Getty Images
READ MORE ABOUT:
40 percent of everyday travel in the U.S. are trips of 2 miles or less, according to the Department of Transportation's Federal Highway Safety Administration. Trips to the grocery store, a quick run to the neighborhood coffee shop, lunch at that great sandwich place down the way...these trips really add up. One way to reduce the impact of these trips, while still getting yourself caffeinated and not running out of bread, is to take the 2 Mile Challenge, and do them on your bike.
The idea is simple: with 4 out of every 10 trips lasting two miles or less, each of us has a great opportunity to cut way back on car trips without sacrificing much time or expending too much effort. Two miles on a bike isn't far, and, when you're just going to return a library book, there's no reason to take your entire car with you. The good people at CLIF Bar thought the idea was so good, they created a website and held a series of events to promote the idea and spread the gospel of the two-mile bike trip.
By inputting your address in to the handy map widget they built, you can see just how big a two mile radius around your house is (and it's bigger than you think!). All that's left to do is find a safe route to get various places on your map, and you'll be commuting to work by bike in no time. We think you'll be surprised at how many places you can go, and how easy it can be to use two wheels, instead of four, to get where you want to go. 2 Mile Challenge
Difficulty level: Moderate
More bicycle-related reading on Planet Green and TreeHugger
Find Safe, Easy Routes to Travel by Bike
Commute to Work by Bike
Buy a Used Bike
Bikes Faster than Subway or Car, Seven Years Running
Buy Green: Large Wheel Folding Bikes
BuyGreen: Small Wheel Folding Bikes
Clif Bar's 2-Mile Challenge Hits Davis Farmers Market
-
- {}
