I'm in love. Truly, madly, deeply in love. I'm still in love with something that for 25 years has healed my bad knees, reduced my arthritis, lowered my weight, brought me joy, soothed me in sad times, taught me self-discipline, enabled me to be outdoors a lot, helped me stop polluting our earth, and saved me enough money to retire at 33 (on a very small income).

I'm in love with ... bicycling for transportation. Bicycling is such a great recreation; but it's even better as daily transportation. That's how it accomplishes all of the above. All I have to do is ride a bike, slowly, every day, wherever I go. I like that much better than driving. Wouldn't you be in love with something that was so simple and easy, gave you so much, cost so little, and did so much good for both you and our earth?

I love that I’m not forcing children to breathe polluted air; and that I don’t have to give a weekly allowance to the Oil Co.’s, so that they have less money to pollute and foul-up new places with. I love that that money enriches MY credit-u. account instead!

I love that I don’t have to worry about money anymore. Whenever I had a car, it always seemed there wasn’t enough money. Without a car, I don’t have a whole lot more; but there’s always enough.

I love that whenever I’m tired, sad, bored, sick, or feeling blue, as soon as I start riding along on the bicycle, I feel better. Always.

I love that I can eat without guilt or worry. Daily bicycling keeps me healthy, even though I eat too much, being a couch potato by nature. Bicycling for transportation is ideal for me; if I want to go somewhere or get something to eat, I simply bicycle there. No special exercising, no health clubs, no workouts.

I love the lessons that bicycling has brought to me: self-discipline, self-reliance, pacing, patience, the importance of preparation. Bicycling has given me the courage to attempt new, even scary projects. It taught me that, in general, if other people can do something, then I can too; and that the only hard part is thinking about it beforehand.

Most of all, I love the freedom. Freedom from being car-bound my entire life. Freedom from working to “invest” in a car which loses value yearly. Freedom from poor health, obesity, heart disease, and tiredness. Freedom from sitting in traffic, from being inside a metal crate for hours daily.

Freedom also to enjoy the outdoors every day: to enjoy the small adventures that I encounter on every ride; to ride up a hill and feel stronger at the top; and the freedom of knowing that I can do this every day, for the rest of my life, and it just keeps getting better.

(c) 2000 Lauren Cooper