Small Steps
It’s spring, and there are many more bikes on the road. Others want to start biking. But changing to any new mode of transportation is a big lifestyle change and takes time. Just like learning to drive:
When I finally started biking, it was intimidating because I didn’t know “how” to do it…. just like all the other things I found intimidating.
But biking was one of those things I had to learn by doing.
Over time I learned how to adapt my lifestyle.
So if you are considering biking, you can’t change overnight. Break it down into small steps.
Perhaps one day you’ll wonder how you ever got around without a bicycle.
A suggestion for the second to last panel: It looks like the cyclist could use a skirtguard to keep her skirt out of the spokes.
Skirtguards come as factory standard equipment on many city bikes, or can be ordered from places such as Dutch Bike Bits at:
http://www.dutchbikebits.com/index.php?route=product/category&path=43
Living in Sweden I have made a similar journey, except that I have been biking since early childhood so I’ve gradually built up my bike habits over the years.
But even if I live in a European country I get those comments “What, have you been biking TODAY?” Why wouldn’t I? It’s only a small blizzard outside 🙂
As for the special clothing and equiment needed, yeah some are pretty much essential for a painless bike ride.
Studded tires in the winter (living in the northern part of Europe means quite a lot of snow/ice on the roads in the winter, even if they are pretty good of clearing the roads of snow),
rain wear when needed (including overshoes which is a great invention, takes up hardly any space but protects your shoes from getting wet)
panniers (bike bags) are essential for me as I can pack a whole week worth of grocery shopping (single household),
I always carry a pump and an extra tube (+ tools, fits in a small compartment in one pannier)
I am thinking of buying a trailer for transporting larger items, not everything fits in those panniers… (bought some glulam lumber the other day for shelving, could not fit THAT on my bike, but a trailer (or a dedicated cargo bike) would have solved that problem).
I don’t ride in special cycling clothes, just my normal clothes, neither do I wear a helmet (most cyclists in Sweden do though) as I feel secure enough without one.
Have not really had a need for a car (except for transporting those larger items), so still have no drivers licence (I am 30+). The first panel sums up some of my worries with driving pretty good 🙂
Great site, I love you illustrations, thank you!
Proud to be a number 5. I do need to get some studded tires for next year, falling on the bike path was not fun.