Maybe posting this is too inconvenient

I was absolutely shocked last night when John told me a story of a conversation he had at work.

John rides his bike to work. I don't necessarily use the car everday or all the time and he could very well drive to work given that fact. But, using up so much gas just to get to a from work everyday is just a waste that I wish more people would give up too. So, to save gas, burn extra calories, and give me a little more freedom during the day, John rides his bike.

It's not the most convenient thing he could be doing by far. He has to wear suitable clothing to bike to work in. He has to work in a suit, so that obviously wouldn't be the best thing to be breaking a sweat in four miles to work and four miles back. So he set up a system where he wears exercise shorts and a T-shirt on his bike ride, takes a back pack with a dress shirt and dress pants in it, and changes when he gets there. He has about 3 suit jackets at the office for him to use when he gets changed as well. Before he leaves the office at the end of the day, he changes once again, back into his work out clothes. He gets home half an hour after quiting time- all sweaty. He showers when he gets home and dons a whole new set of clothing.

It's also not convenient for one more huge reason. There is no bike lane. John rides his bike down a busy street that could be compared to Saginaw for those you who live in Michigan, and Ming Ave for those of you who live in Bakersfield. John tried riding on the side of the road, but it's so narrow, he fears for his life. Cars come way too close to him either on purpose or on accident. He can't ride on the side walk because it's illegal. So, he decided to ride in the middle of the lane like a car. That way, he's in everyones view. If they want to pass him because he's going to slow, they can.

The parts that shocked me are still to come. First, cars who are too inconvenienced by my husband riding in the middle of the lane (for his protection), honk and yell at him for being in their way. John said it's ALWAYS people in SUV's.

Second, John was talking about this annoyance with a fellow co-worker at the prosecutor's office who also bikes to work and experiences the exact same discrimination.

As they were venting their frustrations at the office, two women chime in and begin to complain about how they hate bikers because of the "inconvenience" they cause by going to slow in "their" lane. These same women also proudly confessed to driving 70 mph in a 55 mph zone. Because driving 55 is too slow. An "inconvenience".

Sometimes I sit back and think about Americans. Most Americans are so involved in their own lives and their own priorities that driving smaller, fuel efficient cars, watching out for cyclists on the road, and driving at a safe and fuel efficient speed is too "inconvenient". They want it big, they want it now, and they want everyone to get out of their way. They want their fuel guzzling-navigation system built SUV's, they want their blue tooth ready, drop-call free cell phone reception, they want their extra hot double espresso non fat latte in a two minutes or less drive through coffee shop, they want their four bedroom-hot tub in the master bath-stainless steel appliance-hard wood floors in the kitchen- brand new in the suburbs house that they can't afford. And they want it now.

Some people need to realize that their "inconvenience" is a heck of an inconvenience to others who are trying to do this world a bit of good. So, when the polar ice caps have melted and there's no more polar bears or penguins, don't come crying to us. Because we biked to work.