Green Travel: Bike to Your Next Destination
Yesterday in a decision made almost completely out of control, I went crazy and bought myself a bike. A used, 5-year old, crusty and rusty bike for $20 from a student who just wanted to be rid of it as she moved onto her more fabulous, glamorous live in the big city. I rode the bike home, with flat tires and chain creaking, and began to feel slightly repulsed by my impulse buy. Why did I need a broken down bike anyway? What was the purpose of this bike? And the happy, greener side of me said: Look, this bike comes with two collapsible baskets and a bike lock. That’s worth easily over $20 as it is. And now you can go ride down to the supermarket, get groceries, and make it back within a half hour. And you can make it down to the bus stop and save yourself a few subway tickets if you really get this bike juiced up. Doesn’t that sound nice? Doesn’t that sound green?
And the bitter, slightly buyer’s remorse side of me said: Yes, that does sound nice.
Lesson learned: Bikes are handy tools. They serve all sorts of functions, and any set of wheels is better than none. Little extra accessories, like a basket on the front or back, make the bike feel much better and functional for going to work or basic necessities. If you’re living in a big city and want to use the bike for serious commutes on the busy roads, you’ll need to get yourself a super thin, lightweight and sleek road bike. If you’re a suburbanite and you just need something to get you from A to B to pick up the kids from school, an old school mountain bike or beach cruiser may be just the ticket. If you’re in a very hilly or tough terrained area, go for a mountain bike. They’re much more stable and durable, and the wheels are great for handling everything from dirt roads to jumping curbs.
Some bike buying highlights:
Men’s Schwinn 700C Prelude Road Bike: $241.19
Kawasaki KDX126FS Men’s 26″ Deluxe Dual Suspension MTB Mountain Bike from Bikemania.biz: $159.99
26″ Men’s Schwinn Point Beach Cruiser Bike from Walmart.com: $159.00
Also, consider looking on websites like Craigslist or Freecycle.com, an online swapping forum of free things in your area. Green living starts with recycling. Getting a bike used is better for the environment and your bank account than buying it straight from the dealer.
Shop through a variety of affordable bikes at Smarter.com.
