The following was written for Southside Presbyterian Church’s monthly newsletter this month. Enjoy!
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Have you noticed more people carrying helmets and water bottles into worship during the last few months? As you may know, in previous years the YAVs have shared house cars for transportation. This year, the YAVs are living without a house car, using only bikes, buses, and the goodwill of others to get around. As we discerned where to volunteer this year, we all considered this new characteristic of the Tucson site and decided to rise to the challenge. We are grateful that the program provided us with brand new bicycles to equip us in this adventure.
We represent a wide range of skill and confidence levels, but share a commitment to this intentional new lifestyle. For some of us, biking was already a part of routine, while others had not ridden since childhood. One YAV never fully learned how to ride and has been riding a tricycle around town, which takes a lot of determination and strength. While biking is easier for some and harder for others, we all benefit from the added physical activity to our routine. There will still be days when the last thing we want to do is get on a bike, but we generally enjoy moving our legs and getting our blood pumping.
Our commutes to work vary in length and landscape. Riding on University Blvd, 29th Street, the Santa Cruz bike path, and residential roads create different experiences. Some ride one mile to work, while others ride ten miles each way. It’s interesting to notice that sometimes biking takes about the same time or less than driving, especially during rush hour. Even when it takes longer, the difference is often only ten or fifteen minutes. Our YAV in Agua Prieta has found that riding a bike to cross the border is faster than both driving and walking.
At the same time, biking helps us to slow down and appreciate and think. We appreciate time and how long it takes to get somewhere without a car. We appreciate the energy it takes for transportation as we burn calories rather than oil. We appreciate the breeze and sunshine on our skin and the view of mountains and stars. Along with appreciation comes awareness. We can tell you when the sun will rise and set, how fast the wind is blowing today, what the chance of precipitation is, and what the temperature changes were all day. We notice slight inclines in the road and take advantage of each descent. We are even aware of a change in attitude. When driving we are more prone to irritation and frustration with other drivers, but while biking we enjoy seeing lots of bikers.
Biking is practical for us in many ways. We don’t worry about car insurance, money for gas, maintenance bills, or inspections. It is part of our attempt to live environmentally friendly by reducing pollution and reliance on oil. Tucson is known nationally for being bike-friendly: miles of bike paths, major road bike lanes, free bike safety classes, a large biking community, and the BICAS co-op make biking accessible and fun. We are glad to join the many students, families, workers, and even Southside members who bike around Tucson.
If nothing else, bicycling (and tricycling) has given us stories to tell. Racing pickup trucks, getting stuck in trolley tracks, struggling up “A” mountain, falling, carting 100 lbs. of food from the Food Bank, being chased by stray dogs, and even learning to ride a bicycle have contributed to the richness of our experience this year. In meeting our personal challenges, we have found perseverance and strength individually and as a community.
