That Bicycle life

The last time I rode a bicycle in Ghana was when I was a kid, I think about 6 years. My dad got it for us as part of enriching our childhood experience. I really enjoyed riding the bycycles because it made me feel like an adult. I looked forward to run errands for my parents because I would be feeling like a cool kid riding her pink bicycle in the neighborhood. I have no recollection of what happended to the bicycle,. I think I out grew it or something.


All the memories of my bicycle riding days were rekindled when I moved to the US. Bicycles are a major means of transportation over here, especially in my state. A lot of people actually choose not to buy a car but rather depend solely on bicycles for their daily movements. Some housholds also have bicycles in addition to their vehicles.  In my state for example, a lot has been done to make bicycle riding ideal. There is a lane for bicycles on all roads and priority is given to them over drivers. I remember failing my first driving test because I was too close to the bicycle rider on my side.

Apart from keeping fit, a lot of riders also believe that they are contributing to environmental preservation. And you get to save a lot of money that would otherwise be used for fuel. Last time I decided to explore the university in my city, and  it was interesting to note that majority of the students had bicycles instead of cars.

In my alma mater university, having the latest cars was the order of the day. The most popular people were the ones who drove the best cars. Bicycles was never an option. You were either a walker or a driver.  I think it had to do with the perception of riding a bicycles.

 Its cute when you are a kid riding a bicycle in your neighborhood but as an adult, using a bicycle as a means of transportation was just not cool.(That was my perception back then, but its changed because my eyes have now opened).

Now maybe if I move back to Africa, I would definitely consider buying a bicycle, but just for recreational purposes. Ofcourse I have to consider the hot sun and also the fact that the roads are not designed for bicycle use.

How about you? Would you trade in your car for a bicycle? Would you consider using a bicycle as a means of transportation? What do you think of adults who rely mainly on their bicycles for transportation?