A Green Activity for 2011...

by Bill Painter

“When I see an adult on a bicycle, I do not despair for the future of the human race.”H. G. Wells

By now the Christmas cookies have been reduced to crumbs in a forgotten container, and the last of the eggnog is but a memory.  We have experienced several snows, so the “novelty” of it has worn off.  Many are starting to think of warmer weather and ways to enjoy it.

One activity that all ages can participate in and is also environmentally “friendly” is bicycling.  Almost everyone has ridden a bicycle at some point.  For some, riding a bike is a memory from the past.  However for many it is a regular activity, either for transportation, or for recreation.

Harrisonburg, and Rockingham County are both taking steps to make cycling a viable transportation alternative.  There are frequent articles in the local newspaper regarding actions being taken by the local governments (City and County) to include cycling into the overall transportation infrastructure in this region.  This can be seen from the addition of bike lanes, and shared bike/car lanes in Harrisonburg to a greater number of “Share the Road” signs throughout the county.  The city is also looking into increasing the number of bike trails/paths that connect areas of the city so that cyclists can avoid, or reduce their interactions with vehicular traffic.

If you live where cycling as a means of commuting or running errands is not very realistic, cycling can be a great recreational activity.  If you go to the gym to work out regularly you might consider taking a bike ride from your home in lieu of driving your car . The bike ride could serve as a cross training alternative and you did not have to use your car.  Cycling is also a great family activity.

So, if you have not ridden for several years, where do you start?  Do you still have your “college bike” stashed away in the back of the garage?  Pull it out and assess its current status  Are the tires flat and dry rotted?  Has the chain become an inflexible, filthy mess?  Do you hear creaks coming from it as you take a few tentative pedal strokes?  If you are not confident with your mechanical abilities to resolve these issues there are several bicycle shops in the Harrisonburg and Dayton area that regularly service bikes of all makes and ages.

If you do not have a bicycle, these same shops carry wide ranges of bicycles from easy riding commuter style bikes to a variety of mountain bikes and a range of road bikes.  Some of these local shops have used bikes for sale as well. There are two items that are not cycling accessories, but cycling necessities.  These are a well fitted helmet, and protective eyewear (typically sunglasses).  The importance of these two items cannot be stressed enough – I speak from experience.

If you have questions about cycling or good places to ride near where you live, the local bike shops are a wealth of information.  Some of them have web sites.  Simply do a web search of “Bicycle Shops, Harrisonburg VA” to locate these sites.  Another resource is the local bicycle club, the Shenandoah Valley Bicycle Coalition.  Their web page is www.svbcoalition.org/.  You can even ask your friends at church.  It is amazing how many MPC members are cyclists.

So think ahead about the coming of warmer weather and going for a bike ride.  Not only is it environmentally friendly, but it also has tremendous health benefits as well.