I've been bike commuting for about three years now. My wife and I are both lucky enough to work within a mile of our house. On the other hand, I was going to school at a university which as ten miles away, though, and had to ride on 50-mph roads in a state where people are used to driving a mile or more between stoplights (Oklahoma). On my bike rides to school I've had everything from threats to spare change thrown at me, and it's been a real challenge to stay calm under pressure. All the roads I ride on are 4 lanes wide, everyone has a whole extra lane to pass me, so I don't feel sorry for drivers. But what's been increasingly interesting this year is that the honking and the anger has given way to curiosity and positivity. Usually when spring hits people start honking and screaming at me, I guess they think I'm riding for recreation--but this year, not at all (yet...)... today a guy at the stoplight started talking about gas prices and how he should ride a bike too, which has NEVER happened before. I wish they were more concerned with global warning, but if gas prices are changing people's attitudes about their use of cars and SUVs (SUV's.....Sarah?), let gas go to $7 or $8 bucks a gallon. A five or ten-mile commute on a bike isn't beyond the reach of anyone who's not physically disabled in some way. Like Ericluxury, I'm not going into male-modeling anytime soon... I've ridden over 4,000 miles, commuting, since I bought an odometer for my bike in 06. It's a personal commitment more than anything. Anyone thinking about doing it, I say, DO IT! You'll love it.
