In today’s ever-changing landscape of multimodal transportation we are bombarded with choices of how to get from point A to point B. In this case point A would be the apartment and point B would be the bar. Uber would seem like the easy choice, quick tap of an app on the phone and in mere minutes a driver shows up at the corner ready to take you wherever you want to go.
Other options include hoofing it, bussing it, taking the train, smart cars, or soon we will be able to arrive at our destination via autonomous vehicles. Without getting into a dissertation on rational choice theory, we need to look at our transportation conundrum from the “WHY” perspective.
Why do we go to the bar? To have fun, to meet people, to socialize, to explore our environment and see what is out there. Unlike nature, our watering hole visitation is not out of necessity, but curiosity. So why not make your bar commute an adventure? The best and most efficient method to enhance your journey to libation land is the bicycle. This 200 year old invention (I bet you thought it was more ancient) is by far the most dynamic of all the transit approaches. It allows you to pass city blocks in mere seconds instead of minutes. It gives you the ability to expand your area of reach with ease. Plus it’s fun and feeds into your curious nature.
True, Lyft can be fun and satisfy your curiosity in the “Not sure if my driver lyft a tuna sandwich under the front seat or if that’s just him” sort of way. But it has nothing on the good old fashioned “Hey, let’s see what’s down this block” sort of fun. Marking a course is still an integral part of finding your way to the meet up point but don’t be afraid to veer off course and hop to and from a few bars. Maybe sprinkle some coffee shops in-between those destinations.
Many cities have or are in the process of creating green lanes, bike paths, and bike share programs. Most with fancy apps to tell you what you need to know. If you are afraid of venturing out on your own, try a bike night for your maiden voyage. Group gatherings similar to the infamous Denver Cruiser Ride are the perfect opportunity to test your sea legs. In Denver, thousands of two wheel equipped human beings migrate throughout the city. Sometimes in costume, sometimes not. Bottom line - Choose the bike for point B, even if it is only once a week.
Happy Trails.