week.of.b . bike week

week.of.b - bike week:
it's officially 'bay state bike week' in massachusetts, and people all across the state are surrendering their cars and trading from four wheels to two wheels for their daily commute. the goal is to reach 250,000 pledged bicycle miles in the state this week. it's widely known that boston is one of the least bike-friendly cities in the nation, and mayor menino is committed to changing that, including promotion of events like this one.

i personally have been a big biking and alternative transportation supporter, but honestly i have been afraid to tackle the confusing, crowded boston streets on a bike. i've instead biked recreationally on isolated bike paths and opted for public transit to get me to and from work and around the city. but this week i decided to step up in support of bike week, and ride my wheels to work. tegin, a good friend and dedicated bike commuter, offered to help me find a decent route and ride into downtown with me this morning. i was nervous, but definitely wanted to take the opportunity.

the result? i loved it. now that i've conquered much of the fear of boston traffic and a become a bit more bike-confident, i'm excited to start riding my bike to work more often. the least congested route i can take is about 7 miles each direction, which has proved to be an excellent way to start my day. the majority of the route is along the charles river, complete with birds, sailboats, and early morning rowers.i'm really happy i manned up and gave it a try. and if i can manage on a bike on boston roads with boston drivers, than anyone can do it. hooray for bike week!