The following column of mine appeared in the Jessamine Journal on May 8, 2013:
May is National Bike Month. Sponsored by the League of American Cyclists, National Bike Month celebrates “the unique power of the bicycle and the many reasons we ride.” The idea is to encourage cycling for commuting to work or to school. Doing so can save money and is healthy for both your body and for the environment. Plus, it is a great way to explore the community that you might miss from the inside of a car.
Next week, May 13-17, is Bike to Work Week during which those with bicycles are encouraged to bike to work. You don’t have to ride every day, and even cycling to work one day will have a positive impact. If you can only ride one day, May 17 is designated as Bike to Work Day. (But try to ride any day it works into your schedule).
For me, I’ll trek the estimated 20 miles from my house to my office in downtown Lexington as many days as possible. I can comfortably ride the distance in just under 90 minutes accounting for traffic along the way.
Without a doubt, US 68 – with the paved mixed-use path parallel to the highway — is by far the easiest and best route to take. The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet and all involved in planning that mixed-use route deserve accolades and should attempt to create similar conditions as other road projects are planned.
But your route is likely different than mine.
The rest of my column can be found at the Jessamine Journal’s website. Click here.