I have a bike sticker from Car-free Portland. It says, "Live free or drive," and I keep remembering it as "Car-free or die," mashing up the New Hampshire license plate with the car-free sentiment in my head. While I wouldn't go so far as to start getting angry at people who do drive, I'm very proud every time I can make a choice other than a car.
Despite my subconscious battle cry, in a (hopefully) positive, affirming way, I'm seeking to spread my car-free gestalt by endlessly promoting my much-loved mamabikeorama. When I get on that bike with my boys and my groceries, I do feel so full of affirmation. Not only are there constant admiring looks, pointed fingers, whispered "wow!"s and a plethora of questions, but there's also this: I'm combining my exercise, my transportation, my family togetherness, and my general daily experience of beauty all in one. As I ride around the neighborhood or venture farther, I discover something new every day, finding magic, as my web site tag line says. I am being wholly myself, and thoroughly in the world, but in the most gentle, lovely way possible. As I said to someone the other day, how great is it that I get to do the thing that is an American symbol for fun -- riding bikes -- as part of my daily life?
I'm not the only one who thinks about biking and going car-free with such starry eyes. The next two weeks mark a number of bicycle events in the city, with the 'Toward Carfree Cities' conference as a highlight. June 17th is a free public day and you can register on the web site -- see the panel with urbanMamas Olivia Rebanal and Marion Rice at 10:45 a.m. I hope I'll be able to sneak out of work and see some of it!
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