On the prime instrument of leisure

 

Society 6 bike art print (link)

 

Historian John Lucacs says that the automobile is

the most wonderful of conveniences not so much because of its comforts (which is limited in even them most luxurious of cars) and not even because of its reduction of distances, but because it allows its owner to be teh master of his time rather than of space; he can leave whenever he wants, and return whenever he chooses; he does not depend on schedules of public transport.

According to Witold Rybczynski, in "Waiting for the Weekend," "It is precisely this freedom that makes the car the prime instrument of leisure." (183)

But I'd offer another  prime instrument of leisure: the bicycle. 

Outside Magazine recently published Joe Lindsey's review of electric cargo bikes.  And in the middle of the article is a beautiful paean to biking:

The point of cargo bikes isn’t to get a workout (ahem, e-bike shamers). And while they can replace a car outright, that’s a commitment few are willing to make. Really, these bikes are meant to replace car trips—as many as you can feasibly switch from four wheels to two. That means they’re among the most important kinds of bikes to make and sell.

What I hear from people who have bought them is that they change life in small but profound ways. Such an e-bike becomes a family adventuremobile for exploring greenways and parks; kids ask to go to school on the “big bike,” not in the car; running errands becomes something other than sitting in stressful traffic and hunting for parking spaces. Life seems simpler.

Today is my 56th day of riding my bike to work since school started in mid August.  The commute has provided me dozens of nature sightings, some invigorating workouts, constantly changing routes through neighborhoods and through parks, exposure to life-affirming rain and wind and (this morning) snow.  On the two days I've driven to work, I've returned home with a heavy lethargy.  When I come home after biking, often with songs from my earbuds in my head, I feel like I need to take a walk with Jennie.  The amount of time I "lose" from a car ride is negligible on this 4-mile ride.