Sunday, October 02, 2011

Is Your Biking Problem Really A Parking Problem? (a #ctww challenge)

Shed optimized for bikes
Last week I cleaned out the shed so that was optimized for parking our bicycles for easy access. They had sat in the back of our shed, unused for over a year because getting to them was a complicated process of moving a bunch of tools and stuff. I wanted to arrange things so that grabbing our bikes was as easy as opening the door to the shed, in the hope that this would increase our actual usage.
So far, this has worked! Putting the bikes up front and the tools in the back (and getting rid of a lot of junk) enabled me casually to bicycle places I would otherwise have walked or driven. It's not even that inconvenient for using the tools; it's just not that hard to lean over a bike and grab the shovel. Certainly that's easier than moving all my tools or trying to lift my bike over them!
One example of this working is today. Today The Lovely Wife was canning tomatoes, which is a really great thing to do, but it was displacing our dinner preparations. We decided on the spur of the moment that I would go get takeout. I washed up from gardening, and instead of hopping in my car, rolled my bike from the shed.
Kris and part of our crop!
 Rain was threatening, so I didn't want to walk, but the bike got me there and back just ahead of getting soggy.  Success!
This fit in week's Change the World Wednesday Challenge:
This week replace at least one car trip with a bicycle or walking trip.
 If you find yourself not biking as much as you'd like, consider whether part of the problem has to do with how you park your bike. If it's just as easy to grab your bike as your car keys, you may be on your way!

2 comments:

Unknown said...

Wow ... first let me say congratulations on that lovely bunch of tomatoes. Just beautiful!! The Seattle area got a slow start but wow, they sure pulled it off!!

What a great tip! So often we don't do something "green" because it's a hassle ... and just as often, a small change can make it convenient. Thanks, Rewinn!

EcoGrrl said...

truth! i highly recommend those gigantic hooks to drill in so you can hang them up near the door - they're close to the front and they don't take up as much space. and hang your bike pump next to it so you always check your air pressure before you go out :)