… if clever, effective writing about cycling makes you upset or depressed at your own pathetic blogging.
From Business in Vancouver:
.
A 2013 roadmap to doing a better job of biking to work
.
Don’t cycle if you like fighting congestion, searching for a parking space, paying for parking, waiting for the bus, paying for gas or sitting beside smelly people on public transit.
Don’t cycle if you don’t like the freedom of being in complete control of your commute: how long it takes, where you choose to stop, where you park, where you shop en route…
Don’t think you have to dress up in lycra and become a bike dork. Millions of blue, pink and white-collar workers all over the world cycle in more severe winter weather than Vancouver’s wearing their work clothes. Carry your heavy or fancy indoor clothes in a shoulder bag or pannier. Lock your helmet on your bike so you don’t have to carry it around.
Don’t ever get cold or wet. With the right clothing, gloves, shoe-covers and fenders and a shrewd avoidance of downpours, you can always stay warm and dry. Remember that rain and cold always look worse when you’re sitting inside. Always carry rain gear, especially pullover rain pants and booties, just in case.
Don’t cycle in snow or icy conditions (temperatures below two degrees).
Don’t ride without bright lights front and back, a bell and an unceasing assumption that cars can’t see you.
Don’t sweat it – just slow down.
Don’t cycle if fresh air, exercise, having fun and losing weight turn you off, or if you prefer working out in a hot sweaty expensive gym with TVs and bad music.
Don’t cycle if it isn’t quicker, cheaper and more convenient than the alternatives.
Don’t ignore the advice of Dean Alexander, director of Cypress Capital, who never imagined cycling to work until the downtown bike lanes were built. He first tested it when he was 67. Now, he says: “My worst day cycling is better than the best day driving.”
Don’t be afraid to just try it. Just once.
Don’t be surprised if you get hooked. •
Thanks for the plug Gord. Don’t ever undersell your own blogging, if that’s what you were hinting at.
Why don’t cycle below 2 deg? Check out the winter cycling conference. If they can do it in Winnipeg, you can do it in Vancouver!