Bike to Work Week is a challenge to folks to ride a bike to work rather than drive. This year it is hosted May 26 - 1. After seeing the number of bikes in use in Europe I was further motivated to make a greater personal effort.
When we first moved to our home in 2003, my office was a short walk, and a corporate vehicle was available for my work related travel. A few years later, our office moved, and while a bit further away I continued walking to work unless weather prevented it. Some years ago, a combination of a major injury and the reduction of corporate vehicles available required me to bring a personal vehicle to work.
Recent changes to my job tasks have reduced the amount of field work I complete, and more time is spent at my desk, but I was still bringing my vehicle to work - often to be able to get home quickly for lunch, or pick up a few groceries on the way home, but also to travel to complete job tasks. As I'm generally unmotivated to walk or ride without a destination, it was time to find a way to break these barriers. My ancient bike was in the backyard shed; replacement tires, lubricating the shifters and deruailers and adding panniers would be needed to set the bike in usable condition. First ride Saturday morning was about 7 km with stops at the Farmers' Market, barber shop & building supplies outlet. More fine tuning occurred subsequent to this ride.
Monday was the real test. Walked to work with Pat, bring the bike with me. Rode home lunch time and returned to the office without too much lost time. Picked up the mail on the way home. Repeated on Tuesday and Wednesday. Thursday & Friday are out of office days, so I'll need to take my vehicle to work for those.
Score for week 1: 3 days of 5
(Cross posted to Facebook)