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Bike shares or recycle-a-bicycle programs, like the one Ray and Jeff Toolan want to start in Alter Eco, are big hits in cities all over the world, and one in LA would be a huge boon for those who want to cycle more in a town not known for bike-friendliness.
But I have a confession. Right now, a bike share program would be of no use to me because...I can't ride a bike. My mother worked full time but, God bless her, she made at least a half-hearted attempt to get me riding, but with my dreadful balance, incessant growth spurts and innate anxiety about falling it, she didn't have the heart or money to press it. My middle sister doesn't know how either, though Michelle, my youngest, is a demon on two wheels. And boy, do I envy her.
With the bicycle being the healthy, green, fuel-saving, and let’s face it, sexy way to commute to one's job, complete short-range errands, and other activities for which the car isn’t an absolute necessity, actually knowing how to ride a bicycle is no longer a luxury but a necessity.
Like any other skill, learning young is of the utmost importance, so teach your children early. If you have a friend or family member who doesn't know how, offer to instruct them. The person may initially decline your offer, ashamed of not knowing how to ride a bike at such an advanced age or because he or she assumes you're just being polite, so you have to insist that there's no reason to be self-conscious and you'd be thrilled to provide instruction. You can even make it into a birthday or holiday present. By giving someone the gift of cycling, you'll help them save money and the environment—and incur their eternal gratitude.
If you yourself don't know how to ride a bike, don't be ashamed. It's not uncommon, and there's nothing to be afraid of. Seek out a bicycling enthusiast, someone patient, possibly a teacher, and ask them to help you learn. Don't be vague—be sure to establish a date and time. The sooner you learn, the sooner you can save gas, improve your fitness, and ensure that, no matter what happens to the automobile and oil industries, you'll always have a mode of transportation.
Are you a green hipster looking for all things green and cool? Then you'll love actor and eco-activist Adrian Grenier and his team of environmental experts, who live it up with sustainable style on Planet Green TV's Alter Eco.
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