speeding around in a car. Relying on your own two legs to get you where you need to go gives me a sense of accomplishment.

All in all I'm happy that I ended up not bringing my Chevy to California. I now see bikes in a different light, and I've found pleasure in the new challenge presented to me. Although the lack of convenience can be a little irritating at times, and I'm certainly not going to be car-less forever, I advocate utilizing alternative transportation more than ever before. Being the journalism student that I am, I feel the need to do more than rant and provide you with a little bit of info. If you're also considering cutting the cord of automobile dependency, check out the League of American Bicyclists (www.bikeleague.org), a national organization that encourages communities to be bike-friendly and promotes bicycle safety and education. The League sponsors the Bicycle Friendly Communities program, through which towns and cities across the United States receive different levels of awards for making cyclist's needs a priority, and also sponsors bike education courses in New Jersey, Missouri, California, Pennsylvania, Texas and Washington. They are responsible for Bike-to-Work Week, which falls under National Bike Month in May. Their website states that 50-percent of working Americans commute fives miles or less to work—making cycling a completely viable alternative for many. Membership is only $30 per year and you receive benefits such as discounts on bike-related products and travel, and you'll be able to bring your bike on an airplane for free if you book through LAB's travel agent. If more people demonstrate that cycling instead of driving really is an option and push towns to make life easier for cyclists, even the less active, more vehicle-dependant folks might consider hopping on a bike once in a while.

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