Transportation & Energy...

If you haven’t gotten the memo yet, bikes are taking the world by storm. And not just ‘cause they’re an environmentally-friendly, efficient way to get around town. They’re also cool. Really cool. Bicycles have not only moved to the forefront as a primary form of alternative transportation, they’ve also become a symbol of urban youth culture, representing a hip, bohemian way of life.

I’m talking primarily about cities here. Bicycles have always had their place outside of urban centers, whether they’re used for an invigorating mountain bike adventure through Yellowstone, or a lazy meander on a beach cruiser along a boardwalk on the Atlantic Seaboard. Bikes in cities have been prevalent for some time now, but it’s only recently that we’ve really started to see initiatives that promote the bicycle as a primary form of transportation. Just recently, I blogged about a potential San Francisco bike sharing program, as well as a Parisian initiative that has been quite successful thus far. Additionally, major cities like Chicago and New York have pledged to allot more space on major roads to bike paths in the years ahead. As the reality of climate change and the effects of pollution generated by urban transportation become major focal points for the sustainable future of cities, bicycles are becoming more glamorous by virtue of the fact that they represent a commitment to reducing carbon emissions and inducing change.

This commitment to the climate crisis should be all the reason you need to hop on a bike straight away. But, allow me to reiterate the following: bicycles are real hip right now. So, if you’re thinking that you can just take the bus and still be reducing your carbon footprint, you’re right. But again, bikes are cool. If you’re skeptical about this, check out any Critical Mass event across the country (if you haven’t heard about Critical Mass, click on this link immediately). It’s probably the coolest thing I’ve ever done. Bike culture has somehow merged with “hipster” culture nationwide, which has in turn made its way into mainstream culture. Why do you think brands like Timbuk2 and Chrome are so trendy right now? There isn’t a massive influx of people switching careers to become bike messengers, I’ll tell you that. No, dude. Riding a bike means something. So, if you’re interested in offsetting this little problem we’ve got called global warming, and you want to look like a bona fide bad-ass in the process, get yourself a two-wheeler, son. Do it.