Could a bike save your life?

I’m beginning to think I should just call this “Tom’s Blog,” as that dear old fiancé  of mine is forever forwarding me links, stories, and articles to share on No Car Go.

I paste a link to something insightful, scribble my own fairly drab comments, and then give him insufficient credit in the post-script. It’s a pretty nice set-up for me, really.

Here’s Tom’s latest link: “An Overlooked Survival Tool: The Bicycle,” in Good by Adam Martin.

This piece talks about how bikes have helped a lot of New Yorkers through the destruction and infrastructure chaos caused by Hurricane Sandy. In the days after the storm, driving a car was difficult, if not impossible. As people hopped on cycles to get around their damaged city, bike shops sold out, and Martin daydreamed about the possibilities:

“… the idea of a bike-centric transportation plan is a delicious thought after an afternoon of cycling mostly free of the threat of cars, through dramatically silent streets.”

He discusses how New York became, for a few days, much like a city in a developing  nation. He also discusses how, if we were smart, we’d see bikes as much more than a weekend recreation option or a hipster-cool fashion statement. We’d see them for what they are: a valid form of everyday transportation.

Read the article, and see if you don’t feel a little extra respect for bikes.

Car-freely,
Amy

P.S. As always, thanks, Tom!