Along with the additional pictures I talked about last time, I thought I mention some more things about the bike week or about biking in general.

To start with a line of invigorating data, Massachusetts ranked as the 3rd most bicycle-friendly state among the 50 states by the League of American Bicyclists, an advocacy and educational organization. This is dramatic improvement, as last year MA ranked the 9th place, and in 2010 it was on the 19th. I am happy about this trend, even though the changes are more tangible in the eastern part of the state, because as a European, I saw the positive influence the bicycle as a transportation tool had on our lives.

And not just as a transportation tool. Many events during the week in Amherst or in surrounding towns have grown to become associated with fun and joy. People smile a lot, and get engaged in lively conversations, bring up conversation lines they are really interested in, because they feel safer among people they perceive a common interest with in biking. And this is not only true in our area. The same goes for the Ciclovia events in larger cities and in around the world, during which some streets are closed off for car cross-traffic, and people on bicycles take over for a few hours, or for most of the day.

Why is this all that important, non only for bikers but for all of us? Because by living the way we are, especially in the United States, we use a lot of energy, and increasingly feel the negative side-effects of this, and that doesn’t make us all that happy any more. Energy is increasingly expensive, and we tend to have to bend over backward to make the needed funds up. That puts us into scarcity, where we have to think twice on what we spend our money on, after we paid for the essentials, like a place to live, utilities, transportation (car), food, and being connected (phone/Internet). Or even WHILE we are trying to pay for these essentials.

I have heard people mention their struggle with a lack of money in the face of overwhelming amount of expenses a lot more frequently, than I complain about not having a car or getting wet, cold or cut off by car-drivers on the road as I bike around. And having to scramble making ends meet sounds a lot more stressful, than being inconvenienced by the weather or by how our transportation system is set up, while I am on the road. Also, being cold or wet may make me stronger if I push myself to get somewhere a bit warmer and maybe even dryer, but lack of money tend to wear people down.

So this is very important, because it affects the people who live around me, my friends, as well as myself. I imagine a life where I am more in charge, as I can:

• cover my expenses without having to give up most or all of my free time.
• fix up the tools I use, instead of feeling intimidated by them.
• travel around without being boxed in by one of those tools, made by a car company, who I know to be on my side only as long as I mean profit for them.
• predict within reason when I reach my destination without getting stuck in traffic, being daunted by a mechanical problem that is totally over my head, or being monitored by the police on the road, who need to make up a certain quota each month.

So I am happy every time I am riding, regardless to the circumstances, because it takes me that much closer to a life I want to live.

Of course I still want to be able to do all the things I could with a car. There are only two areas which stand out: going far and fast, and carrying things. I am lucky enough to live in an area where I can get some help with the first from public transportation. And the second part is where cargo bicycles and bicycle trailers come in, of which you will hear more, reading this blog.