Two wheels are better than four

I talk (rant) a lot about this country's unhealthy obsession with gas guzzling motor vehicles and our insatiable need for unrenewable energy resources, but am I really doing all I can to reduce my energy footprint? I'm lucky enough to live in a city with a short commute and great public transportation. I have no great excuse for getting in the car instead of on my bike, yet I fear I use one or another more often than I should: it's too hot; it's too far; I have to carry too much stuff; I don't have enough time.

So starting today, in an effort to keep myself honest, I'm going to keep track of my mileage on the bike and in the car.

The tally so far:
12 miles on the bike (from home to work to the Boy's school to home)
16 miles in the car (round trip from home to big box land)

Not a great start, but I couldn't avoid the trip to Bed, Bath & Beyond. The women in my family have an insatiable need for pillows, and with my mother and sister both coming town next week and only a dozen or so pillows in the house, we were heading toward a crisis. Think gas shortages of the Carter Era. Think Mad Max in search of fuel in the Austrailian outback.

The thing is, I have to admit it felt good to be in the car this evening. Normally I loath driving, but it's been a while since I've been in the car by myself on the highway, and there's nothing like cruising along with Bohemian Rhapsody playing on the radio and no one to hear you get the words wrong and sing off key. ("Scata mooch scata mooch, will you do the fandango" - can those actually be the lyrics?)