Cycling is a pretty big part of who I am for multiple reasons. I like the mechanical aspect of them with working on them and building them, but I also obviously enjoy riding. I ride a bicycle for transportation, but I also ride for recreation in multiple forms. Recreational cycling is a way to get exercise, enjoy nature and spend time with friends with similar interests. Being able to build and maintain your own bike is a great feeling because it puts you really in tune with it while riding and makes the experience that much more enjoyable for me.
I work on them as a (small) source of income, as well as work my volunteer position at the Bike Co-op. This is another part of my relationship with cycling. I ride for recreation, but also for transportation and I try and convince others to do so. I show my support for the movement of riding by helping make it easier for people on campus. Some people may not be interested in the mechanical aspect of bikes, or might just not have experience with it, but that doesn't mean that they should be at a disadvantage when it comes to finding a way to ride on a daily basis. That is what the Bike Co-op is all about and I was super stoked when I learned about it.
I have only been riding to get around for a few years, but the bicycle is pretty much my only way of getting around independently. I do not have a car back home, so I ride my bike. Now that I have done so for a while, I hope that some day when I get a car, I won't use it unnecessarily. I plan on riding whenever it is feasible. So, as a portion of my transportation history, it is both a small part and a very large part.
Thanks for sharing, Corin! I agree that the mechanical side to bicycling can be a barrier for some, so it's awesome that places like the Bike Co-op and Bike Church offer affordable services to the community to learn how to fix their bikes and get them up and working again. I wonder if you have thoughts as to how places like the Bike Co-op could be more inclusive, inviting, and engage more people to visit when their bikes are in need of some TLC? I've heard from some students that they're intimidated by the Co-op, and while this hasn't always been my experience, I can see how a bunch of knowledgeable bike dudes (and dudettes) might come across as potentially scary for someone with no bike knowledge. Thoughts?
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