Biking

Published July 19, 2009 at 7:11 p.m.
This week, I have been biking everywhere. In fact, I've used my car once all week.

It's an attempt to live greener and to conquer my ever-present battle-with-the-bulge. I've exercised every day this summer and have been eating healthy, but my weight is pretty much the same. Not a huge deal for me - it's about fitness and health, not weight - but it's still mystifying to me. I have noticed on some recent runs that my cardiovascular health is not that great; the elliptical, as convenient and non-pounding as it is, just doesn't provide a great cardio workout. Biking, so far, is.

And it's nice to ride through Baltimore and notice things more. Like, I had no idea that goldfinches and red-winged blackbirds and killdeer live in the city. But I've seen all of them, as I bike through the trails in Herring Run Park.

Going through the busier parts of the city are scarier. I rode on Edison Highway the other day, going from Bel-Air/Edison to Highlandtown. Not very pleasant, but I didn't know a better route. I rode to Artscape yesterday, and it wasn't bad, but driving around the busy area of North Avenue and Charles Street isn't that relaxing. But I stick to the sidewalks, mainly, unless there are people on them. I just can't see risking my life on the road with traffic. I don't understand how people can do that, actually, when it's busy and there is no real bike lane.

It's been fun, so far, and I hope to keep it up into the school year - driving only when it's absolutely necessary, and biking whenever I can. I feel great, both in a fitness sense and a do-gooder sense. I'm going to keep it up, and hope to learn more and more about biking and trails throughout B-More.


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